Potatoes are another humble yet versatile food item. The root vegetable can be cooked in many ways and still yield an excellent dish.
In case you have some leftovers, you may want to learn the proper ways to reheat them. Due to its versatility in cooking methods, the best reheating method depends on how the dish is prepared initially.
If you want to know the ideal way to reheat mashed or roast potatoes, keep reading. We walk you through the ultimate ways to reheat cooked potatoes!
Is It Safe To Reheat Cooked Potatoes?
It is essential to know when reheating leftovers is safe and won’t put you at risk of food poisoning. The safety issue isn’t always in the reheating process itself but mainly during storage.
It is not uncommon that we forget to put leftovers in the fridge timely. Sometimes they have been left out for hours or even overnight. That’s when things can get ugly.
Keep in mind that leftovers should be refrigerated immediately or within 2 hours of cooking to prevent bacterial contamination that will make you sick. Therefore, you must handle leftovers safely before reheating them.
Leaving cooked potatoes at room temperatures gives a good chance for Clostridium botulinum bacteria to grow and produce harmful toxins. The CDC mentions that the common sources of botulism are home-canned foods. However, some cases are also related to baked potatoes wrapped in aluminum foil.
Potatoes are a versatile item that can be cooked in plenty of ways. The common complaint about reheated potatoes is the altered texture, whether they get dried out or are soggy.
The decent way of reheating leftovers depends on how the starchy vegetable is initially prepared. We have compiled the right ways of every potato dish, so it tastes as delicious as freshly prepared.
How to Reheat Boiled Potatoes
Boiled potatoes are probably the most humble and simple dish that goes along with any meal. It is convenient to prepare them in a large portion and reheat them anytime you need some carbs.
The challenge is to prevent the spuds from getting too mushy and falling apart after reheating. Here are some straightforward methods to reheat the boiled spuds.
Method 1: Oven method
Your oven is surprisingly the best tool to heat up boiled potatoes. Here is how to do it.
1. Preheat the oven to 300 °F.
2. Spread the potatoes in a baking dish and drizzle some olive oil.
3. Reheat for 10 minutes until thoroughly warmed up.
4. Serve!
Method 2: Reheating in the microwave
Although the oven method yields the best result, it does take time. If you only need a small portion for yourself, you might consider reheating in the microwave. The only drawback is the spuds can get soggy and mushy.
1. Place the potatoes in a microwave-safe container.
2. Cover with a damp paper towel.
3. Reheat over medium power until adequately heated up.
4. Serve!
How to Reheat A Baked Potato
A baked potato is a delicious side dish for steaks, salmon, and any main dish. When it comes to reheating, doing it in the oven is considered the best method.
The oven method effectively preserves the texture and prevents drying out, so you can get it as fluffy and light as the first time. Luckily, you can also reheat it in the microwave if you’re short on time.
Method 1: Reheating in the oven
1. Set your oven to 350 °F. Remove the leftover from the fridge and bring it to room temperature while the oven is heating up.
2. Uncover the foil from the previous baking (if any) and place the dish on a baking dish. If you have whole-baked potatoes, you can also put them directly on the oven rack.
3. Bake for 15 to 20 minutes until thoroughly heated through the center.
4. Once done, let it cool for a few minutes and enjoy!
Method 2: Reheating in the microwave
1. Slice the potatoes into half or smaller pieces and place them into a microwaveable container.
2. Cover with a damp paper towel.
3. Microwave on medium power for 1 to 3 minutes, depending on the size of the potatoes.
How to Reheat Roast Potatoes
Similar to baked potatoes, the best method to heat up roast potatoes is in the oven. It is great to preserve the texture and delicious flavors, but it takes some time. As an alternative, you can also heat them up in an air fryer or microwave.
Method 1: Reheating in the oven
1. Preheat the oven to 400 °F.
2. Line a cookie sheet with foil or parchment paper. Alternatively, you can also grease the pan with oil or cooking spray to prevent the potatoes from sticking to the pan.
