In short, there are three ways to reheat onion rings to taste like fresh: in a skillet, in the oven, or in an air fryer. Each method requires heating the onion rings for a few minutes and removing the excess oil.
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. That would be a mistake especially for homemade onion rings.
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 frying 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 frying 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: Place Onion Rings in a Pan and Fry for a Few Minutes
When hot oil is ready, 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 warm onion rings out of the pan and place them on a paper 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 reheating onion rings is another great way to get the job done. 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 toaster oven to medium heat of 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 sheet 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.
Heating Onion Rings In An Air Fryer
An air fryer is simply the perfect method of reheating onion rings. You don’t need to use extra oil, plus the hot air will perfectly dry the soggy onion rings and turn them into the crispy delicacy they were in the beginning.
The procedure is more than simple and fast, so if you have this appliance in your kitchen, by all means, choose it instead of all other methods.
Step 1: Preheat the Air Fryer to 400 °F
The first step is to heat the air fryer to a relatively high 400 degrees. This is necessary to get crispness and quick heating.
Be sure to wait for the appliance to heat up completely before inserting the cold onion rings inside.
Step 2: Place Leftover Onion Rings in a Basket
Now it’s time to arrange the rings in the air fryer basket. We advise you not to crowd them but to arrange them airily in one layer. Cooking in a couple of cycles is better than having soggy onion rings.
It’s not necessary to add any grease, actually, but if you want, you can spray some olive oil on the onion to give it a little more flavor.
Step 3: Cook Onion Rings for 5 Minutes
The cooking time will be approximately 5 minutes. This should be ideal for the tasty onion rings to dry out, heat up and become crispy as they were.
After 5 minutes, take it out and check if it is hot enough. Serve immediately with your favorite dipping sauce.
FAQs
Can I reheat onion rings in a microwave?
This is another question to which we will answer that, in theory, you can reheat rings in the microwave, but 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 eat onion rings 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.
How do you keep onion rings from getting soggy?
To keep onion rings from getting soggy, it’s important to follow a few tips: First, make sure the onion rings are well-drained after dipping them in batter or coating. Fry them at the right temperature (around 350°F or 175°C) to ensure they cook quickly and evenly, and place them on a wire rack or paper towels after frying to allow any excess oil to drain away. Serve them immediately for the best crispy texture.
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 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.
If you’re lucky to have an air fryer in your kitchen, that should definitely be your number one choice of method. It’s fast and straightforward, and it will restore the crunchiness of your reheated onion rings.
You can reheat frozen onion rings with the same methods. Just make sure you thaw them first. If you leave them frozen, it might give you inedible results.
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.
