Burgers are always a go-to lunch and dinner menu for many reasons. Whether for a practical reason or its flavorful taste, this fast food is a great meal choice.
Unfortunately, leftover burgers can quickly lose their flavors. We don’t know how you end up with leftovers, but we’ve all been there.
Luckily, we do have some easy tricks to reheat them, so they taste as wonderful as when they’re just made! So, read on!
Can You Reheat a Hamburger Safely?
There are some things to remember, so you can reheat burgers safely.
1. Proper cooking
According to the USDA, beef patties must be cooked to 160 °F and 165 °F if made of ground turkey.
2. Prompt refrigeration
Cooked burgers should be refrigerated within 2 hours after cooking, or 1 hour if the temperature is above 90 °F. This way, any leftovers are safe to reheat and consume for up to 3 to 4 days.
To reheat safely, make sure the internal temperature reaches 165 °F as measured by a food thermometer.
How To Reheat a Burger
Now, let’s get down to the detailed steps of reheating burgers properly. If you are starving, you can get it done quickly by reheating them at once. However, doing so will destroy the meal, and it won’t taste as phenomenal as freshly made.
Instead, you need to separate the buns, patties, and other ingredients. Next, reheat the buns and patties, and finally, put everything back together.
Here is the best way to reheat burger so it tastes as delicious as day one!
Step 1: Deconstruct the burger
– Bring the burger to room temperature to prevent the components from sticking to each other.
– Next, separate the buns, patty, sauce, and other components (salads, pickles, etc.).
– Check the lettuce and tomatoes. If they are soggy and limp, replace them with fresh vegetables. This way, even a leftover tastes like new!
Step 2: Reheat the buns and patty
You have a handful of options of reheating methods, namely in the oven, microwave, or stovetop.
Reheating in the oven
– Set your oven to 400 °F.
– Arrange the meat patty directly on a metal rack. Place the rack on a baking tray to prevent the fat from spilling all over the oven.
– Reheat for 3 minutes.
– After 3 minutes, add the buns and flip the patty.
– Bake for another 2 to 3 minutes.
Reheating on the stovetop
– Add 2 – 3 tablespoons of water in a pan, place the patty, and cover with the lid. Adding water helps to prevent the meat from drying out.
– Set the stove on medium heat and steam the patty for about 5 to 7 minutes, depending on the thickness.
– Set aside the patty and clean the pan.
– Toast the buns over medium heat for 2 minutes until nice and toasty.
Reheating in the microwave
Microwaving is the fastest and easiest way to reheat leftovers. The only downside of this technique is the buns tend to get soggy. If you have no better option, here is how to do it.
– Place the patty in a microwave-safe container.
– Reheat for 2 to 3 minutes on low to medium power. If the patty is thick, flip it halfway.
– Check if it is already thoroughly reheated. If not, continue reheating for about 20 to 30 seconds. Repeat if necessary.
– For the buns, reheat for 30 to 60 seconds until it is nice and warm.
Step 3: Re-assemble the components
At this point, the patty and buns are perfectly warmed up. The last step is to put the components back together for a warm, delicious burger. Add pickles, sauce, and veggies to your liking.
FAQs
How do you eat leftover burgers?
You have various options on how you can eat leftover burgers. The simplest one would be reheating and eating it as usual. You can also save the patty and use it for tacos or stuffed peppers.
Can you eat a burger left out overnight?
It is best to discard perishable foods, including burgers, that have been left out for more than two hours for your own health. That’s because harmful bacteria can multiply rapidly at room temperature in this short time, let alone overnight. (*)
Can you eat a leftover burger cold?
It can be eaten cold straight from the fridge as long as it is adequately cooked and refrigerated within 1 to 2 hours.
How long is a leftover burger good for?
Cooked burgers can stay for up to 3 to 4 days in the refrigerator. For long-term storage, they can be frozen for up to 2 to 3 months.
Does reheating meat kill bacteria?
If the meat is refrigerated timely, proper reheating kills off harmful bacteria. However, if it has been left out for more than two hours, reheating won’t make it safe to eat. During this period, some bacteria can produce toxins that can survive during reheating. (*)
Summary
As with other food, leftover burgers also deserve a second chance. It might not taste as excellent as its fresh counterpart, but proper reheating is helpful to preserve its quality.
Regardless if it’s homemade or from your favorite fast-food restaurants (McDonald’s, Burger King, etc.), reheating burgers is the same.
Start with separating the components, reheat the buns and patty, and put them all back together for a quick, yummy meal!
Follow our detailed instructions for the proper way to warm up leftover burgers for a quick, tasty meal.
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.
