What is the best appetizer you can serve with chicken wings, meatballs, nachos, and loaded potatoes? Mozzarella sticks are versatile appetizers that everyone likes to take throughout the day.
Therefore, throwing away the leftovers would be a terrible decision. Can reheat the mozzarella sticks and serve them with your favorite sauce.
What is the best way to reheat mozzarella sticks? The best way to reheat mozzarella sticks is to use the air fryer because it keeps the crust crispy. You can too use the oven or toaster. The microwave should be avoided unless there is no other option.
The Best Ways to Reheat Mozzarella Sticks
Mozzarella sticks can keep in the fridge for up to a week and can last 6-12 months in the freezer.
Keep in mind that reheating fried foods like mozzarella sticks can be tricky, as they can become soggy if you don’t follow the proper steps.
To enjoy crispy mozzarella sticks once more, allow them to cool, then store in a closed container. If you don’t want to consume them in a week, you should freeze them in a vacuum-sealed bag.
There are several methods you can use to reheat mozzarella sticks, but the best one depends on the appliances you have in your kitchen. So if you have an air fryer or a microwave with an air fryer, you can surely use it to reheat mozzarella sticks even if they are frozen.
However, if you don’t have an air fryer, you can reheat them in the oven until they’re warm on the inside and crisp on the outside. We recommend that you only reheat mozzarella sticks in the microwave when there is no other option.
The most important thing is to follow the proper steps. That’s why we’ve put together this detailed step-by-step guide to help you enjoy delicious mozzarella sticks whenever you want.
How to reheat mozzarella sticks in the air fryer
The air fryer is actually the best way to reheat mozzarella sticks, as well as other popular fried foods like fish and chips, calamari, and onion rings. Mozzarella sticks are fried or cooked in the air fryer first, so heating them in the air fryer will not alter their taste or appearance.
We love the air fryer because it provides the crispiness of deep frying with a little bit of oil, so you don’t have to consume extra fat.
The hot air thaws the mozzarella sticks from the inside out without overcooking them. Melt the cheese until it oozes for the best flavor.
Also, using the air fryer is one of the best ways to reheat pre-cooked mozzarella sticks, because it’s quick. The hot air will keep the crust crisp and golden.
Here are the steps to reheat mozzarella sticks in the air fryer.
- Preheat air fryer to 400⁰F.
- Arrange the mozzarella sticks on the tray without placing them on top of each other.
- Let them heat up to 8 minutes or until the cheese has melted.
- Keep them on one side for 4 minutes, then flip them over to the other.
This method works for frozen mozzarella sticks because the hot air thaws them from the inside out. At the same time, it prevents them from getting soaked.
How to reheat mozzarella sticks in the oven
Baking keeps leftover mozzarella sticks tasty and crisp on the outside, just like fresh ones. The cheese melts on the inside while the crust remains crisp.
This is one of our favorite reheating methods because it doesn’t require any preparation. At the same time, the results are satisfactory. In fact, the oven is the preferred method for reheating most foods, from meat to bread and even pasta.
Hot air is circulated to reheat the frozen mozzarella sticks evenly, so they don’t burn or get soggy. And the best thing about this method is that you only need a baking tray and some time.
A convection oven will offer incredible results, since the oven fan ensures better distribution of hot air. However, a standard oven will work as well. You can even use a toaster oven to reheat your mozzarella sticks.
If you have frozen fried mozzarella sticks, let them thaw before reheating. You can keep them in the fridge for a day until they have melted a bit.
Then, pop them inside and they’ll quickly heat up to the perfect texture. This method also works if you want to reheat baked mozzarella sticks, because you don’t have to add more oil.
Here are the steps to reheat mozzarella sticks in the oven.
- Preheat oven to 350⁰F. If you need to reheat frozen mozzarella sticks, you’ll need to preheat the oven to 450⁰F.
- Take a baking tray and place the mozzarella sticks. Be sure to leave some space between them.
- Heat the mozzarella sticks for about 10 minutes (20 minutes if frozen). Halfway through reheating, flip them over to the other side to make sure they heat evenly on all sides.
- Fire up the grill for a minute or two to get the crust crispy again.
While this is an easy way to reheat mozzarella sticks, it’s a time-consuming process and may not work for you if you’re in a hurry.
You have to check the sticks to make sure they have reached the right temperature. If you reheat frozen mozzarella sticks without letting them thaw first, you can end up with cold spots in the center that ruin the flavor of this amazing dish.
How to reheat mozzarella sticks in the microwave
While we don’t recommend using the microwave to reheat fried mozzarella sticks, it’s a quick and powerful way when you’re in a hurry.
Whether you need to reheat those leftover mozzarella sticks from the day before at the office or need to enjoy a quick snack with your fried chicken, the microwave will be the best option.
Frozen mozzarella sticks must be thawed on the defrost option before reheating. It produces enough heat to thaw them without overcooking. If you overcook the mozzarella sticks, the crust can burn, which will ruin the flavor of this amazing appetizer.
If you don’t have a defrost option, store them in the fridge until melted before using the microwave to reheat them.
Things might be a little easier with a modern microwave with a reheat button. This option releases a lower heat output than normal cooking, so it reheats your mozzarella cheese sticks without burning them.
In some cases, you may have a high-quality microwave with a preset that cooks and reheats the mozzarella sticks. This will produce just the right amount of heat to ensure the perfect texture and flavor for your leftover mozzarella sticks.
However, with an older microwave, you may not have access to these modern settings and options. This, however, doesn’t mean you can’t microwave frozen mozzarella sticks. You just have to be careful how you adjust your device.
To ensure slightly better results, you can drizzle the pre-cooked mozzarella sticks with a little vegetable oil to keep the crust crisp.
Here are the steps to reheat mozzarella sticks in the microwave.
- Place the mozzarella sticks on a microwave-safe plate.
- Turn on the defrost option if your mozzarella sticks are frozen. If you don’t have this option, choose a low heat setting and set the timer for 5 minutes.
- Choose the reheat option on your microwave menu. If there is a preset menu setting for making mozzarella sticks, you can use that as well.
- If you have an older microwave with no reheat option or a preset for cheese sticks, turn the cook option to medium heat and set the timer for 3 minutes. After two minutes, turn them over to the other side to make sure they heat evenly.
Although the microwave is a great addition to any kitchen, reheating fried food in the microwave is not the best idea. Food tends to get soggy because heat doesn’t remove the moisture. The microwave works best for reheating baked casseroles and other dishes.
Also, adding more oil can make the cheese sticks too oily. However, if you’re in a hurry or need to reheat cheese sticks in your bedroom or office, the microwave may be the only option.
Can the mozzarella sticks be reheated?
Of course. You should never throw away your leftover mozzarella sticks because if you store them well, they will taste amazing once reheated.
The best and fastest way to reheat mozzarella sticks is in the air fryer. It’s just as good as frying them without having to use additional oil. The interior is moist and juicy, while the crust remains crunchy.
You can also reheat them in the oven if you don’t have an air fryer. This method takes more time, but the results are excellent.
Reheating leftover mozzarella sticks in the microwave should be your last option. We recommend that you opt for this method only when you are in a hurry or reheat them for a tasty snack in your bedroom or office.
Whichever method you choose, enjoying tasty mozzarella sticks starts with proper storage. Be sure to keep them away from air and moisture to keep them crispy.