The falafel is a ball shaped fried donut made with chickpeas, broad beans or a combination of both: it is a traditional Middle Eastern food, commonly eaten on the streets and very popular among vegetarians all over the world.
It’s a popular and well-loved dish, and it would be a shame to throw away any leftovers – which is why we’ve put together this handy guide on how to reheat falafel!
What is the best way to reheat falafel? The fastest and safest way to reheat falafel is to use the oven, but a skillet or griddle can also work quite well. You can also use the microwave, but keep in mind that the texture of the falafel may change a bit.
The best ways to reheat falafel
The first thing to keep in mind is that it is always best to eat fried foods fresh, in fact, even the best method of reheating fried foods will not taste exactly the same as freshly fried foods.
If you do have to reheat leftover falafel, you want to make sure they retain as much of their classic texture and flavor as possible, and avoid ending up with soggy falafels. Nobody likes to eat falafel soggy and with a strange texture, right?
It’s important to note that although dried beans can keep for years if stored properly, bean-based dishes like falafel are as perishable as any other cooked food: if you want to reheat them and eat them the next day, you need to store them properly.
When your falafels have cooled to room temperature, place them in a container and put them in the fridge. Do not let them rest for more than two hours at room temperature, otherwise they will have to be discarded.
Falafels stored in the fridge will last three to four days, but you can also freeze them to keep them longer. If you can reheat falafel, you can reheat frozen falafel too!
There are a few different methods for reheating falafel, and the best one depends mostly on your kitchen appliances and what you have on hand. The falafel can be reheated in a skillet, in an oven (regular or toaster), in a microwave, or in a skillet.
Some methods work better than others, but if you do it correctly you can use the method that suits you best: the important thing is to follow the correct steps and try to keep the original texture intact.
That’s why we’ve put together a handy guide to help you choose the best method to achieve the perfect texture and flavor for your leftover falafel.
How to reheat falafel in a skillet
The best thing about reheating falafel in a pan is that it is a very quick method, in fact, you can make really good reheated falafel in a matter of a few minutes! Falafel reheated in a pan should also be crisp, so you’ll still enjoy its texture.
The drawback of this method is that you will have to add cooking oil to your cold falafel: since your falafels are already fried, adding more oil might change the flavor a bit. Be careful not to use too much oil, otherwise you’ll end up with a soggy, oily falafel.
If you have large falafel balls, it’s best to cut or chop them into smaller pieces, so everything heats up nicely and you don’t end up with a falafel that’s still cold on the inside.
Here are the steps to reheat falafel in a skillet:
- Choose a heavy skillet, preferably cast iron, and heat the skillet with a small amount of oil, depending on how many frozen falafel balls you have.
- Make sure the pan is hot, which takes about 4-5 minutes, before putting the falafels on.
- Put the falafels in the hot oil and fry them on both sides until done.
- Remember to cut the larger balls into smaller pieces, because the outside cooks much faster than the inside.
How to reheat falafel in a skillet
Reheating the falafels in a pan is pretty much the same method as above: it’s quick and easy, but you’ll need to add oil. A lot of oil.
Falafels are usually already fried, so frying them again can help keep the same texture and flavor. It’s a very convenient method, but you have to do it correctly, otherwise you’ll end up with soggy falafel due to the wrong oil temperature.
Like the previous method, this tends to leave the center of the falafel cold. Keep this in mind if you’re trying to reheat larger falafels: you can’t cut them into smaller pieces with this method, so it might be better to choose another way to reheat them.
Here are the steps to reheat falafel in a skillet:
- Choose a deep frying pan that can be used to fry food.
- Heat some oil and wait until it’s hot: you don’t want to put the falafels in a pan with cold oil.
- When the oil is hot, add the falafels to the pan and cook until the outside is crisp and golden.
- Make sure the outside doesn’t get too brown, otherwise you’ll end up with a burnt falafel.
- If the falafels start to brown too much, reduce the heat or take them out.
How to reheat falafel in the oven
Another really easy method that you can choose is to reheat the falafel in the oven, both in a toaster oven and in a regular oven.
The best thing about this method is that it’s really easy: you just have to place the falafel in an oven-safe container and then in the oven. This way, you get to reheat your falafel without added oil, which is always a good thing.
If you use a toaster, make sure it’s not too full so that the airflow is really smooth. This way you will avoid ending up with a burnt falafel in a few minutes.
Here are the steps to reheat falafel in the oven:
- Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F.
- Take your falafels and wrap them loosely in something like aluminum foil to prevent them from drying out when reheating.
- Leave the falafels in the oven for about 5-10 minutes, depending on their size.
- Keep in mind that smaller falafels will take less time, while larger ones may take a while to fully reheat.
- For perfect crispy falafels, flip them halfway through reheating.
Reheating store-bought falafels in an oven is similar to reheating them in a toaster oven: Follow the same steps and keep an eye on the temperature. Remember to make sure that you do not use anything that is not suitable for the oven.
How to reheat falafel in the microwave
Reheating falafels in the microwave is not the best option: experience shows that microwave use can dry out, crack or even harden falafels. They could even turn to mush in the microwave.
However, sometimes the microwave is your only option, and it’s always good to remember that using the microwave to reheat food is one of the easiest and fastest ways.
So if you really want to reheat falafel in the microwave, keep in mind that the texture can change and you definitely won’t get the same flavor and texture as fresh falafel.
Here are the steps to reheat falafel in the microwave:
- Place a damp paper towel over your falafels.
- Microwave on medium power for 1 minute.
- Heat them at short intervals and regularly check the temperature.
- Check often for moisture and juiciness so you don’t end up with tough or mushy falafels.
Can you reheat falafel?
The answer to this question is yes, you can reheat leftover falafels and make them taste almost as good as fresh ones, as long as you store and reheat them properly.
You can choose your preferred method of reheating falafel from the ones we’ve listed above – each one works for different needs and depending on the availability of your kitchen appliances.
The safest way to reheat falafel is in the oven – it’s easy, straightforward, and almost impossible to do anything wrong, other than burn them. Reheating the falafel in the oven can help to ensure that the falafels heat through.
Reheating leftover falafels in a skillet or on a griddle is another really easy method, but you have to make sure that you don’t add too much oil and that the falafels reheat properly. Remember that the outside cooks much faster than the inside.
You can also reheat the falafel in the microwave, although it’s not the best method: just be sure to check the temperature regularly and reheat in short intervals.
Whichever method you choose, keep in mind that you want to keep the falafels crisp and the same texture as they would be if they were fresh.
You also have to be careful not to overcook the falafels, especially if you’re using a skillet, because it’s quite easy for them to turn from a nice golden color to a burnt mess.
Follow our step-by-step guide to make sure you reheat your falafel correctly, so you can enjoy leftovers for days to come!