Learn how to Reheat Fried Fish in the Air Fryer in a matter of minutes. You won’t be able to tell it was reheated because it is so fresh and crispy!.
One of the best things about fried fish is the crispy batter and the soft and crumbly inside. However, it can be hard to make a fresh batch every time you crave fried fish. What if you could fry a lot of fish at once and then heat it up in the air fryer when you need it?
Fried fish is one of life’s simple pleasures. The crispy, golden crust encasing the tender, flaky white fish inside is hard to resist. But like many fried foods, leftover fried fish often ends up soggy and limp. Fortunately, there are several easy methods to reheat fried fish and bring back that wonderful crunch.
As a fried food enthusiast and amateur chef, I’ve experimented with various techniques to revive fried fish. In this article, I’ll share what I’ve learned about the best practices for storing, freezing, and reheating fried fish to keep it crispy Whether you made too many fish tacos or have leftover fish and chips, these tips will help you reheat fried fish like it’s fresh from the fryer
How Long Does Fried Fish Last In The Fridge or Freezer?
Knowing how long fried fish stays good for is key to reheating it properly later Here are some general guidelines on fried fish storage
- In the fridge: 3 to 4 days
- In the freezer: 2 to 3 months
To maximize freshness and crispy texture, it’s best to reheat fried fish within 1 to 2 days of initial cooking. The breading starts to get soggy as the fish sits.
When storing fried fish:
- Let it cool completely first. Putting hot fried food straight into the fridge steams the crust.
- Drain excess oil by blotting with paper towels.
- Keep in an airtight container. This prevents fridge odors from seeping in.
- For freezing, wrap tightly in plastic wrap or foil. Exclude as much air as possible.
Thawed frozen fried fish won’t reheat as crisply as fresh-cooked, but it can still turn out quite good with the right reheating method.
5 Best Ways to Reheat Fried Fish
Now let’s get into the various techniques for reheating fried fish so it stays crunchy and delicious. I’ll cover oven, skillet, air fryer, deep fryer, and microwave methods.
1. Oven (Best Overall Method)
The oven is my top choice for reheating fried fish. It gently warms the food using ambient heat rather than applying direct heat like the stovetop or microwave. This preserves the crust beautifully.
How to do it:
- Preheat oven to 350°F.
- Place fish on a foil-lined baking sheet. Avoid overcrowding.
- Heat for 10 to 15 minutes until warmed through.
The indirect heat from the oven dries out the exterior so it recrisps wonderfully. Just keep an eye on it near the end to avoid burning.
2. Skillet
Reheating in a skillet or frying pan allows you to crisp up one side at a time. It adds a touch more oil but gives you more control.
Steps:
- Heat 1 Tbsp oil in a skillet over medium-high heat.
- Add fish fillets and fry 2 to 3 minutes per side until hot.
- Use tongs to flip gently. Add more oil if needed.
I like to start presentation-side down to get that top extra crispy. The skillet method requires attentiveness to avoid overcooking.
3. Air Fryer
An air fryer is like a mini convection oven. The hot circulating air reheats fried food evenly and revives the crispy coating.
Instructions:
- Set air fryer to 380°F.
- Cook fish 4 to 7 minutes, flipping halfway.
- Spray with oil or brush lightly first for added crispness.
Air fryers yield great results in a fraction of the time of a conventional oven. The fish gets piping hot with a deliciously crunchy crust.
4. Deep Fryer
Deep frying is the obvious way to recrisp fried fish, but it’s less practical for small amounts of leftovers. If you have the oil heated already though, drop those fillets in!
How to deep fry leftovers:
- Heat oil to 350°F.
- Fry fish pieces 2 to 3 minutes until heated through.
- Drain on paper towels.
The hot oil will refresh the crust perfectly. Just don’t overfill the fryer basket or the temperature will drop too much.
5. Microwave (Last Resort)
I only recommend the microwave for reheating fried fish in a pinch. The direct heat makes the crust soggy and soft. However, it’s quick if you need your fish fix in a hurry!
Microwaving instructions:
- Place fish on a paper towel-lined plate.
- Heat 30 seconds at a time until warmed through.
- Let stand 1 minute before eating.
The paper towel helps absorb excess moisture. I’d avoid the microwave unless absolutely necessary though.
Pro Tips for Reheating Crispy Fried Fish
Here are some additional pointers to help ensure your reheated fried fish stays as crispy and delicious as possible:
- Let it cool completely after initial cooking before storing.
- Drain oil thoroughly before refrigerating. Blot with paper towels.
- Reheat on lower oven settings and finish on broil if needed.
- Don’t crowd the pan or baking tray. Overlap causes steaming.
- Brush or spray lightly with oil before reheating.
- Flip/rotate food halfway through for even reheating.
- Let it rest 1 to 2 minutes out of the oven or fryer before serving.
