How to reheat a chipotle bowl

Reheating your Chipotle bowl requires a bit of skill if your dish contains sour cream, guacamole, or lettuce on the top. Toppings are challenging to reheat without ruining the bowl’s textures and flavor. Use the microwave or oven to reheat your Chipotle bowl. However, there are some tricks that you should taketh make a success. Below is a step-by-step guide for reheating your Chipotle bowl without compromising its quality.

Reheat a chipotle bowl in a Microwave

Start by removing some toppings before you reheat the bowl to keep them fresh and crispy. Failure to do that makes them soggy or wilted, ruining the flavor and texture. You can set them aside in a separate bowl and add them back once you have reheated the bowl. 

If mixed, they become hard to remove. As you set the bowl in the microwave, try not to remove the meat and other ingredients. Your bowl should include meat, rice, grilled veggies, and beans. That gives you the best results. 

You can still choose to add new ingredients from your fridge for a more appetizing dish. That works better if you want to replace your lettuce. You can reheat your Chipotle bowl in the take-out bowl it is served in, but get rid of the foil lid. 

Chipotle’s bowls are from compostable paper, which is unsafe for the microwave. Chipotle bowls are not stamped anywhere as microwave-safe, so transfer them to a microwave-safe dish. The microwave is a simple and convenient method for Chipotle leftovers. 

Steps

1. Remove the fresh ingredients. 
2. Place the remaining ingredients into a microwave-safe dish.
3. Heat the remaining items for 20 seconds. 
4. Stir the ingredients to heat evenly, and return it to the microwave for another 20 seconds. 
5. Always test the temperature of your food using a thermometer and be warm enough. Heat further if necessary in 15-20 second intervals. Make sure you do not cook your Chipotle but warm it. 
6. You can now mix your ingredients and toppings that were not reheated or any new toppings that you would have added. 
7. Serve your Chipotle.

Oven

The oven also works for reheating your Chipotle bowl. If you have time, use this method. The oven takes time since you have to wait for it to preheat. The cooking time is also longer, unlike when using the microwave. Your meal still gets reheated back up to its natural state. The process is simple, and it takes extra minutes for the overall cooking time. The flavor you get is worth it.

Steps

1. Remove the toppings as explained above.
2. Preheat your oven to 350°F.
3. Take the remaining contents into an oven-safe dish.
4. Cover the dish with aluminum foil. 
5. Reheat in the oven for about 10 to 15 minutes or until warm to your preference.
6. Remove from the oven and transfer to a plate. 
7. Add your toppings and enjoy.

Best method

Skillet

You can also use a skillet on the stovetop if you want to turn your bowl contents into a burrito. The skillet method preserves and revives the flavors of your chipotle, giving you a delicious solution, and quick.

Using a skillet requires you to mix all your ingredients, turning them into a burrito filling. If you do not have a microwave at hand, and you cannot wait for an oven, you can still make a quick meal by reheating your chipotle bowl on the stove.

Steps

1. Remove all of the fresh toppings, following the steps above. 
2. Heat a skillet on medium heat on the stove. Medium heat prevents your meal from burning or overcooking. 
3. Add a little butter or cooking spray to the skillet. 
4. Toss in the rest of the ingredients of your Chipotle bowl. 
5. Stir the ingredients in the skillet while they reheat. 
6. Keep heating for more than 2-4 minutes following the steps above. Keep stirring throughout the process. 
7. When reheated, transfer them to a serving dish. 
8. Add back in your fresh ingredients and enjoy.

Storage

Leave your chipotle bowl to refrigerate for four to five days. For the best results, separate the different elements before storing them. The bowl consists of chicken, rice, black beans, corn salsa, tomato salsa, guacamole, and shredded cheese (Culinaryhill.com) . 

Store the sauces and your lettuce separately from the rest of the ingredients, so it will not be soggy. That is how you ensure your ingredients and Chipote taste just as delicious as when cooked. Keeping your ingredients separated keeps your sauces from tasting sour, or your fresh lettuce and salad wilted.

Safe Temperatures

Preheat your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Remove fresh ingredients for a fresh dish.

FAQs

Is the bowl from Chipotle safe for the microwave? 

The Chipotle bowl is not safe for reheating your food. Instead, change your bowls. Put the paper bottom of the bowl in the microwave but that does not mean it is microwave-safe. Whatever bowl you pick, remove the foil lid so you will not have a fire hazard. 

Note that the bowl is not stamped as a microwave-safe bowl, meaning when you are microwaving your food, the products in the bowl can leech onto your food. Chipotle uses environmentally-friendly materials to make their bowls, but there is no guarantee that they do not affect your food.

Can you refrigerate a Chipotle bowl?

Yes, but when you get your bowl, it has a foil lid to cover the contents. Only attach the lid to the bowl and toss it in the refrigerator. For better results, remove your items like lettuce, salsa, fresh veggies, guacamole, and sour cream and separate them before you place everything in the fridge. 

Can you eat a Chipotle bowl cold?

Yes, you can. It is safe to eat a cold Chipotle bowl, although it is easier to reheat.  You may also choose to take the chunks of meat out and heat them separately before adding them to the cold ingredients.

Can you freeze a Chipotle bowl?

No, you cannot. Some recipes allow you to make freezer-friendly Chipotle meals. Buy freezer containers and then freeze your chipotle bowls in them. Freeze your chipotle bowl within 2 hours of preparing them. 

When freezing your chipotle bowl, do not add your vegetables and salsa to it. You can freeze the sour cream or guacamole, but keep your vegetables fresh.