Skip to main content

Turns out reheated French fries don’t have to be gross

Tricks to return the crispiness to your leftover fries

French fries in the oven
Getty Images

It’s universally accepted that the potato is the world’s best comfort food. Its thousands of applications and culinary contributions are nothing short of astonishing, and it is to be praised. But let’s be honest. Even if the potato’s only gift to the world was French fries, it would still be worthy of the crown. There’s just nothing better than a French fry.

The problem with French fries, though, is that it’s hard to reheat them without ending up with a weird, flabby, soggy mess. Of course, French fry leftovers are a rare thing, but it can happen. So if you find yourself with leftovers that you want to reheat, it’s important to choose the right cooking technique, so they can be just as tasty as the first time.

French fries: A brief history

Did you know French fries have been a popular food ever since they were invented back in the late 1600s? Though originally a Belgian creation, French fries got their name from American soldiers that were stationed in a francophone region of Belgium during World War I. French fries have taken the world by storm to become one of the most popular foods of all time.

French fries in a carton

How do you revive leftover fries?

Everyone has different preferences when it comes to enjoying popular foods like French fries. Though many people love a crispy French fry, others really savor the taste of a wetter and floppier texture. It doesn’t matter if you prefer them crispy or not, there are many great ways to reheat fries to deliver the taste you enjoy.

We recommend reheating leftover French fries using a:

  • Microwave
  • Oven
  • Air fryer

The best way to reheat fries depends on what equipment is available in your kitchen and how you like your fries. If you don’t really care about crispiness, then it’s easy and efficient to reheat your fries using a microwave. For those that prize a crispy fry, we recommend using the air fryer or oven.

Someone lifting something out of a built-in microwave.

How to reheat fries in the microwave

Fries reheated in the microwave are usually less crispy than fries reheated using other methods. If crispiness is your goal, we recommend using a different method. That said, when you want fries prepared as quickly as possible, the microwave is a good choice.

Follow these steps to reheat fries in the microwave:

  1. Allow the fries to reach room temperature.
  2. Very lightly dampen one to three pieces of paper towel using water.
  3. Place the fries on a plate and layer them with moistened paper towels.
  4. Microwave for 20 seconds.
  5. Check your fries.
  6. Eat and enjoy or continue microwaving for 20-second intervals until you reach your desired temperature.

Not all French fries or microwaves are created equally. French fries that are cut very small will need less time than those cut into wedges for instance. Always keep an eye on foods that you are reheating.

How to reheat fries in the oven

Fries reheated in the oven tend to be crispier than fries reheated in a microwave. If you love a nice crispy fry, we recommend that you try using your oven to reheat next time. The oven takes a bit more time than the microwave but delivers more consistent results.

Follow these steps to reheat fries in the oven:

  1. Allow fries to reach room temperature.
  2. Preheat oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit
  3. Place parchment paper or aluminum foil on a baking sheet.
  4. Layer fries evenly on the baking sheet.
  5. Back for 5 minutes or until fries reach your desired crispiness.
  6. Remove from the oven and enjoy.

Once you get the hang of reheating foods using the oven, you will find that it delivers superior texture and flavor to most other reheating methods. Keep in mind that ovens with a convection setting will be more powerful than normal ones. Always keep a close eye on foods that are being reheated in the oven.

Image used with permission by copyright holder

How to reheat fries in the air fryer

Many consider the air fryer to be the best way to reheat fried foods. Air fryers work great, but many people don’t own one. If you enjoy fried foods like fries, it’s definitely worth considering investing in a quality air fryer

Follow these steps to reheat fries in the air fryer:

  1. Allow fries to reach room temperature.
  2. Preheat your air fryer to a temperature of 300 degrees Fahrenheit.
  3. Air fry your fries for 3-6 minutes.
  4. Remove from the air fryer and enjoy your fries.

The air fryer is becoming more and more popular. Many people love using this method because it delivers such a reliable way to revive leftover fried foods. You will be able to take your leftover fries to the next level with an air fryer.

There are many methods to reheating delicious French fries. Based on what you have at home and how you like your fries, choose your method and enjoy!

Editors' Recommendations

Sheena Pradhan
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Sheena Pradhan is a serial entrepreneur and digital marketer. She started her career as a Registered Dietitian and…
Costco sells a semi-secret McDonald’s ingredient that will make your next burger stand out
Simple, effective - and you can put 'em on any burger
WARSAW, POLAND - SEPTEMBER 16, 2022: Woman with McDonald's burger at table in cafe, closeup

If you enjoy cooking, you probably pride yourself on making a delicious, homemade burger. A burger made with loving care, gently topped with thoughtfully prepared ingredients like grilled onions, carefully selected lettuces and cheeses, perhaps complemented with homemade garlic aioli, on a buttery, toasted bun. These burgers are the ones we love to show off at a family cookout, the ones our kids grow up comparing all other homemade burgers to. The ones that go perfectly with corn on the cob, fireworks, and a cold one.

And then there are the fast food burgers we also love. These are the burgers we rely on after a long day. The ones that are always there for us during a late-night craving or post-soccer practice dinner enjoyed from the backseat. These burgers also have a big place in our hearts for entirely different yet equally important reasons.

Read more
Ultra-processed foods are seriously unhealthy (and these are the items hiding in your pantry you didn’t realize you should avoid)
Don't ruin your healthy meals with these ultra-processed foods
Containers of different gummy candy

When it comes to processed foods, finding the right balance is of paramount importance. Processed, unhealthy foods, often deemed unavoidable in our fast-paced lives, can indeed play a role in meeting our daily nutritional requirements, provided they are approached with vigilance. Surprisingly, many individuals following various forms of Western diets unwittingly incorporate ultra-processed foods into their daily meals, unlike those who follow a more whole-food way of eating, like the Mediterranean diet.

The extent of what qualifies as an ultra-processed food might shock you, and if you frequently opt for on-the-go dining, you might come across them more often than you think. In this article, we explore the topic of processed and ultra-processed foods, highlighting their significance and impact on our overall health.

Read more
5 easy fall dinner ideas that have nothing to do with pumpkin spice
Fall is more than just pumpkin spice season, you know
Carrot soup

Look, we all love pumpkin spice. Whether we care to admit it or not, it's delicious, and there's just no getting around it. But, as with everything in life, there can be too much of a good thing. This time of year, greedy pumpkin spice is hard to avoid. It even came for Spam, for God's sake.
The thing is, though, fall flavors aren't just about pumpkin spice - no matter what almost every product on the shelf is trying to tell us right now. Fall dinner recipes should include all of the warm and comforting, cozy and homey spicy sweet flavors that make us want to cuddle up by the fire or gleefully purchase yet another flannel shirt.
And while those flavors can be eclipsed by the big round gourd that has the world under its spell this time of year, it's important to remember the equally delicious fall ingredients, like maple and hazelnut, chai, and ginger.
So if you, like us, have been looking for fall dinner ideas, but trying to dodge the annoyingly popular pumpkin spice - even just temporarily - until the crazy dies down, these are some great recipes to try that still feel like fall.

Maple glazed chicken thighs recipe
Ingredients:

Read more