If you’ve ever wanted to reheat McDonald’s fries in the microwave or air fryer, you’ve reached the right place. However, there are some differences between McDonald’s fries and those made in a conventional microwave, and this article will help you make the most of your cooking time.
The oil is infused with chemical flavouring to resemble the aroma of the chain’s original oil blend, predominately beef tallow. In other words, the mouthwatering aroma we are all familiar with and enjoy is the aroma of potatoes fried in beef fat, a potent scent that makes the fries seem even more delicious!
How to Reheat McDonald’s Fries?
If you love McDonald’s fries and want to have them at home, you can reheat them in the microwave. This is a great method to make them more like the original flavour. It is important to remember that this method will reheat your food from the inside out, so you need to take care to prevent the fries from getting too soggy.
Another way to prevent your fries from getting too soggy is to coat them with a damp paper towel or foil.
Before you reheat your fries, ensure they are fully cooked and crispy. Once they are done cooking, place them on a cooling tray to absorb the excess oil. You can also lay paper towels on the cooling tray. The fries can also be seasoned while they are cooling.
Another way to reheat your fries is to place them in a refrigerator. This will help them to be evenly heated. If you favour not using a microwave, you can place them on a microwaveable plate.
1. Using an Air Fryer to Reheat McDonald’s Fries
If you’ve ever had McDonald’s fries, you know how awful they are when cold. They tend to go straight to the trash, but using your air fryer to reheat these foods can save money and time. It also saves you from having to prep your food beforehand.
Plus, you’ll save yourself the trouble of preheating your air fryer before each batch. Spread the McDonald’s fries on a baking tray to prepare for this cooking method.
You may want to sprinkle some water on them to increase their crispiness. Then, place the tray in the oven for about 5 minutes. If you have leftover fries, you can divide them into smaller portions and bake them in another baking tray.
You can also reheat McDonald’s fries in the microwave or air fryer. Heat them on a low setting to prevent the fries from burning. For higher temperatures, use the broiler or dry skillet.
2. Using a Microwave to Reheat McDonald’s Fries
If you’re planning to reheat McDonald’s fries at home, you may wonder how to go about it. While a microwave is an excellent option, there are other ways to make them a bit crispier. One way is by cooking them in a heavy skillet.
The fries should be cooked on medium heat and not overly low. Be sure to use enough cooking oil, so they don’t become soggy. The microwave is a convenient and quick way to reheat McDonald’s fries. It works by heating the fries at 50% power, which takes just 20 seconds. However, fresh fries may lose their crunch.
However, some brands of fries have retained their crunch even after being heated in a microwave. If you’d rather heat your McDonald’s fries by frying them in a pan, you’ll have to sprinkle them with a little water and ensure they are completely covered.
The first step is to coat your fries with cooking oil lightly. You can use canola, peanut, or coconut oil. Next, place them on a microwave-safe plate and cover them with paper towels to remove excess oil. Ensure the fries are evenly spread to ensure the heat will reach them evenly. Once re-heated, wait about 15 seconds and then eat them.
3. Using an Oven to Reheat McDonald’s Fries
To begin, preheat the oven to 400 to 425 degrees Fahrenheit. Bake a baking tray inside the oven while it is preheated to 400°F for reheating McDonald’s french fries.
Place the hot baking sheet with the fries on it. This strategy will result in a less messy process whether you have a conventional oven, a convection oven, or even a toaster oven.
Cover a baking sheet with aluminium foil, parchment paper, or cooking spray while your oven is heating up. This makes it simple to take the fries off later.
Then, arrange the fries on the tray, ensuring they are all distributed equally. Add some oil to the top, then bake them for at least five to ten minutes. Shake or reposition the tray if uneven patches or fries start to burn.
4. Using a Stove to Reheat McDonald’s Fries
Using the old-fashioned fryer is a more convenient choice that is undoubtedly an option. While practically any pan can be used, some claim that a heavy skillet works best when placed directly on top of a stove.
Put your pan on medium heat and start it off by adding some oil. The fries will be crispier, and the heat will be retained more effectively.
