How to Reheat Fried Foods and Make Them Taste Great

There's a reason most fried foods come from fast food restaurants: They’re meant to be eaten fast. Eat them slowly, and they may turn soggy.

While the best way to reheat rice is in the microwave, the same can't be said for fried foods such as wontons, chicken wings, egg rolls, onion rings and more. Instead, you need to learn how to reheat fried foods the proper way to make them taste great the next day.

When it comes to Chinese food, the question isn't "How long is Chinese food good?" (those leftovers get eaten quickly), but you may wonder how to reheat the crispy items, like fried wontons. If you don't have a deep fryer, then the oven is a great next option to regain crispiness.

1. First, heat your oven to 325 degrees Fahrenheit. If you want your food quicker, then increase it to 425 degrees.
   
   
2. Using an oven-safe baking dish or container, put the fried wontons inside and cover the dish with foil.
   
   
3. Place the sheet inside the oven on the rack closest to the heat source. The amount of time that you will reheat it depends on the size and quantity of the food. This can range from 2 to 10 minutes.
   
   
4. The trick to reheating fried wontons is opening up the foil for the last few minutes of cooking since this really helps add crispiness.
   
   
5. Remove the wontons from the oven and use a food thermometer to check that the internal temperature is 165 degrees.

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Good news: It is possible to reheat chicken wings so that they taste just as crispy, juicy and saucy as the night before.

1. Start by taking the wings out of the fridge and letting them come to room temperature for about 15 minutes. During this time, let your oven heat to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
   
   
2. Next, prepare a sheet pan by spraying it with nonstick spray.
   
   
3. Once the wings have come to room temperature, arrange them on the sheet about 1 inch apart.
   
   
4. Put the sheet in the oven and cook for 5 to 6 minutes on one side. Flip and then cook for another 5 to 6 minutes on the other side.
   
   
5. Remove them from the oven and use a food thermometer to check that the internal temperature is 165 degrees.

Egg rolls are great when served fresh since they can get soggy if left too long in the refrigerator. By following the proper reheating steps, you can ensure that you avoid egg rolls that have a crisp outside and a cold inside.

1. Heat the oven to 425 degrees Fahrenheit.
   
   
2. Using a baking sheet, spray or brush on your choice of oil. For egg rolls, peanut oil is a good choice.
   
   
3. To prevent egg rolls that are crispy on the outside but cold on the inside, first place the egg rolls on a plate and microwave for around 2 minutes. This could take longer depending on how many egg rolls you are reheating.
   
   
4. Add the warmed egg rolls to the baking sheet and spray the oil on top.
   
   
5. Bake in the oven for 5 minutes, flip and bake for 5 more minutes.

If you thought the oven was the only way to reheat onion rings back to their crispy perfection, think again. You can actually use the stove.

1. Heat a saucepan over medium-high heat.
   
   
2. Since oil is the key to frying, add about 1 teaspoon of vegetable oil (more if there is a large quantity of onion rings).
   
   
3. Lay out the onion rings in the pan and fry until the onion rings are hot enough.