It is possible to re-crisp leftover french fries. Here are the top techniques. Reheating fries is notoriously challenging. Of course, there are a variety of styles to revive the flavor of your french fries. Remember that fry quality counts while determining which reheating technique to employ. You can reheat any fry, but a thicker sliced fry is ideal for the best flavor and texture retention. A fast-casual restaurant in the United States called Zaxby’s serves chicken wings, chicken fingers, sandwiches, and salads. The oven, frying pan, cooktop, air fryer, and microwave are the best methods for reheating french fries.
How to reheat Zaxby’s fries by frying them again?
One fantastic method for reheating French fries is to fry them again if you have thick wedges or potato strips. Make sure your leftover french fries are firm if you want to go the Belgian route because you don’t want them to disintegrate in the oil. Save your truffle-infused wedges for the stove because this method isn’t the greatest if you want to preserve existing ingredients.
- Heat the canola or sunflower seed oil over medium-high heat in a tabletop fryer
- Fry the french fries for three to five minutes after adding them to the boiling oil.
- Leave the fries out to cool on a platter covered with paper towels.
- Serve the fries with your preferred dipping sauce after re-salting them.
Before disposing of it, let the oil cool fully. This method takes the most effort, but it might produce a crispy outcome.
Reheating fries in the oven
The oven method should be your first choice for reheating fries, followed by double frying. Reheating fries in the oven or toaster oven is a fantastic backup option. Broad baking sheets are also an excellent technique for quickly reheating many fries.
- First, heat the oven to 400 to 450 degrees Fahrenheit (205 to 230 degrees C).
- Put a baking sheet with aluminum foil in the oven to preheat.
- After the baking sheet has heated through, carefully remove it, then spread the fries out in a single, even layer.
- Once more, the precise cook time depends on the size of your fries and the quantity you are reheating.
- Check on your fries after roughly five minutes.
Using the stovetop to reheat Zaxby’s fries
The cooktop is an additional good way to reheat Zaxby’s fries. We put this technique to the test with a sizable, bare skillet. There is already enough oil on the fries, so there is no need to add any more.
- Over a medium-high flame, warm the skillet.
- Add the fries to the pan and cook them for three to five minutes, tossing and flipping them periodically until crispy. Your potatoes’ thickness will affect how long they need to cook.
- If you have a lot of Zaxby’s fries, heat them in batches so that the fries don’t pile up on top of one another and the bottom of the pan is equally covered.
- And this will make it easier for the french fries to crisp up and stop any steam from building up.
- For an additional flavor boost, combine the completed dish with garlic powder, truffle oil, chopped parsley, or Parmesan cheese. The outcome is satisfying, ready-to-eat fries the next day.
Why should you avoid using the microwave to reheat fries?
Fries not tasting as lovely the next day can result from the overuse of one particular kitchen tool: the microwave. Reintroducing a moist, pillowy inside and a crispy exterior to reheated fries is difficult. No matter what kind of testing technique you may devise, the microwave will always end any chance of getting that result. Additionally, microwaving french fries can bring out bitter, unpleasant odors, depending on the type and caliber of the oil used to fry them. If using the microwave is necessary, make sure you spread out the fries in a single layer on a baking sheet coated with paper towels. Microwave for 30 seconds at a time until hot
Reheating fries in an air fryer
If you haven’t already, it will be a good idea to get on the air fryer right away. It ends up being one of the best cooking equipment available. Furthermore, it’s effortless to reheat fries in an air fryer. Look at these actions.
- Arrange the fries in your air fryer in a single layer. You can fry them individually or with one tablespoon of oil added to the fryer.
- Preheat the air fryer to 350 degrees F, then air fry your fries for 3 to 6 minutes, depending on how crunchy you like them.
Can you store leftover Zaxby’s fries?
Store leftover Zaxby’s fries appropriately to keep you and your food safe. Within two hours after chilling, place the Zaxby’s fries in the refrigerator. When you leave the food out at room temperature, bacteria can quickly grow and spread, which will aid in preventing this from happening. It is advisable to dispose of them if they remain out for longer than two hours. Although it may sound absurd, microorganisms may make you ill by multiplying.
French fries should be kept fresh and stored in a shallow airtight container. Fries cooked can be kept for 3 to 5 days in the refrigerator when stored properly. You can securely wrap aluminum foil or food wrap if you’re unsure if your container is completely airtight.
Why do Zaxby’s fries taste bad after being reheated?
The starch makes Zaxby’s fries taste terrible when cold and warm in the microwave. The starch particles outside Zaxby’s fries hydrate to give them their delicious texture. By absorbing moisture, they achieve this, leaving the exterior lovely and crisp.
But this only works well when particles are hot. The hydrated starch loses its internal water when it starts to cool, and the remaining fry absorbs this water. A limp and mushy fry is the end consequence.
Fries get cooked inside out when you reheat them in the microwave. The fry is effectively steamed by the moisture inside; therefore, frying with moisture does not produce crispy fries.
The Zaxby’s fries are heated outside in the oven, air fryer, and pan. They absorb the moisture from the fry as they heat up and re-crisp. The starch flakes heat up as a result.
The texture of reheated french fries plays a significant role in their unpleasant flavor. In addition to being soggy, microwaving the fries won’t heat the oil inside them sufficiently to spread it throughout, so you’ll get a taste of cold fryer oil instead.