Whether you made them from scratch or got them from your favorite restaurant, we can all agree that onion rings are one of the classic, delicious snacks that have stood the test of time.
This deep-fried appetizer is not only popular in North America, but also in other parts of the world. It takes only a few ingredients and some simple steps to prepare this utterly tasty snack.
Like other deep-fried snacks, onion rings taste the freshest and tastiest when enjoyed warm, straight off the stove.
Unfortunately, after spending a night in the fridge, they won’t taste as heavenly as freshly prepared. Although that doesn’t mean you should throw away leftovers.
In this article, we share several reheating methods to preserve some of the crispiness, so your leftover onion rings taste as delicious as day one! So, keep reading!
Can You Reheat Onion Rings and Make Them Crispy Again?
The challenging part of reheating a deep-fried food is how to restore its crispy texture. So the first question would be: Can you reheat onion rings in the microwave?
A widespread scenario is to reheat leftovers in the microwave. Unfortunately, this appliance is not a good match for onion rings.
While technically you can microwave them, doing so will compromise their crunchy, desirable texture. Instead of a beautiful, crispy exterior, you will end up with a soggy mess.
Don’t worry. You can reheat the onion rings quickly in the skillet, oven, or air fryer. You can always choose one method that best suits your situation. Check our simple guide below and which way is your best bet.
Method 1: Reheating Onion Rings in a Skillet
Reheating in a skillet comes in handy when you have a small amount to reheat. It’s like re-fry them, but with less oil and shorter time because we only want to warm them up, not overcook and burn them.
This method is also perfect when you have instant cravings! It takes only a few minutes to get crispy, golden brown onion rings that taste fresh!
Here is what you need to do.
1. In a skillet, pour vegetable oil, such as canola or soybean oil. Don’t use olive oil because this one is not suitable for frying at high temperatures.
2. Heat the skillet over medium heat.
3. Once the oil is hot, add the onion rings to the pan. Pour just enough pieces, so you don’t overcrowd the pan. Otherwise, they won’t be reheated evenly. Tips: Don’t place foods when the oil is still cold because they will soak up more oil and end up overly greasy instead of nice and crispy.
4. Fry them over medium heat for a few minutes. Flip them a few times, so both sides are heated up evenly.
5. Once they are golden brown and reach your desired crispness, remove them from the pan immediately.
6. Transfer them to a paper towel-lined plate to drain excess oil.
7. Serve with your favorite dipping sauce!
Method 2: Reheating Onion Rings in the Oven
The oven method is also an excellent option to reheat fried stuff. Since little or no oil is added during the process, the final result will be less oily than re-frying them.
It also works exceptionally well if you need to deal with a ton of leftovers because you can reheat large quantities at the same time.
Here is how you should do it.
1. Preheat your oven to 350 to 375 °F. These temperatures are ideal for heating up leftovers evenly without burning and drying them out.
2. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
3. Arrange and spread onion rings on the lined baking sheet evenly in a single layer. Avoid putting them on top of each other.
4. Cover with aluminum foil.
5. Bake for 10 to 15 minutes until they are nicely heated up.
6. When they are ready, take them out of the oven. Be careful when removing the foil.
7. Serve them immediately!
Method 3: Reheating Onion Rings in an Air Fryer
If an air fryer has become your go-to appliance, we have good news. It is also perfect for reheating leftovers and restoring their crispy texture. It’s also your best bet when you don’t feel like turning on your oven.
Here is how to do it.
1. Optional: lightly coat onion rings with cooking spray.
2. Place them in the air fryer basket in a single layer and avoid stacking them, so the heat distributes evenly.
3. Heat them up at 350 F for about 10 minutes. Then, flip halfway, so both sides heat up properly.
4. Once done, remove from the oven and serve immediately.
FAQs
How long can you keep onion rings in the fridge?
They typically keep fresh for 3 to 5 days when refrigerated in an airtight container. Make sure to promptly put them in the fridge and reheat them properly before serving.
Can you freeze cooked onion rings?
Yes. To freeze onion rings, start by flash freezing them on a baking sheet. Once frozen individually, pack them in a freezer bag and remove excess air from the bag.
Seal it well and freeze for several months. Then, reheat them in the oven shortly before serving.
How do you keep onion rings from getting soggy?
There are several things that you should pay attention to. First, coat enough batter on the rings, but not too much. Too much batter will result in soggy instead of light and crispy pieces.
Second, fry them once the oil is hot. Frying in cold oil, let the food soak up more oil. Lastly, don’t reheat them in the microwave.
What can I do with leftover onion rings?
You can reheat and eat them as usual. Alternatively, you can also cut them into smaller pieces and throw them into salads, soup, or baked dishes to add some crunchy bites to your recipes.
Take Away Messages
Reheating deep-fried snacks, such as onion rings, can be pretty challenging if you don’t know the trick.
The golden rule is never to heat them up in the microwave if you don’t want to have soggy pieces. Instead, reheat them quickly in a skillet, oven, or air fryer.
Check our detailed instructions on the proper way to reheat onion rings to retain their nice, crispy texture!
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.
