Whether you made your onion rings yourself or ordered them from a favorite restaurant, you will agree with us that they are utterly delicious only while they are freshly prepared and warm.
Given their specific textures, many wonder if it is even possible to reheat onion rings and so, they simply throw the leftovers in the trash because of confusion. Don’t do the latter, though.
We bring you a few methods by which you can reheat your favorite rings and restore their old glory.
Reheating Onion Rings In A Skillet
Maybe this method didn’t come to your mind first, but you can actually reheat onion rings in a pan. It’s actually a very quick and easy way and will result in delicious and crunchy rings that you’re used to.
The process is almost like frying them again, but much shorter. Here’s what you need to do.
Step 1: Put the Oil in a Pan and Heat
You first need to heat the oil in the pan. Opt for vegetable oil as it can withstand a much higher frying temperature. This is also recommended during the initial frying. Do not use olive or other similar oils.
Step 2: Put Onion Rings in a Pan and Fry for a Few Minutes
When the oil is heated, place the onion rings in a pan and fry just as you did during the initial frying, but in a shorter period of time. It will take you a few minutes for the rings to warm up well.
You can flip them over to fry evenly on both sides. When you notice that they have reached the desired temperature, take them out.
Step 3: Pick up the Excess Oil Left on the Onion Rings
Take the onion rings out of the pan and place them on a paper or a kitchen towel. Pat them lightly with extra paper to soak up any excess oil that has accumulated during frying, so it will be tastier and healthier to consume.
Reheating Onion Rings In The Oven
The oven is another great way to reheat onion rings. Although it requires significantly more time, the big advantage is that it does not require extra oil, so you won’t need to soak your rings in it again.
Also, the oven will perfectly preserve the onion rings’ crunchiness, resulting in a super tasty meal.
Step 1: Preheat the Oven to 350 °F
You need to preheat the oven to 350 degrees F before you put the onion rings inside. Therefore, the temperature is medium to strong, by no means maximum because that way, you will only burn the rings.
Step 2: Arrange Onion Rings and Cover with Foil
Place the baking paper on the baking tray first and then arrange the onion rings in one row. Don’t toss them on top of each other as they won’t be nicely crispy.
When you have arranged the onion rings, cover them with aluminum foil.
Step 3: Bake for about 10 to 15 Minutes
When you have covered the onion rings with foil, put them in the oven to bake. It will take approximately 10 to 15 minutes to warm up and restore its crunchiness fully. Make sure they are done.
If they are warm, you can serve them immediately after taking them out from the oven.
FAQs
Can I reheat onion rings in a microwave?
This is another question to which we will answer that, in theory, you can but that you really shouldn’t. Like other dishes for which crunchiness is the biggest trump card, onion rings are simply not intended to be heated in the microwave.
We know it’s the fastest way to reheat anything literally, but a microwave will no doubt ruin the crunchiness of your delicious onion rings, and they’ll become yucky.
How long will fried onion rings last in a fridge?
We suggest that you store the onion rings in the refrigerator in a box with a lid. Primarily, so as not to take on the aroma of other foods in the fridge, and equally spread their scent around.
In the refrigerator, onion rings should last between 3 and 5 days. However, the more time passes, the more they will lose texture and firmness, so we definitely suggest you consume them as soon as possible.
Can I freeze fried onion rings?
Yes, you can store your leftover fried onion rings in the freezer if you don’t need them in the next few days. It’s actually a good way to save yourself some preparation time in the future if you make several servings of onion rings at once and freeze them. They should last up to a year without losing quality and flavor, once frozen.
Conclusion
Onion rings can be reheated even though you may not have known it until now. Many restaurants use this technique to prepare meals in advance and have faster, ready-made portions for their guests. So feel free to put the leftover onion rings you have from lunch in the fridge or freezer and save for later.
What is essential when reheating is to restore the crunchiness that is so specific to fried onion rings. Without it, they just aren’t that delicious. Unfortunately, the microwave will not help you in this case, but you can choose between reheating in the oven or on the stove. Both methods work quite well.
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.
