There is no doubt that fries are among the most popular meal option or snack people eat around the world.
Especially in the United States, where fast food restaurants are part of the culture, fries are eaten by millions of people very often, with many of them even choosing to reheat them in the microwave to enjoy them later in the day.
However, not everyone knows how to reheat their fries, and many have failed to do it successfully. The result? Soggy fries that are too wet and soft to enjoy.
If that keeps happening to you, then this article has some useful tips and advice on how to reheat your fries in the microwave so that they taste great and like they were just fried!
Why Should You Reheat Your Fries In The Microwave?
Numerous people tend to avoid using day-old fries because they do not seem to heat up nicely.
However, leftover fries can make a great snack at any time of day, so you simply need to understand how to reheat them correctly.
Fries are fried potatoes, and potatoes do not spoil the same day, not even the day after if you properly store them. Therefore, you should reheat them instead of throwing them away just because they have gotten cold.
Moreover, you can reduce the food waste you produce when reheating your fries and enjoy them twice a day without having to spend money ordering more or cooking something else.
So, if you get a huge appetite for fries and have an extra serving in the fridge from the day before, you can simply use the microwave for a quicker reheating process instead of having to wait for the oven to heat up.
Not only that but you will also save yourself some time by washing the tray you will use.
How Can You Reheat Fries In A Microwave?
It’s not nearly as simple as it seems to reheat French fries. We all love the crunchiness fries have and their fresh flavor, both of which can be 100%ruined when not microwaved properly.
However, if you follow our advice, you can get them out of the microwave almost as perfectly as they were when your order first arrived.
First of all, in case you are about to microwave last night’s fries that you’ve refrigerated, you need to get them out of the fridge and allow them to arrive at room temperature. 15 minutes are usually enough for that.
If you are about to microwave your lunchtime fries for dinner, then you can move on to the next step straight away which is to layer them on a couple of paper towels but spread them apart so that they won’t touch or overlap with one another.
The next best move at this point is to drizzle some olive oil over the fries prior to actually putting the plate in the microwave to increase the chances of them coming out crunchy instead of mushy.
The use of olive oil is essential to avoiding getting moist fries, but if you’ve run out of it, you can always substitute it for some vegetable oil.
Once you have drizzled some oil, you can put the plate in the microwave and reheat them in the microwave for 20-second intervals.
Typically, 2 or 3 intervals are enough to get the desired crunchiness and heat, but you might want to go for only one or even more than that.
However, overheating your fries will probably make them too soggy, irrespective of the oil added.
When the fries have reached the desired temperature, throw away the paper towels and set the fries aside to cool for a bit before you enjoy them.
Is Microwave A Good Way To Reheat Fries?
Using the microwave to reheat your fries is undoubtedly the quickest and easiest way, so time-wise and effort-wise, it is a great way.
Nevertheless, in terms of freshness and taste, using the microwave can be also a bad decision as it is very easy to reheat the fries and turn them into soggy, mushy, and inedible food.
On the other hand, a toaster oven or regular oven are much better options if you want to get your reheated fries crispier and tastier than you will get them from a microwave.
Both of these options do require more time and are certainly not as easy, but if you are willing to sacrifice some extra minutes to enjoy your fries as best as you can, then there’s really no dilemma here as to how you need to reheat them.
What To Eat Reheated Fries With
Since you have decided to reheat your fries in the microwave, why not make your plate richer and healthier?
While fries are made from potatoes, which are a great source of carbs and very satiating, they are also deep-fried in oil, which makes them high in saturated fat and a no-longer nutrient-dense food.
So, instead of eating them plain with some ketchup – even though you can always treat yourself to this kind of meal – if you love eating fries and have them on a regular basis, try to combine them with other food that is rich in protein and fiber to make your meal complete.
Consider serving your fries with some baked chicken breast or pre-cooked chicken or ham slices, some boiled or poached eggs, or even an egg-white omelet.
You can also serve them with a salad on the side or turn them into a healthy loaded salad with a taste of the Mediterranean.
The Bottom Line
Fries are a favorite and popular snack or meal option for many people, and there are many who end up with leftover fries they can reheat and enjoy for the second time in their day.
Using the microwave to reheat your fries is the quickest and easiest way to eat them, so follow our tips above to get them as crunchy and tasty as possible!