What About Reheating Frozen Fried Fish?
Freezing is a great way to preserve fried fish for later, but it does impact the texture a bit. Here are some things to keep in mind:
- Thaw in the fridge overnight before reheating. Don’t thaw at room temp.
- Pat off any water from the thawed fish so the breading doesn’t get soggy.
- Bake a little longer at a higher temp, like 400°F for 20 minutes.
- Finish under the broiler for 2 to 3 minutes to recrisp the crust.
- Deep frying works best for refurbishing the crust on frozen fish.
The oven or air fryer methods still work decently for reheating frozen fried fish. Just give the crust extra time to crisp back up with higher heat.
Put Those Leftovers to Good Use
Now that you know how to revive leftover fried fish, you can fry up a big batch and enjoy fish tacos, sandwiches, platters, and more all week long. Proper storage and the right reheating method will keep your fried fish crispy and mouthwatering day after day.
Whether using the oven, skillet, air fryer or deep fryer, focus on gently applying ambient heat to warm the fish without steaming the crust. And be sure to let your fried fish cool completely after cooking before refrigerating or freezing.
With these handy tips for reheating, you can cut down on waste and get the most mileage from your crispy creations. Fried fish never has to be a soggy mess again! Break out the tartar sauce and enjoy.
❗ Recipe Tips and Tricks
Winner: lemon wedges. A lemon wedge on the side of fried fish can make the whole dish taste better, no matter how you serve it. It enhances the seafood flavor and cuts through that fishy smell.
Pat dry—Before putting the fish fillet in the air fryer, make sure to pat it dry with paper towels. Any excess moisture will get trapped inside and result in a soggy crust. Also, make sure the fried fish has fully cooled down before reheating it in the air fryer.
Any kind of fish—this is a great way to warm up Oven Baked Salmon in Foil or Air Fryer Salmon. Give it a little spritz of the olive oil spray and heat it up. Super simple!.
️ Why This Works
If you want to reheat dry food, the air fryer is the new microwave. It works great for almost all recipes. I also recommend you reheat fried chicken in the air fryer. It won’t taste like it wasn’t just cooked! Pork chops heated up in the air fryer will taste just as good.
You don’t have to turn on the oven and heat up the whole house or use a gallon of oil in the deep fryer to heat up leftovers. You can also save the disappointment of a soggy mess that has been microwaved.
The air fryer is hot enough that it heats up the food while also reviving the crispy skin. The hot air circulation evenly covers every surface. It’s one of my favorite tools for quickly and easily reheating battered food.
From start to finish, this recipe takes 6 minutes.
Fish That You Have Left Over: This recipe will work great with fish fillets that you have pan-fried, deep-fried, or had as fish sticks. It can be any type of fish, from tilapia to cod to haddock.
Spray Oil – I use extra virgin olive oil in most of my cooking. Cooking sprays work best when it comes to air fryer cooking.
Air Fryer – My 5.5 quart-sized Ninja AF101 air fryer was used for this recipe. I like that it has a built-in crisper tray that allows hot air to circulate. I was able to fit two fillets in one basket.
Tongs – You will need tongs to transfer the fish fillet in and out of the air fryer.
Air Fryer Liner – For easier cleanup, you can place your fried fish on air fryer liners. There are reusable options, too!
Step One: Preheat the air fryer to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. In the meantime, pat dry the leftover fried fish on the outside. Spritz with extra virgin olive oil spray and optionally add more seasoning to taste.
Step 2: Put the fish in the air fryer and cook for three to four minutes, or until the fish reaches 145°F on the inside. Flip halfway through to make sure both sides get evenly heated. Enjoy while it’s hot!.
Best Way to Reheat Fish
Can You reheat frozen fried fish?
You can also use a straw to suck the air out. Don’t thaw your frozen fried fish before reheating it because this can make it overly soggy. Instead, reheat it straight from frozen in the oven or air fryer. Preheat the oven to 350°F (180°C), then place the frozen fried fish on a wire rack and heat for 15-25 minutes.
How can I prepare fish for kids?
This is really dependent on the personal preference of your children. Some children will eat fish the same way adults do for others you may need to make this more interesting by creating things like homemade fishcakes, fish burger patties, fish balls or by adding this to toast or even pasta. Involving your children in the preparation and cooking process can also encourage them to consume the fish.
How do you reheat fried fish in a deep fryer?
How to reheat fried fish in a deep fryer Reheating fried fish in a deep fryer can be done in these steps. 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).
How to reheat leftover fried fish?
In this short recipe, I show you the best way to revive and reheat your leftover fried fish. Preheat your oven to 350°F (180°C). Put a wire rack on top of a baking sheet and place the fish on the wire rack. If you don’t have a wire rack, place the fish directly on the baking sheet and turn it over after 5 minutes.