Place the leftover McDonald’s fries in the pan once it is heated and let them cook in an even layer. Make sure there is room to prevent crowding if you don’t want a soggy result.
Mild oils like canola, vegetable, or grapeseed perform well in this situation because they typically have a greater smoke point than olive oil. To obtain all the sides to crisp up, flip about every 30 seconds. After drying them off with paper towels, serve.
How is Soggy Fries Revived?
Heat your oven to 400°F while blotting the fries to remove as much moisture as possible. Fries should be heated on a baking sheet that has been very lightly oiled for five minutes. After that, check the fries, and continue heating for an additional five minutes, if necessary, to get the desired crispiness.
The second basket of fries could absorb too much oil if you place them in oil that isn’t heated to the proper temperature. The starches in fries are hydrated (moisture goes in) when they are fried at a very high temperature, which causes them to puff up and aids in developing a lovely, crisp exterior skin.
The starches in these identical fries exude moisture when they cool, which seeps through the crust and makes the fries floppy and soggy.
How do you Reheat Fries without Losing their Crunch?
The oven should first be preheated to 425. After that, arrange your french fries so that none of them touches a baking sheet bordered with parchment paper (once more, if they’re too crowded, they won’t get as crispy).
After 8 to 10 minutes in the oven, quickly mix the vegetables. Making sure not to overcrowd the pan, add the leftover fries to the hot oil in a single layer.
Fries should be heated in the skillet without being stirred before being tossed to crisp up. If necessary, work in batches. Any fry can be reheated, but a thicker sliced fry is preferred for the best flavour and texture retention.
Since skinny fast food fries are frequently sliced thinly for deep fryer efficiency, they could not reheat as well.
What Differences in Ingredients in McDonald’s Fries?
McDonald’s fries contain a unique blend of ingredients. These include sodium acid pyrophosphate and dextrose, which help to create a uniform golden colour and prevent the potatoes from turning grey. They also contain citric acid, a preservative, and dimethylpolysiloxane, reducing the oil spatter risk.
In addition, each fry is lightly seasoned with salt after cooking. Before the 1990s, McDonald’s fries were cooked in straight beef fat. However, after numerous complaints, the chain began using a vegetable oil blend.
Since then, McDonald’s has been cooking their fries with a soy-corn oil blend and phasing in trans-fat-free oil. The fries’ ingredient list includes “natural beef flavor” and “wheat and milk derivatives.” These ingredients may trigger allergic reactions in some people.
In addition, McDonald’s fries are flash-frozen to help them maintain their crispness. While French fries are still one of McDonald’s best-selling items year after year, consumers are increasingly concerned about their health and the amount of fat in their food. Despite the health implications, this popular fast-food chain won’t change its recipe soon.
How to Keep Leftover McDonald’s Fries fresh?
Refrigerate any leftover McDonald’s fries. Put the fries in an airtight container lined with paper towels after they have cooled to room temperature. Fries should be arranged in a single layer, with an additional paper towel separating each layer.
The paper towel absorbs extra moisture, preventing the fry from getting overly soggy. The fries should always be consumed within four days. Never store fries before they are at room temperature.
Any other way will result in condensation accumulating in the container and soggy fries. Fast food french fries, like those from McDonald’s or Five Guys, don’t store very well. The best time to eat them is the same day, if not the next.
The quality will deteriorate every day they are kept in storage, and reheating them to their former splendour will become more challenging.
Conclusion
Eating fast food is one of our most abundant and comforting activities. If you have any leftovers from these delicious crispy potato spears, you’ll want to know how to reheat them properly. They truly can taste just as delicious as they did the first day you prepared them, which is fantastic news because we all agree that soggy fries are among the worst things in the world. Here are some hints for reheating fries to stay crisp for the second serving.
Eating McDonald’s with our friends and family is unquestionably one of the most traditional and iconic aspects of growing up. Depending on how old they are, you can also reheat leftover fries. French fries are only great for a few days in the fridge. Any longer, French fries will lose their texture and become crumbly. Reheat and consume any leftover french fries as soon as possible. French fries can be reheated most effectively in a hot oven. By doing this, you can be sure that the outside will be as crispy as possible and the inside will remain fluffy and light.
