How to Reheat French Fries in the Oven (The Best Way)

How to Reheat French Fries in the Oven (The Best Way)

French Fries are great, aren’t they? They’re one of my top comfort foods that’s for sure. In fact, they are one of my top foods full stop. I could personally eat them morning, noon, and night. Fat ones, thin ones, crispy ones, soft ones, with dip, without dip, I can’t lie, I love them any which way they come! 

So, let me be honest with you, it’s not going to be very often that I have any French Fries leftover. But, on the odd occasion that I do, I like to make sure that I am reheating them in the best way possible so that I get the same great taste as when they were fresh. 

Now, the big question on everyone’s lips… what is the best way to reheat French Fries? The best way to reheat French Fries is in the oven. Reheat French Fries in the oven at 450 degrees Fahrenheit for 2-3 minutes.

There are other ways of reheating French Fries (I will talk about those in a bit) but reheating them in the oven is by far the best way. 

I know many people have written off the idea of reheating French Fries, thinking that once those yummy sticks of potato-y goodness have cooled down they are then unsalvageable. But this is just not true my friends. Check out the steps below and try it out for yourselves. You will be happy that you gave your French Fries a second chance. 

Best Way to Store French Fries before Reheating

The best way to store French Fries is to put them in the refrigerator in an airtight container or an airtight Ziploc bag. If you want to ensure an even higher level of freshness, you could wrap them in aluminium foil beforehand.

It is best to do this within 2 hours of having cooked or purchased your French Fries. Ideally, they should not be left at room temperature for any longer than this as bacteria will start to grow. If left at room temperature for longer than 2 hours my suggestion would be to bin them. Once you have put your French Fries in the refrigerator, they will last between 3 and 5 days. 

Best Way to Reheat French Fries – Steps

As I’ve already mentioned, the best way to reheat French Fries is in the oven. If you reheat your French Fries in the oven, they are likely to come out more crispy and delicious than if you were to reheat them any other way. Here’s how to do it: 

Step 1: Preheat your oven 

For best results, make sure you preheat your oven to 450 degrees Fahrenheit.

Step 2: Line your baking tray 

Make sure to line your baking tray with aluminium foil. This will prevent the chips from sticking to your tray. 

Step 3: Spread them 

Make sure to spread your fries out equally on the tray and try not to let any of them overlap. This way they will be reheated equally, and you will be more likely to get that yummy crispiness you are after. 

Step 4: Spice them up 

This step isn’t essential, but it is certainly recommended. So, why not spice your fries up with some salt and pepper, or if you are feeling a little more adventurous you could even add paprika, garlic powder, oregano, or thyme. Go wild. 

Step 5: Put them in the oven 

Make sure your oven temperature is 450 degrees Fahrenheit. Put your tray in the middle of the oven and bake the fries for 2 to 3 minutes. Make sure you keep a close eye on them, so they don’t burn. 

Step 6: Shake things up 

After 2 to 3 minutes take out the fries and give them a bit of a shake or turn them over using a spatula. Then put them back in the oven for another couple of minutes. 

Step 7: Yum yum they are done! 

Once the fries are golden brown and crispy it is time to take them out of the oven. Make sure to let them cool down a little before serving and then enjoy!  

Will Reheating French Fries Affect their Taste? 

It is not the process of reheating French Fries that affects their taste, it is all to do with what happens when they are cooling down. When French Fries are cooling down all the water that was on the inside goes to the outside. This is what makes them become soggy on the outside and a bit dry and tasteless on the inside. 

However, if you follow the steps above, then your French Fries should taste almost as good as when you first had them (potentially better if you decided to add spices). But, if you choose another method of reheating, such as using a microwave, then your French Fries are likely to remain soggy in texture and are not going to be tasty.  

Other Ways to Reheat French Fries 

Whilst reheating your French Fries in the oven is the best way to get good results, there are other successful ways of reheating French Fries that you might want to consider. 

Fry them in a Skillet 

That’s right, you can always fry them again. To reheat in a shallow pan (a skillet), you can put a couple of teaspoons of oil in a pan then spread the chips out evenly, cooking for about one minute. Then all you need to do is flip them over with a spatula and cook them for a further 30 seconds on the other side. 

Fry them in a Deep Pan 

To fry them in a deep pan, you should fully submerge your French Fries in preheated canola oil or sunflower oil. Leave them cooking in the oil for 3 to 5 minutes and then remove them. Once removed put them on a paper towel to cool down so that the excess oil can be absorbed. 

Use an Air Fryer 

Put a couple of handfuls of French Fries into the basket then put the basket into the air fryer for 2 to 3 minutes. After 2 to 3 minutes take them out and give them a shake. You can then put them back in the air fryer for a further 1 to 2 minutes until they are fully reheated. 

Top Tip 

Why not make a whole new meal out of them such as loaded fries by adding some bacon and cheese? Or why not chop them up to make hash browns for breakfast? You see, you need never again throw those leftover French Fries away.