If you’ve ever had one of our Calabash-style seafood platters at NC Seafood Restaurant, you know that the portions are very big. So, you may have brought the leftovers home and want to heat them up for lunch or dinner. However, what is the best way to reheat seafood? Is it possible to do so without losing the crunchy texture?
For short, the answer is yes, but you need to be careful that it tastes just as good as the first time. Join NC Seafood Restaurant in Raleigh as we uncover top-tier tips for reheating our crispy Calabash-style seafood.
Fried fish is one of life’s great pleasures. The crispy, golden batter encasing tender, flaky fish is hard to beat But the sad truth is that leftover fried fish often ends up limp and soggy Reheating fried fish presents a tricky challenge – how do you bring it back to crispy perfection?
With a few simple tricks, you can keep that fried fish crispy when reheated. This guide will walk you through the best methods and tips to revive your fried fish leftovers.
Use the Oven for Even Heating
The oven is ideal for evenly crisping up breaded or battered fried fish. Preheat your oven to 350 F Do not go higher than 350 F when reheating fried foods – too much heat can make the batter or breading burn before the inside is hot
Place your leftover fried fish on a baking sheet lined with foil or parchment paper. Cover with foil if reheating an unbreaded fish fillet to prevent moisture loss. For battered or breaded fish, leave uncovered so the coating gets crispy.
Bake for 10-15 minutes until heated through. The even, ambient heat of the oven will crisp up the outside coating again without overcooking the inside.
Fry It Up
Deep frying is the best way to recapture the fresh-from-the-fryer crunch of fried fish. Heat oil in a deep fryer or pot to 350-375°F.
Fry the fish in batches for 2-3 minutes until hot and golden brown again. Let excess oil drain off on a paper towel-lined plate.
Be careful not to overcrowd the fryer – too much fish will lower the oil temp and make the coating soggy.
Use a Skillet for Quick Crisping
A hot skillet or frying pan can also revive the crispy exterior of fried fish without drying it out.
Heat a thin layer of oil in a skillet over medium-high heat. When the oil shimmers, add the fish. Pan fry for 1-2 minutes per side, flipping frequently, until heated through and crispy on the outside.
Microwave with Caution
The microwave can steam the crispy coating right off your fish. But in a pinch, it will get the job done.
Microwave the fish on low power in 30 second bursts. Flip and rotate between bursts. This will minimize sogginess while ensuring even heating.
Air Fry Away
Air fryers use super hot, circulating air to create a crispy exterior. Spritz the fish with oil and air fry at 350°F for 4-6 minutes, flipping halfway. The rapid air technology crisps up the outside without overcooking.
Love That Crunch
Crispy coatings are delicate and can absorb moisture easily. Here are some extra tips for keeping fried fish crispy when reheated:
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Let fish cool completely before storing to prevent sogginess
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Store coated fish uncovered in the fridge
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Don’t crowd the pan/fryer/oven tray when reheating
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Reheat fish ASAP for best texture
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Pat off any condensation before reheating
With the right reheating method and a little TLC, you can savor every last morsel of your leftover fried fish. Crisp it up the right way and enjoy the full crunch factor once again. What are you waiting for? Time to reheat that fish!
How to Reheat Seafood: The Proper Way
If you want to know how to properly reheat seafood, you’re in the right place! Let’s look at the steps you should take to get your seafood back to its best.
- Use an oven that’s already hot. It’s important to get your oven hot before you reheat your seafood. Making this change will help the seafood cook evenly and keep its crispiness. It’s best to reheat battered and fried seafood between 350°F and 375°F.
- Flip the food. Cooking a fried seafood dish again can take different amounts of time. An average cooking time is about 15 minutes. You can make sure that all sides of your fried seafood get crispy by flipping it every 5 minutes or halfway through.
- Sticky seafood? Line the baking sheet with parchment paper to keep the seafood from sticking. Also, this will help soak up any extra oil and keep the seafood crispy.
- Don’t crowd! Make sure the baking sheet isn’t too crowded, because that can make the seafood soggy. Make sure there is enough space between each seafood piece for the steam to escape. If you need to reheat a lot of seafood, like our combo plates, use a big baking sheet or do it one at a time.
- We already said not to cover it; it’s important for the steam to escape. Don’t put anything over it that would keep steam and moisture in and stop it from getting crispy.
- Don’t leave it on the baking sheet for too long; serve right away. As soon as it’s done cooking, serve it and enjoy.
The Challenge with Reheating Seafood
Fresh, crispy seafood is one of life’s great treats. However, leftover seafood that has managed to get cold and soggy is better thrown away. So, how can you make sure that your leftovers stay crispy? If you reheat lightly battered seafood, like the seafood we serve, the coating can quickly lose its crispiness because there isn’t much batter to begin with.
Additionally, you’ll want to ensure you don’t overcook your seafood when you reheat it. There are right ways to reheat seafood, whether it’s fresh seafood or fried seafood. Let’s talk about them.
Best Way to Reheat Fish
FAQ
How to keep fish warm and crispy after frying?
How do you reheat fried food so it stays crispy?
How to keep fish batter crispy?
Can You reheat fried fish?
Heat the oil in the deep fryer to 350F. Place the leftover fish in the rack, and lower it into the hot oil. Reheat for around 2 to 4 minutes. Remove the fish from the fryer and place on a paper towel lined plate (to absorb excess oil). Serve and devour! If you chose to freeze your leftover fried fish, you may be wondering if you can reheat it.
How do you reheat fried catfish?
Place fish in single layer in the basket. Place basket in the air fryer and air fry for 3 to 4 minutes. Carefully flip fish over and cook 3 to 4 minutes more, or until the fish is thoroughly heated. Cool for 2 to 3 minutes and enjoy. When your stomach calls out for food, it might be tempting to use the microwave to reheat fried catfish.
How do you reheat fried fish in an air fryer?
Julie suggests following these five steps to achieve best results when reheating fried fish. Preheat the air fryer to 320 degrees Fahrenheit. Place fish in single layer in the basket. Place basket in the air fryer and air fry for 3 to 4 minutes. Carefully flip fish over and cook 3 to 4 minutes more, or until the fish is thoroughly heated.
How do you reheat fried fish in a convection oven?
A convection oven uses a fan to circulate hot air and can give great results for reheating fried foods. Follow these steps: Preheta convection oven to 375°F. Place fish pieces on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper or foil. Lightly brush fish with oil or cooking spray. Bake for 10-12 minutes until hot, flipping pieces over halfway through.