3. Spread roast potatoes in a single layer, drizzle a little bit of olive oil and cover with aluminum foil.
4. Reheat for 10 to 15 minutes until everything is thoroughly warmed up.
5. To crisp up the exterior, uncover the foil and roast for 5 more minutes.
You can also use a toaster oven to reheat a smaller portion.
Method 2: Reheating in an air fryer
1. Fill in the air fryer basket with roast potatoes.
2. Reheat at 350 to 400 °F for 5 minutes. Check if they are warmed up thoroughly. Extend the reheating time if necessary.
3. Serve immediately.
Method 3: Reheating in the microwave
Microwaving roast potatoes can be a little tricky if not done correctly. It is certainly not the best option if you prefer crispy bites, but a decent option to save time. It takes only a few minutes to get the dish ready.
1. Transfer roast potatoes to a suitable container and cover with a damp paper towel.
2. Reheat on a low to medium power for 2 to 3 minutes until warm enough. Avoid microwaving them for too long to prevent them from drying out.
3. Serve and enjoy!
How to Reheat Mashed Potatoes
Creamy and smooth mashed potatoes are a delicious side dish loved by many people. Sadly, the comfort food tends to dry out and become thicker when it’s cold.
Reheating mashed potatoes is an easy task but also a tricky one. If not done correctly, the classic dish will turn out gluey and unappetizing. Don’t worry. A little extra liquid (milk, cream, or half-and-half) and butter will fix the consistency.
Here are three simple methods to reheat the classic dish to taste as delicious as freshly prepared.
Method 1: Reheating in a double boiler
If you have a double boiler, that’s a perfect vessel for reheating mashed potatoes. Alternatively, you can also place the dish in a heat-proof bowl (such as a Pyrex glass bowl) and place it over simmering hot water. Here is how to do it.
1. Transfer the dish to a heat-proof bowl and place it over simmering water (not boiling water).
2. Stir occasionally. Add some milk or cream and butter until it reaches the right consistency.
3. Reheat for a few minutes until the dish is perfectly heated.
Method 2: Reheating in the microwave
Microwaving mashed potatoes might not be the best idea, but still, a feasible option when you want to bring some leftovers to work.
1. Place mashed potatoes in a microwaveable container.
2. Add extra liquid and butter and stir well.
3. Cover the dish and microwave on medium power for 15 to 30 seconds.
4. Stir and repeat until the dish is nicely heated up and reaches the desired consistency.
Method 3: Reheating in the oven
Some people don’t favor heating up mashed potatoes in the oven because doing so usually yields a drier dish. But it is a great solution when you need to warm up a massive portion for the whole family.
1. Set your oven to 325 to 350 °F. Don’t use a higher temperature to prevent the dish from getting sticky and starchy.
2. While the oven is heating up, bring the mashed potatoes to room temperature for 10 to 15 minutes.
3. Place the comfort food in an oven-safe dish and add some milk or heavy cream and butter to help fix the dry texture. Adjust the amount of liquid and butter to the portion you are reheating.
4. Cover the baking dish with aluminum foil and heat up for 20 to 30 minutes until piping hot.
5. Serve and enjoy!
FAQs
How long can you keep the cooked potatoes in the fridge?
Like other leftovers, cooked potatoes can stay well for 3 to 4 days in the fridge. Make sure to place them in the refrigerator within 2 hours of cooking. (*)
Can I bake potatoes ahead of time and reheat them?
Yes. You can actually bake them in a large portion to enjoy whenever you wish. Refrigerate or freeze them promptly after cooking and reheat them for a quick meal.
The ideal way to reheat the spuds depends on how they were initially cooked. But, in most cases, you can reheat frozen potatoes in the oven.
Your microwave is also a decent alternative if you need a quick meal or bring leftovers to work. Follow our tips above to reheat every kind of cooked potato!
Rosa graduated with a master degree in Food Safety from Wageningen University and Research, The Netherlands. Recently, she started a consulting agency to facilitate the improvement of food safety, quality, and sustainability.
