How To Reheat A Burger

Whether they’re from the restaurant or your summer barbeque, you should never ever throw out leftover burgers. Reheat them the correct ways and they’ll still be as awesome as they were yesterday! Burgers are relatively easy to reheat, and there are several ways to do it. Other methods are better than some, but as long as you stick to my tips and guidelines, your burger will be just fine.  So today, let me show you how to bring that cold, stale burger back to life using the oven, toaster, air fryer, grill, and even the microwave. 

Preparation

Okay, first things first. Before reheating leftover burgers, it’s important that the patties come to room temperature first. Take out the burger from the fridge and let it come up to room temperature for about 20 minutes. Don’t leave it for too long, though, or it’ll start to attract bacteria and mold. Also, if you’re reheating whole burgers, you’ll have to deconstruct them first. You can’t reheat the whole thing all at once!  The components require different methods of reheating. For instance, the patties cannot be reheated the same way you’ll reheat the buns.

How to Reheat a Burger Using an Oven 

The oven is hands down, the best way to reheat leftover burgers. It’s super easy, and it results in evenly cooked burgers all the time. Here’s how:

1. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit. Wrap the buns individually with aluminum foil.
2. Place the patties directly onto the oven’s metal rack, and place a baking pan underneath to catch the drippings.
3. Reheat the patties for 3 minutes, and flip them over. Place the buns, cut side down, on the rack as well.
4. Reheat both buns and patty for 2 minutes, or until the patties’ temperature reaches 165 degrees Fahrenheit.
5. Assemble the burgers and garnish them with veggies and condiments of your choice. 

How to Reheat a Hamburger on the Stovetop

The skillet and stovetop method results in perfectly reheated burgers. It’s just as effective as the oven, although it requires a bit more effort. Here’s how:

1. Place a cast-iron skillet or nonstick frying pan and turn the burner to medium-high heat. Place the patty on the pan and drizzle 3 tablespoons of water in it. This will create steam which will prevent the patty from drying out. Pro-tip: you can also use chicken or vegetable stock, or add Worcestershire sauce to the water for more flavor.
2. Cover the pan with a lid and reheat for 5 minutes. Take out the patty and set it on a plate lined with paper towels for about 30 seconds to drain excess juices.
3. Dry the pan with a paper towel. Set the buns in the pan, cut side down, and toast for about 2 minutes. You can coat the pan with butter for extra toasty buns.
4. Assemble the burger and garnish it with veggies and condiments of your choice. 

How to Reheat a Burger in the Toaster Oven

It works similarly to a regular oven, but it distributes heat more evenly and is more energy-efficient.  The only downside is that it’s more compact, which means you can only reheat about 1-2 burgers at a time. 

1. Preheat the toaster oven to 350 to 400 degrees Fahrenheit. Place the burgers on the metal rack of the toaster and place a baking sheet underneath to catch the drippings.
2. Reheat the patty for 3 minutes.
3. Place the buns, cut side down,  on the rack. Reheat for 2 minutes, or until the patty’s temperature reaches 165 degrees Fahrenheit.
4. Assemble the burger and garnish it with veggies and condiments of your choice. 

How to Reheat Burgers Using a Grill 

The grill is another super effective appliance for reheating burgers evenly. Think about it this way. The burgers were most likely cooked on the grill, so it only makes sense to reheat them using the same tool!

1. Set the grill to medium heat. Place the patties on top of the grill. Reheat for 2 to 3 minutes, depending on the thickness of the patties. Do not press the patties to keep them from drying out.
2. Flip the patties over and reheat for 1-2 more minutes, or until the temperature reaches 165 degrees Fahrenheit.
3. Place the buns, cut side down, on the grill and reheat for 30 seconds, or until brown.
4. Assemble the burgers and garnish them with veggies and condiments of your choice.  Pro-tip: for cheeseburgers, add cheese slices on top of the patties after flipping them over. Cover the grill with a pan lid and reheat for 1-2 more minutes.

How to Reheat Burgers in an Air Fryer

Got an air fryer? Perfect! This nifty kitchen gadget works similarly to a convection oven and can reheat a variety of foods, with no problem.

1. Place the patties onto the bottom of the air fryer basket, making sure they don’t overlap. 
2. Air fry for 2 to 4 minutes, flipping them over halfway through.
3. Brush melted butter onto the split-side of the buns and place them in the air fryer basket. Cook for 3 minutes at 350 degrees Fahrenheit, flipping them over halfway through.
4. Assemble the burgers and garnish them with veggies and condiments of your choice.  Pro-tip: don’t preheat the air fryer. The burgers have to be reheated at a lower temperature, and preheating the air fryer will cause it to run hotter.

How to Reheat A Burger in the Microwave 

While it’s undoubtedly the most convenient, the microwave is my least recommended appliance for reheating burgers. The microwave is notorious for uneven cooking – some parts are piping hot, while others are too cold. It also often dries out meats, making them overly chewy and almost rubbery. But if you have no other option, follow these steps to get the best out of it:

1. Place the patties on a microwave-safe dish. Be sure they don’t overlap. Drizzle a teaspoon of water over each patty to keep them from drying out.
2. Place the dish in the microwave and click on the “reheat” function. Flip the patties over after 1 minute and reheat the other sides for 1 minute more.
3. Check the temperature by pressing your finger against the patty. If you’re okay with the temperature, take them out. If not, repeat step 3.
4. Place the buns in the microwave and reheat for 20 to 30 seconds on medium heat. 
5. Assemble the burgers and garnish them with veggies and condiments of your choice.  Pro-tip: another technique is to place a glass full of water inside of the microwave to provide moisture.

Can You Reheat A Whole Burger? 

While you’ll be more successful if you disassemble the burger before reheating, I understand that some of us just don’t have the time. So yes, you can certainly reheat a whole burger, but don’t expect to get the same results. You can reheat the burgers in the oven or toaster oven at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for 8 minutes. The trick is to wrap the burger in aluminum foil to ensure it heats up evenly. You can also use the microwave. Place the burger in a microwave-safe dish and cover it with a microwave-safe bowl. That way, the moisture is trapped, creating steam, which then keeps the burger moist.

How Do You Moisten a Burger? 

If, despite following my tips, your burgers still turn out dry, don’t fret. Just smother the patties with ketchup, mayo, or sauce, and you’ll barely notice the texture! 

How to Reheat Fast Food Hamburgers

The air fryer is the best option for reheating fast-food burgers. If you have leftover Big Macs or Whoppers, this is the only way to go. Not only will it reheat whole burgers perfectly, but can do so four burgers at a time. Here’s how:

1. Place leftover burgers into the air fryer basket. Air fry for 4 minutes at 320 degrees Fahrenheit.
2. Flip the burgers over and cook for 2 more minutes. You can also use the microwave if you don’t have an air fryer. Here’s how:
3. Place the entire burger, wrapping included, in the microwave. Heat for 35 seconds using the reheat function. Click on a star to rate it!

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