Pita bread is well-known for its "pocket" style. This widely consumed Middle Eastern bread gets its pocket from air that is created during the baking process. Pitas can be used for sandwiches, pizzas and a variety of other dishes. Though a pita can easily be eaten at room temperature, reheating the bread gives it a softer texture.
Heat Pita In The Oven
To heat in the oven, use either fresh or frozen pita, which ever is easier or more convenient to you. Preheat your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Remove pita bread from the packaging and set it aside.
Wrap the desired amount of pitas in aluminum foil and place them in the oven. Heat the pitas for 10 to 12 minutes or until they are completely warmed through. Pita bread will be soft and pliable when it is completely heated. Remove the wrapped pitas from the oven using tongs or oven mitts to avoid being burned.
Alternatively, raise your oven rack to the top level. Remove the pita bread from the packaging. Brush the pitas with a small amount of olive oil using a pastry brush. Add salt or other seasonings to taste. Set the pita breads directly on the top rack of your oven and heat them for five to 10 minutes or until they are warmed through. If you are concerned the pita might dry out, lower the oven temperature to 325 degrees F or add a water bath to the lower oven rack to keep some moisture in the oven.
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Skillet-Warmed Pita Bread
Place a large skillet or frying pan on the stove, and turn the heat to medium-high. The frying pan should be large enough to hold a whole pita without it having it bend against the sides. Place a large pot with a lid by your skillet, and gather your tongs, spatula or fork to handle the piping hot pita bread.
Remove the pita bread from the packaging. Brush the front and back of each pita bread with a light coat of olive oil. Use a pastry brush to apply the olive oil evenly to the bread. Place pita bread in the skillet and heat it for 10 seconds. Use your tongs to flip the pita over and heat the other side for an additional 10 seconds. Keep the pita bread on the heat, if it is not soft and pliable to the touch, but do not burn or over-heat the pita, which will dry it out.
Remove reheated pita bread from the skillet and place it in a pot. Place the lid over the pot to keep the pita bread soft and pliable. Add your next pita to the skillet. Cook the remaining pita breads and store them in the pot until they are ready to serve in a cloth-lined basket.
Microwave Pita Bread
To heat pita bread in a microwave, cut the pita into triangles. Wet a paper towel and lay the damp towel on top of a microwave-safe plate. Place the pita triangles in a single layer on top of the damp paper towel, and heat the pita for 30 seconds to one minute. The pita bread should be soft and pliable, but not dried out. Be careful to avoid over-heating the pita, which will dry it out.
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Writer Bio
Shailynn Krow began writing professionally in 2002. She has contributed articles on food, weddings, travel, human resources/management and parenting to numerous online and offline publications. Krow holds a Bachelor of Science in psychology from the University of California, Los Angeles and an Associate of Science in pastry arts from the International Culinary Institute of America.