In short, there are three ways to reheat fish and chips without losing their crunch: using an air fryer, using an oven, and using a stove. Each method has different steps and cooking times.
Fish and chips are the perfect fast food for any occasion. Whether you have a kids’ party, movie night, or friends’ gathering, it’s always appropriate to serve, and most people will enjoy nibbling on these delicious crunchy snacks. Trouble, however, starts when you have leftovers later on.
It always seems that, no matter what you do while reheating leftover fish and chips, they become soggy. Well, we have the proper solution for you. Follow our advice and prepare the perfect meal from your crunchy fish and chips leftovers. It would be a shame just to throw it all away, wouldn’t it?
Of course, the air fryer is the perfect way to reheat. But if you don’t have this appliance on hand, heating separately fish from chips would be the best way to go. Putting them together just won’t work by any method other that the fryer.
How To Reheat Fish and Chips Altogether In An Air Fryer
If you have an air fryer in the kitchen, consider yourself saved from reheating cold fish and chips separately. An air fryer is an ideal device for heating everything together.
Since both the fries and the fish are crispy and should stay that way, you have no fear of reheating them together.
The hot air from the fryer will ensure that both dishes are perfectly dried, heated, and crispy without making them hard and rubbery.
It’s also great that you don’t need to add excess oil. Thus the taste will be less fatty and definitely more flavorful.
Step 1: Preheat the Air Fryer to 350 °F
To start, choose a medium heat of 350 degrees and let the device heat up completely. In those few minutes, you can prepare leftover fish and chips.
Step 2: Put the Leftovers in the Basket
As we have already said, you can put fish and fries together in the air fryer basket and heat everything together.
You should put the fish on one side and the fries on the other so everything is airy. That is, to leave a little space between the pieces so that the air circulation is better.
Although you can stack a few rows, don’t cram the basket. If you have too many fish and chips, separate them in individual rounds of heating.
Step 3: Heat for 5 Plus 3 Minutes
When you have put the basket with food in the air fryer, turn on the device for 5 minutes and let everything heat up.
Then take the basket out, turn the fish over a little, and arrange the fries so that the inner pieces now face the outside. Then increase the temperature to 370 degrees and heat for 2 or 3 minutes so that everything is nicely crisp.
Reheating Fish In An Oven
The oven is our preferred way to reheat fish. It will warm up the fish evenly and well, and while it is heating in the convection oven, you will have just enough time to reheat the potatoes on the stove. Here is the procedure how to reheat fish.
Step 1: Preheat the Oven to 350 °F
First things first. You need to preheat the oven well. Oven’s temperature of 350 degrees F will be ideal. The nice, crispy texture of the fish will be retained, and the inside will be properly heated.
Step 2: Arrange Pieces of Fish for Reheating
It is always good to leave the fish for ten minutes at room temperature to release the cold. Then, place the fish sticks on the heating rack. It will allow adequate heating from all sides. Of course, you can line the baking sheet underneath.
If you do not have a rack, feel free to use a baking tray. Arrange the pieces of fish so that there is space between them and are not on top of each other.
Step 3: Reheat Fish for about 10 to 15 Minutes
Put the fish in the oven and let it heat up for at least 10 minutes. Determine for yourself if it is enough. If you want it to be a little hot, leave it for a few more minutes. Your reheated fish should taste almost like a fresh one.
Reheating The Chips On A Stove
There is always a double chance that the leftover chips will become gooey when reheated. Simply because, the amount of moisture causes them to soften and lose their firmness. That is why it is especially important to choose a fast method and a high temperature.
And, the best way to do that would be just as you prepared them in the first place. A deep fryer would be the most ideal, but to avoid throwing away liters of oil again and waiting a long time, we bring you how to reheat chips in a frying pan.
To dismiss all doubt, yes, you can reheat leftover fish on a stove as well, but we find the oven method much better.
Step 1: Put Some Oil in a Frying Pan and Preheat
Use a frying pan with a non-stick bottom to make sure the potatoes don’t stick. Put enough vegetable oil in it and heat well over high heat. The oil should be completely hot when you put the fries inside.
Step 2: Soak up all the Moisture from the Fries
Use a kitchen paper towel and dry the potatoes well before putting them in the oil if you want them to be as dry as possible to regain their crunchiness during frying.
Step 3: Fry in Hot Oil until Heated
Put the potatoes in the oil and fry them until they become finely golden and firm in texture. Of course, be careful not to burn as it will only need a very short time to do the whole process.
FAQs
Can I reheat fish and chips in the microwave?
Although this would be the simplest way, unfortunately, a microwave will not help with heating leftover fish and chips. If you put them on nuke, you will surely destroy the fish and the fries’ crunchy texture, and everything will become a soggy mess. Therefore, if you can abstain from the microwave and prefer to choose the proposed methods, the result will be immeasurably better. If not, put the leftover fish and chips on a microwave safe dish and hope for the best.
How long do fish and chips last in the fridge?
If you store leftover fish and chips properly right after eating in the airtight container, they should be good for up to three days in the fridge. Be sure to consume fried fish and chips within that time, not after. You can only extend their time if you freeze them immediately instead of storing them in the refrigerator.
Can I leave fish and chips on the counter overnight?
The shortest possible answer is no. You don’t need to think much about it. Food that has been fried and left at room temperature for too long is prone to developing harmful bacteria that are certainly not good for your stomach. It will not be safe even if you cover it with aluminum foil. So be reasonable and immediately store leftover food in the refrigerator.
How do you reheat fried fish and keep it crispy?
To reheat fried fish and keep it crispy, use an oven or toaster oven instead of a microwave. Preheat the oven to around 350°F (175°C), place the fried fish on a wire rack or a baking sheet lined with parchment paper, and heat for a few minutes until thoroughly warmed and crisp. Avoid stacking the fish, as this can make them lose their crispiness.
Conclusion
There are a number of instructions available on how you can reheat fish and chips, but we think the combination of heating the fish in the oven while heating the potatoes on the stove is ideal. That is if you don’t have an air fryer handy.
Both techniques will get the best results out of food. It will be well and properly heated, and the exterior will be perfectly crispy, just as you like it. The whole process will take a bit longer, but the effort will pay off.
Once you try our techniques, we are sure they will become your go-to solutions for future reheating food necessities.
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.
