In summary: There are three ways to reheat meatballs like a pro: quick and delicious: in an oven, on a stovetop, or in an air fryer. Each way involves heating the meatballs with or without sauce, but they differ in temperature and duration.
Meatballs are a truly unique dish that can serve as a meal combined with so many side dishes that can bring a whole new eating experience every time.
It is, therefore, very wise to prepare a more considerable amount in advance and freeze meatballs so that you always have lunch ready when you need it.
When reheating, it is essential to keep the juiciness that the dish originally had, so it does not dry out and become stiff and inedible. Nobody likes chewy meatballs.
With a few simple tips, you will be a master of reheating, and none of your family members will even notice that you just reheated meatballs.
Reheating Meatballs In An Oven
The oven is the best method if you are reheating meatballs without the sauce and have larger amounts of it. With this technique, you will be able to heat the balls all the way to the core gradually, and they will be just as delicious as it was in the beginning.
A big problem with reheating meatballs is that the outside heats up too quickly while the inside stays icy. It is neither tasty nor healthy because you have to heat the meat properly to be safe for consumption. With the help of an oven, you will easily solve this problem.
Step 1: Preheat the Oven to 350 °F
It is important that the temperature is not maximum so that the meatballs’ outer crust does not burn. Set the oven to 350 degrees F, the ideal temperature to reheat meatballs, and let it heat up thoroughly. Leave some extra time for defrosting if you want to reheat frozen meatballs.
You can reheat frozen meatballs directly, but the danger is that the core will be left lukewarm while the outside will be pipping hot.
Step 2: Put Meatballs on a Baking Dish and Heat
Arrange the meatballs on a baking sheet and leave a little space between each so that it heats up nicely on all sides. Put the meatballs in the oven and heat for about 15 minutes.
If you have a thermometer, you can check if it is well heated. The internal temperature should be 165 degrees. If you don’t have a thermometer, cut one ball and make sure it’s hot inside.
Heating Meatballs On A Stovetop
A completely different method of reheating applies to meatballs that are dipped in the sauce. In that case, opt for a stovetop method instead of an oven, and do it slowly.
It won’t help you much if you decide to turn the fire on the strongest as you will fail to heat the inside of the balls thoroughly. Here is the right technique.
Step 1: Put the Meatballs and Sauce in a Pot and Cover
Put the meatballs together with the complete sauce in the frying pan in which you will heat them. If you have a slightly larger amount, prefer to opt for a somewhat wider pot so that everything has enough space. Then, add a few tablespoons of oil and cover the pot.
Step 2: Heat over a Lower Temperature
Turn the stove to medium heat and place the pot with the meatballs to warm up. The goal is to gradually heat the entire content without the sauce boiling. This way, you will heat the meatballs nicely and evenly all the way to the core.
The warm-up will take a minimum of 20 minutes, you can be sure of that, so arm yourself with patience. Stir occasionally and make sure to heat everything thoroughly.
Warming Up Meatballs In An Air Fryer
The air fryer will be another great way to reheat meatballs without sauce. Although you can also do this with the sauce, it will be far more efficient to heat the meatballs in the air fryer and the sauce separately on the stove.
By heating with hot air, leftover meatballs will become a little crispy and they will certainly be thoroughly heated.
The only downside to the air fryer method is that you can’t cram in a large amount at once, so if you have a really big lunch for several people, maybe the slower oven method will prove to be easier and faster after all.
Step 1: Preheat the Air Fryer to 350 °F
Turn the air fryer on to a medium heat of 350 degrees. During this time, you prepare the cold meatballs in the basket. Remember, if reheating frozen meatballs, defrost them first so that the center does not remain cold.
Step 2: Put Meat in a Basket
First, cover the bottom of the basket with parchment paper so as not to unnecessarily dirty the grates.
Place the meatballs inside, but in such a way that they are in one row and that there is enough space between each one so that they do not stick to each other and that the air can circulate better.
If you have more pieces than the basket can handle in one round, be sure to distribute them in several heating cycles.
Step 3: Heat for 5 Minutes or a Bit Longer
Turn on the air fryer for 5 minutes because it will certainly take that long to heat up the meatballs. Depending on how big they are, they may need an extra minute or two.
Be sure to check the result and decide on the length of the heating. You can use a food thermometer if you don’t want to cut one ball in half to check.
FAQs
Can I reheat meatballs in the microwave?
Yes, you can do microwave reheating meatballs if you are in a hurry, although the result will undoubtedly be much better with the techniques we have recommended.
However, if you opt for a microwave, the advice is to heat on a slightly lighter volume and, if you can, cut the meatballs into smaller pieces to better heat the inside. If you have meatballs without sauce, you can also put a damp paper towel over them to keep them from drying out.
How can you properly store cooked meatballs?
If you are storing meatballs to consume them soon, it is recommended that you put them in an airtight container with a lid or a plastic wrap, and store in the refrigerator. It would be good not to leave cooked meatballs at room temperature for more than 2 hours so that bacteria do not start to develop.
You can store meatballs in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. For more extended storage, be sure to put them in the freezer immediately, as this will extend their shelf life up to 3 or 4 months.
How do I know if the meatballs have gone bad?
If you are unsure whether your leftover meatballs are safe to eat, you can always rely on your sense of smell first. If they start to smell harsh, know that something is wrong. Also, they should not have any signs of discoloration or the appearance of mold on them. If you notice anything suspicious, you rather throw away the meatballs than risk the health of yourself or your family.
How long can meatballs stay in the fridge?
Cooked meatballs (chicken, beef, turkey) should last in the fridge between 3 to 4 days.
How do you heat up meatballs without drying them out?
To heat up meatballs without drying them out, you can use a gentle method like reheating in a sauce or broth on the stovetop. Alternatively, you can reheat them in the oven at a low temperature (around 275°F or 135°C) and cover them with foil or in a covered dish to retain moisture and prevent them from drying out.
Conclusion
Homemade meatballs will be a great meal whenever you run out of ideas of what to prepare for your family. You can add mashed potatoes, vegetables, rice, and almost anything you can think of as a side dish.
Kids mostly adore meatballs because, let’s be honest, what’s there to dislike. Round food with your favorite meat is simply a complete hit.
So, feel free to save time and prepare larger quantities of meatballs in advance. You can freeze them and then reheat meatballs when you need to. You will need to do a different technique if you are reheating plain meatballs and ones that have tomato sauce on them. With our tips, you can be sure that you will get the best result.
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.
