In summary: There are three ways to reheat delicious crab cakes: using a toaster oven, using a stove, and using an air fryer. Each way has its own advantages and disadvantages, depending on the number of pieces, the desired texture, and the available time.
The crab cake is a great, crunchy, and delicious dish that is mostly made up of sweet crab meat and bread crumbs, with the addition of everything else.
What is wonderful about this dish is that you can eat crab cakes in many ways, and thus, have a different meal for a couple of days.
You can serve on its own, or with crab cakes side dishes, then in a sandwich, or as a crunchy addition to the main dish with your favorite sauces. You can even eat crab cakes cold if you like.
Feel free to prepare more crab cakes in advance because they heat up very nicely, and you can save yourself time for preparing lunch.
The only thing you will need to be careful about is not to dry them out completely. As it is a crunchy dish with crumbs, it can easily dry out. Here are the best ways to reheat cooked crab cakes leftovers.
How to Reheat Crab Cakes In The Toaster Oven
The toaster oven is a good way to reheat crab cakes, especially if you have many pieces, and you want to heat them all at once.
The advice is to let the crab cakes come to room temperature before putting them in the oven. This is also true if you have frozen crab cakes. Thaw them and let them temperate a bit.
Step 1: Preheat the Oven to 325 °F
The first thing you should do is to preheat the oven well. Set the temperature to 325 degrees F and let it heat up. Meanwhile, you have the time to prepare the crab cakes.
Step 2: Prepare the Crab Cakes for Reheating
Take your baking tray and lay the paper baking sheet on the bottom. Then, arrange the crab cakes in a way that there is enough space between each. Finally, cover the tray with aluminum foil so the crab cakes can retain their moisture.
If you feel like your dish is overdried, you can add a few drops of water in the tray corners so steam can restore the crab cake’s moisture.
Step 3: Bake for 10 to 15 Minutes
It will take approximately 10 to 15 minutes for the room temperature crab cakes to warm up fully. It will also depend on their size, so adjust the time as needed. Reheating crab cakes like this will give crunchy and tender results.
Reheating Crab Cakes On The Stove
A fairly quick and easy way to reheat crab cakes is on the stove. With the addition of a little water, you will be able to regain the juiciness of the dish especially if it has dried out due to standing.
Here’s how to best heat up crab cakes in a skillet.
Step 1: Place the Frying Pan on a Stove and Preheat
Turn on the stove to medium heat. You don’t want your crab cakes to burn during the warm-up process, so don’t use the maximum heat. Spray a little oil on a pan and let it heat up. You can use olive oil since you won’t go for max heat.
Step 2: Put Crab Cakes in a Pan and Cover
Put crab cakes in a frying pan and cover with a lid to keep the juiciness. Fry for two to three minutes until well heated on one side.
Step 3: Flip the Crab Cakes and Add a Little Water
Flip the crab cakes to warm up on the other side as well. At this point, you can add a little water if the crab cakes are very dry. Cover the pan.
A few minutes of warming up and your crab cakes will be ready to enjoy.
Steps To Reheat Crab Cakes In The Air Fryer
You say crunchy, and we say air fryer. It’s just a perfect tool for preparing or reheating crunchy dishes, thus no exception for crab cakes.
The dish will be heated evenly with a nice crispy crust. And at the same time, it will not become hard or burnt. The fryer method has a few straightforward steps to a quick and tasty result.
Step 1: Preheat the Air Fryer to 350 °F
The required temperature is medium heat. Do not increase the air fryer to maximum because the crispy edges could burn.
Turn on the appliance and let it heat up for a few minutes before putting the cold crab cake inside.
Step 2: Arrange the Leftover Crab Cakes in a Basket
Arrange the crab pieces in the air fryer basket so that they are in one layer with a bit of space between each one. Refrain from cramming them too tightly, and never stack multiple layers on top of each other.
Optionally, you can sprinkle the upper part of the crab cakes with cooking spray or coat them with some melted butter. This is especially useful if your crab leftovers are a bit dry and need some revival.
Step 3: Cook for 5 Minutes or More
The crab cakes will take 5 minutes to heat up thoroughly, except if they are so thin that they need a little less time.
Turn on the fryer for 5 minutes and wait. You can flip them in the middle of the heating cycle to get an evenly crispy result, but it is not necessary.
Check if the crab cakes are hot enough and, if necessary, return them to the air fryer for an additional minute or two.
FAQs
Can I reheat crab cakes in a microwave?
We strongly advise you not to do so. A microwave oven could turn a lump of delicate crab meat into a rubber compound. It can change its texture and will not taste fresh as you expected. So if you have any other options, avoid the microwave in this case.
Can you freeze baked crab cakes?
You can definitely freeze baked crab cakes without losing its flavor or texture. As they are quite delicate, be careful when handling them to keep their nice round shape. The best thing to do is to freeze them soon after preparing. To not stick to each other, you can first lay them on a paper sheet and put it to freeze. Then you can collect them and store them together in a freezer bag. Before reheating, be sure to thaw them completely, and if you have time, leave to adjust to room temperature.
How long do crab cakes last in the fridge?
Even though some say they can last for four to five days, considering it is seafood with the addition of eggs and mayonnaise and other ingredients, we would suggest that you keep them for two to a maximum of three days. It’s better to be safe than sorry. Place them in an airtight container and refrigerate.
Are crab cakes good the next day?
Yes, crab cakes can still be good the next day if properly stored and reheated. Refrigerate any leftover crab cakes promptly after cooking, and when reheating, use a stovetop or oven method to help preserve their flavor and texture.
Conclusion
Reheating crab cakes is not complicated at all, and the taste will be really good. Try to be gentle when handling so that they do not fall apart. It won’t spoil the taste, but you may want to keep their nice round look.
We have two effective methods for reheating this dish. You can choose the one that suits you best. If your crab cakes were frozen, be sure to defrost them well first before starting to reheat them. Reheated crab cakes taste almost precisely like freshly made ones.
Tanja is great lover of healthy eating and lifestyle, she has been editing TV series about nutrition and health for years. She also engaged in food production in the family business, mainly focused on fruit processing without destroying vitamins and minerals. She believes that quality nutrition is one of the key ingredients of a happy and healthy life.
