The Best Way to Reheat Thanksgiving Leftovers So They Taste Just As Good As Day One
Updated: Apr. 18, 2024
The best part of hosting Thanksgiving? Leftovers for days! Here's the best way to reheat every type of Thanksgiving leftover to optimize taste, texture and temperature.
Turkey
The trick to keeping roasted turkey moist and tender? Add a dash of liquid—gravy, chicken stock, butter or even water in a pinch. Covering the turkey also keeps it moist.
To reheat turkey in the oven: heat sliced turkey with a dash of gravy in a covered dish at 350ºF for about 30 minutes.
You can also microwave sliced turkey: heat, covered, on low or medium power.
Gravy
If you reheat gravy hastily, it can separate. Instead, spoon the gravy into a cool skillet. It has likely solidified into a jelly overnight; that’s fine, it’ll loosen as it heats up. Put the pan over low heat, and stir frequently until the gravy comes to a simmer. Whisk vigorously as it simmers, which will help emulsify a separated gravy.
If you want to reheat it faster, transfer it to a shallow dish and pop it into the microwave. Warm it in 30-second bursts, making sure to stir in-between to get the lumps out, until it’s liquid again.
Stuffing
Reheat stuffing to keep it crispy by popping it into the oven. Heat at 350º for 30-40 minutes, until hot. If the edges begin to darken, cover with foil.
If you’re using an air fryer, pop it in for 5 minutes at 320º—and add some butter over the top to keep it moist!
If you prefer a microwave, add a little butter or broth to keep it moist and cover it with parchment paper, then heat it for 2-3 minutes, stirring it every minute to make sure it heats evenly.
If reheating on the stovetop, add a tablespoon of your oil of choice to a pan, then heat on medium-high until shimmering. Add the stuffing and flatten it into a pancake, then cook for 3-5 minutes on each side until golden brown.
Mashed Potatoes
Reheating mashed potatoes is super easy! Scoop your mashed potatoes onto a microwave-safe dish, add a dollop of cream and heat on half power for a few minutes. Heating low and slow will distribute heat more evenly than high heat.
You can also heat them on the stovetop: simply stir cream into the potatoes and heat over low. If you have a little more time, use the oven—bring them to room temperature, then pop them in the oven for 15-20 minutes at 350°.
Green Bean Casserole
To preserve the delightful combination of creamy green beans and crunchy topping, it’s best to reheat green bean casserole in the oven. Heating in the microwave works in a pinch, but you’ll lose the crunch.
Cover the casserole dish with foil to prevent the topping from burning. Heat for about 20-30 minutes at 350º.
Sweet Potato Casserole
A leftover sweet potato casserole is rarely a thing at my house, but if you’re lucky enough to have ’em, here’s how to reheat them: Cover with foil to prevent the toppings from browning too much. Pop it into a 300° oven and heat for about 15 minutes, until hot. You may microwave sweet potatoes, but expect the topping to soften or the marshmallows to melt.
Don’t miss these other Thanksgiving casseroles.
Dinner Rolls
How do you heat dinner rolls so they’re still fluffy? Pop ’em in the oven! Arrange rolls on a baking sheet or in a casserole dish and heat in a 350º oven until warm, about 7-10 minutes. Bonus points if you perk up the flavor by brushing the tops of the rolls with melted butter and sprinkling with salt.
If you’re in a hurry, put your dinner rolls on a microwave-safe plate and cover them with a damp, clean kitchen towel or paper towel. Microwave them for 30-45 seconds, until just warmed through. Make sure not to get them piping hot, otherwise they’ll be tough and chewy!
Check out these other 4-ingredient Thanksgiving sides.
Cranberry Sauce
Cranberry sauce is resilient! Pop it in the microwave, but stir midway through to ensure that it’s heating evenly. You can also reheat cranberry sauce on the stovetop over low heat—bring it to a boil, then turn the heat down to a gentle simmer until it reaches the desired temperature.
If you want to keep it around for longer, cranberry sauce is one of those Thanksgiving leftovers that you can freeze.
Roasted Vegetables
Whether you made Brussels sprouts, cauliflower or beets, roasted vegetables reheat well for an encore side dish. Don’t microwave roasted veggies: it’ll only soften the crispy exterior. Instead, pop in a 450º oven for 5-10 minutes to heat through. Drizzle with olive oil first to add flavor and extra crunch.
Want to heat ’em up even quicker? Toss them in the air fryer for 3-4 minutes at 400º—no preheating required!
Apple Pie
Reheating apple pie is a balance between keeping the outside perfectly crispy and getting the inside piping hot. For this reason, the oven is probably your best bet for a whole apple pie. Put your pie (or slices) on a baking sheet covered in parchment paper and pop it in a 225-250° oven for 10 minutes.
If you prefer the air fryer, it’s best to stick to a couple slices at a time. Wrap your slices in foil to prevent splattering, then pop them in the air fryer for five to 10 minutes at 350°. The microwave is likely to make your pie soggy, but if you absolutely need to use it, cover your pie with a damp paper towel or microwave cover, then warm it in 30-second intervals.
Originally Published: October 24, 2019
