How to Reheat Fries (and Other Leftovers) in Your Air Fryer

Your leftovers deserve an encore! Here's the right way to reheat fries in an air fryer.

Even if you’re eating the best fries in the USA, sometimes you just can’t finish them all. Is there anything sadder than good french fries going to waste? Nope—but you don’t have to toss ’em. If you’ve got an air fryer at home, you can give your delicious fries new life in just a few minutes.

Become an expert on air fryers with this guide.

How to Reheat Fries

Set your air fryer to 350°F and preheat it for a couple of minutes. (I find that preheating helps the fries cook more evenly.) Spread out the fries in the basket. Don’t fill the basket more than half full or the fries won’t crisp up as well. And if you have a lot of leftovers, it’s best to reheat them in batches.

Heat the fries for 3 to 4 minutes, shaking the basket halfway through. If you have steak fries, add an extra minute or two of cooking time. Either way, keep your eyes on the fries—they can go from crispy to burnt in the blink of an eye. Here’s how to reheat McDonald’s fries at home.

See what else you can do with that magical air fryer of yours!

How to Reheat Other Leftovers

Fries aren’t the only fast food leftovers that would love a few minutes in the air fryer (here’s how that works). Plenty of fast food and takeout will come out perfectly crispy the second time around.

Pizza

Preheat the air fryer to 320°F. Lay the leftover slices in the basket—but don’t overlap them. Cook for 3 to 4 minutes, then for 30-second intervals if the slices aren’t done.

Fried Chicken

Made one of our best fried chicken recipes? Let the chicken come to room temperature before you start. Cook for 3 to 4 minutes at 320°F. Again, don’t overcrowd the basket. Here are a few tips for reheating fried chicken.

Egg Rolls

Set the oven to 350°F. Preheat a few minutes and add the egg rolls. Cook them till just warmed through—about 3 to 4 minutes.

Of course, an air fryer is good for much more than heating up leftovers. You can make Southern fried chicken that’ll help you forget drive-thrus even exist, or even crispy air fryer Brussels sprouts. It’s unlikely there will be any leftovers when you do!

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Cathryn Jakicic
Cathy Jakicic has written about everything from business and bacteria to beads and baking in her career —but she greatly prefers the last two. She is a baker and a crafter and loves to try new recipes for both.