How-to · Air Fryers
How to Reheat Food in an Air Fryer (Pizza, Fries, Chicken and More)
Short answer: Reheat at 350 to 375 °F (175 to 190 °C) for 3 to 8 minutes, in a single layer, no preheat needed. Pizza, fries, fried chicken, roast vegetables, breaded things and bread all come back close to fresh. Saucy or wet food (stew, rice, pasta in sauce) does better in the microwave, or in a covered dish in the air fryer with a splash of water.
The air fryer is the best leftover tool in the kitchen for anything that was crisp when it was first cooked. The microwave heats water inside the food, which steams the crust soft; the air fryer blows dry heat over it, which brings the crust back.
The rules
- Lower temperature than cooking. 350 to 375 °F. The food is already cooked; you only want to heat it through and crisp the outside.
- Single layer. Piled-up leftovers steam.
- Short time, check early. Most things take 3 to 8 minutes. Over-reheated food is dry.
- No preheat for most things; the fryer is hot within a minute.
- Meat to 165 °F (74 °C) in the middle, and reheat leftovers only once.
Reheating times
| Food | Temp | Time | Tips |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pizza | 350 °F / 175 °C | 3 to 5 min | Parchment under loose toppings |
| French fries | 400 °F / 200 °C | 3 to 5 min | Shake once |
| Fried chicken | 375 °F / 190 °C | 6 to 8 min | Flip halfway; 165 °F inside |
| Chicken wings | 375 °F | 5 to 7 min | |
| Roast chicken pieces | 350 °F | 6 to 8 min | Skin side up |
| Steak | 350 °F | 4 to 6 min | Rest 2 min; it will be medium |
| Pork chop | 350 °F | 5 to 7 min | |
| Burger patty | 350 °F | 4 to 5 min | Add the bun for the last minute |
| Roast potatoes, wedges | 375 °F | 5 to 7 min | |
| Roast vegetables | 375 °F | 4 to 6 min | |
| Breaded fish, fish sticks | 375 °F | 5 to 7 min | |
| Egg rolls, spring rolls, samosas | 375 °F | 4 to 6 min | |
| Fried rice | 350 °F | 5 to 6 min | In a dish, splash of water, stir once |
| Bread, rolls, garlic bread | 325 °F / 165 °C | 2 to 4 min | Watch closely |
| Croissants, pastries | 325 °F | 2 to 3 min | |
| Quesadilla, grilled sandwich | 350 °F | 3 to 5 min | Flip |
| Dumplings | 350 °F | 4 to 6 min | Brush with oil |
| Fried fish fillet | 375 °F | 5 to 7 min |
Pizza
The air fryer’s party trick. 350 °F, 3 to 5 minutes, straight in the basket. The base crisps, the cheese melts, and it tastes closer to fresh than any other method. For a loaded slice with loose toppings, put it on a piece of parchment so nothing falls through onto the element. Thick or deep-dish crust: 325 °F for 5 to 7 minutes so the middle heats before the top overbrowns.
Fries and fried food
Fries: 400 °F, 3 to 5 minutes, shake once. Fried chicken: 375 °F, 6 to 8 minutes, flip halfway, and check that the inside reaches 165 °F. Breaded things come back crisper than they were. If something fried was greasy to begin with, the air fryer renders some of the fat out, which usually improves it.
Meat without drying it
Reheated meat dries out because it keeps cooking. Keep it short and a little lower: 350 °F, 4 to 6 minutes for a steak or chop, flipping once. For lean meat like chicken breast, put it in a small dish with a tablespoon of water or broth and cover loosely with foil; the air fryer heats it while the moisture stays in. Slice thick pieces before reheating so they warm through faster.
Rice, pasta and saucy food
These are the microwave’s territory. If the air fryer is all you have: put the food in an oven-safe dish, add a tablespoon or two of water, cover with foil, and heat at 350 °F for 6 to 8 minutes, stirring once. Fried rice and noodles that were dry to begin with do fine this way; soup and stew do not.
Bread and pastry
Bread goes from stale to fresh-tasting in a couple of minutes at 325 °F. Watch it; it burns fast. For a crusty roll, spritz it with a little water first. Croissants and pastries at 325 °F for 2 to 3 minutes crisp up without drying out.
The microwave-then-air-fryer trick
For thick food (a big piece of fried chicken, a dense burrito), the air fryer can brown the outside before the middle is hot. Microwave it for 30 to 60 seconds first to heat the center, then 2 to 3 minutes in the air fryer to crisp the outside. Best of both.
What not to reheat in the air fryer
- Soups, stews, anything mostly liquid.
- Leafy salads (obviously) and anything light enough to blow around.
- Food in plastic takeout containers. Transfer it to the basket or an oven-safe dish.
- Anything you have already reheated once.
A clean basket matters more for reheating than for cooking, because leftover grease on the plate smokes at these temperatures; our cleaning guide covers the two-minute routine.
FAQ
What temperature to reheat food in an air fryer?
350 to 375 °F (175 to 190 °C) for most things. Lower than cooking temperature, so the outside does not burn before the middle is hot. Fries and anything thin can go to 400 °F for a few minutes.
How long to reheat pizza in an air fryer?
3 to 5 minutes at 350 °F (175 °C). The cheese re-melts and the base crisps. Thick crust takes a minute or two longer; put the slice on parchment if the topping is loose.
Can I reheat rice in an air fryer?
Not well on its own; it dries out. Put the rice in a small oven-safe dish, sprinkle a tablespoon of water over it, cover with foil, and heat at 350 °F for 6 to 8 minutes. The microwave is better for rice.
Is it safe to reheat chicken in an air fryer?
Yes, as long as it reaches 165 °F (74 °C) in the middle. Reheat at 375 °F for 6 to 8 minutes for pieces, flipping halfway. Reheat leftovers once; do not reheat the same food twice.
Why is my reheated food dry?
Too long or too hot. Reheating is short, 3 to 8 minutes. For lean meat, a splash of water or broth in the dish and a loose foil cover keeps it moist while the air fryer heats it.