Next time have some leftover nachos that you want to restore to their fresh state, try one of these reheating methods. Learn about the different ways to reheat your cold nachos so that you can enjoy them the next day too.
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Calling all nacho lovers! If you've ever found yourself with a huge plate of nachos that you simply couldn't finish, I have good news for you- you can enjoy them for leftovers.
Nachos are our go-to Friday night dinner (these 6+ Unique and Tasty Nacho Recipes are the regular rotation). There is just something about the way that the cheese melts on all of your favorite toppings that says the weekend is here!
But from time to time, we have definitely found ourselves with a platter that we couldn't finish and so through the years, I have picked up a few tricks for storing and reheating them to their former glory (or at least close to it!).
From oven and microwave to air fryer and skillet, there are a few simple ways that you can reheat your nachos depending on whether your priority is quick or quality.
I'll walk you through the simple steps for each and let you in on the tips I have learned to help restore your leftover nachos in the most effective way possible.
Note: These steps are not intended or tested with nacho cheese sauce type nachos. This is for baked nachos with melted cheese.
Storage
How to Store
1. Cool. It is very important to allow your baking sheet of crispy nachos to cool completely on a wire rack. If you store it them too soon, the heat and moisture will cause soggy chips.
2. Package. You have two options depending on how much is leftover. You can either:
- Keep it on the dish that it was made in and cover with aluminum foil
- Transfer it into an airtight container
TOP TIP: If there are a lot of cold toppings on them (think fresh ingredients like diced tomatoes, pico de gallo, sour cream or guacamole), scoop off as much as you can and package it into a separate container so that the moisture from those doesn't lead to soggy nachos.
Or at the very least, if you don't package them separately, ensure that you remove these types of toppings before reheating for best results!
3. Store. Place in the refrigerator for up to 2 days.
Reheating in the Microwave
Time: 1 Minute
Results: Average
How to Reheat
1. Place the amount that you would like to reheat on a microwave-safe plate.
2. Microwave on high for one to three 20-second intervals until the cheese is melted and warmed through.
3. Enjoy.
Pros, Cons and Notes on This Method
Pros:
- Very Fast
Cons:
- Won't restore the crispy texture
- Not great for large portions
Takeaway:
If you just want a smaller portion, this is one of the easiest ways to reheat nachos. If you don't mind softer chips (more like the texture of corn tortillas), the flavor is still there.
Reheating in the Oven
Time: 20 Minutes
Results: Good
How to Reheat
1. Preheat to an oven temperature of 300 F degrees.
2. Place your delicious nachos on a baking sheet, lined with a silicone liner or parchment paper for even clean up, spread out in a single layer (or as close to a single layer as possible.). Bake in the preheated oven for 15-20 minutes until the melted cheese and toppings are once again hot.
3. Enjoy. Remove from the oven and serve hot.
Pros, Cons and Notes on This Method
Pros:
- Helps to restore the crispy tortilla chips
- Works for large or small portions
Cons:
- More time consuming
- Can be a lot to heat up the oven for smaller portions
Takeaway:
If you have a large batch and enough time to wait for the oven to preheat, this is a great way to restore leftovers.
Reheating in the Toaster Oven
Time: 20 Minutes
Results: Good
How to Reheat
1. Preheat the toaster oven to 300 F degrees on the "convection oven or bake setting".
2. Place the nacho chips on a baking dish in a single layer and bake for 15-20 minutes until hot.
3. Enjoy.
Pros, Cons and Notes on This Method
Pros:
- Yields good nachos with decently crispy chips
- Great for individual portions
Cons:
- More time consuming than the microwave
- Not great for large portions
Takeaway:
The toaster oven method is a great way to restore nachos when you are reheating a small amount.
Reheating in a Skillet
Time: 20 Minutes
Results: Good
How to Reheat
1. Heat a skillet over medium-high heat.
2. Add the chips in a single layer and cook covered for 2-3 minutes. If there is a lot of moisture, remove the lid after 2 minutes and allow to cook for an additional 1-2 minutes uncovered.
3. Enjoy! Move to a plate and serve hot.
Pros, Cons and Notes on This Method
Pros-
- Don't have to wait for the oven to heat up
- Quick
Cons-
- Not great for large amounts
- Requires close supervision (they can go from warm to burnt in a hurry)
Takeaway-
The skillet method is a great option for reheating if you don't have a lot of time or a lot of nachos to warm up.
Reheating in the Air Fryer
Time: 5 Minutes
Results: Good
How to Reheat
1. Place your nachos in a single layer (or close to single layer for best results) in the basket of your air fryer. Set to 300 F for 5 minutes, checking nachos after 3 minutes. Add more time if needed.
2. Enjoy. Remove from the basket with plastic or silicone tongs and serve hot.
Pros, Cons and Notes on This Method
Pros:
- Helps to restore the crispy tortilla chips
- Works for small to medium portions
- Quick (no need to preheat)
Cons:
- Limited by air fryer size for larger portions (but can reheat large amounts in portions)
- Not everyone has access to an air fryer
Takeaway:
If you have access to an air fryer, this is an excellent way to reheat nachos.
Summary
Quickest
- Microwave (<1 minute)
- Skillet (3-4 minutes)
- Air Fryer (5 minutes)
Best Results
- Oven- If you are reheating a large amount, I found that this is the best way
- Toaster Oven- Works well for a small amount
- Air Fryer- Quick and good results for small and medium amounts
Frequently Asked Questions
Overall, the Air Fryer is the best option for reheating nachos as it is quick and yields good results. However, when done the right way, as outlined in this post, each of the methods (microwave, oven, skillet, toaster oven and air fryer) will work well.
Leftover nachos will stay good in the refrigerator for about 2 days. For best results, store the cold toppings separate from the chips to prevent the chips from soaking up the extra moisture.
Best Nachos Recipes
I hope this post helps you to reheat your leftover nachos so that they taste freshly made!
And check out this Ultimate List of Nacho Toppings
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