How to Reheat Ribs in Air Fryer: The Complete Guide
We buy and cook a lot of food, most of which often ends up as leftovers in the fridge. Most of these foods don’t taste good cold, obviously, so we reheat them. If you’ve had ribs before, you’d know they are best enjoyed warm. Thanks to the air fryer, reheating has become much easier. So naturally, we’re going to learn how to reheat ribs in an air fryer.
Why reheat ribs with an air fryer?
Imagine a fryer that can fry your food with little to no oil. All you need to do is put the food in the tray and set the timer like you would with an oven. That is an air fryer for you, and if you had heard about it 20 years ago, you’d have scoffed at the idea. Moreover, air fryers can fry and heat food much quicker than a conventional fryer.
Microwave ovens can also reheat your ribs, but the heating process doesn’t heat them down to the center. Conventional ovens can heat the ribs down to the core while also accommodating larger pieces, but they take more time. Air fryers, though small, can heat the ribs inside and out.
Things you need for reheating ribs in the Air Fryer
Air Fryer
This should go without saying, but you need an air fryer if you want to reheat your ribs like this. No use in learning how to reheat ribs in an air fryer if you don’t have an air fryer. But not just any air fryer; you need one that is both efficient and good at heating meat.
You need to look for an air fryer with a powerful heating element and adjustable temperature settings to ensure that your ribs are evenly heated and cooked to perfection. Additionally, consider the size of the air fryer and make sure it can accommodate the size of your ribs without overcrowding them.
Here are some examples of air fryers that are highly recommended for reheating ribs:
Philips XXL Air Fryer
This Philips air fryer is known for its powerful heating element and precise temperature control, making it ideal for reheating ribs. With a three-pound capacity, it can comfortably fit a full rack of ribs without being crammed. The Philips XXL Air Fryer also has a digital display and intuitive controls, making it easy to adjust the temperature and cooking time for perfect reheated ribs every time.
Ninja Foodi Deluxe XL Air Fryer
The Ninja Foodi Deluxe XL Air Fryer is another excellent option for reheating ribs. It features a unique combination of air frying and pressure cooking, allowing for even faster and more efficient reheating. With its XL capacity, it can easily accommodate a full rack of ribs without compromising on taste or texture. The Ninja Foodi Deluxe XL Air Fryer also offers multiple cooking functions, giving you the flexibility to choose the ideal setting for your reheated ribs, whether you prefer them crispy or tender.
Cold ribs
Any ribs gone cold will do. From ribs from last night’s dinner to ones you’ve brought from a restaurant while driving through a snowstorm. No use reheating any ribs that are still warm and well-cooked. Reheating those kinds of ribs will get you a different and unique kind of ribs: burnt ribs. However, depending on the size of your air fryer, you may need to cut your ribs to fit.
Additionally, if you prefer your reheated ribs to be crispy, preheating your air fryer can help achieve that desired texture. On the other hand, if you prefer them to be tender, consider adding a small amount of liquid, such as barbecue sauce or broth, to the ribs before reheating to prevent them from drying out.
Tongs
Here’s one thing that’s a must, tongs. Touching them with your bare hands is ill-advised, as the reheated ribs will be searing hot to the touch. And using gloves is also not a good idea, as they can make it difficult to handle the ribs properly. Instead, using tongs will allow you to easily flip and maneuver the ribs without risking burns or losing grip. Also, with tongs, you can safely take your ribs out and safely transfer them to your plate.
How to reheat ribs in an air fryer | 4 simple steps
Now that we know what we need let’s finally learn how to reheat ribs in an air fryer. Thankfully for you, the process can be done in four simple steps.
Step 1: Preheat the air fryer
First, turn on your air fryer. Then set the temperature to 375 ℉ (190.6 ℃) and let it preheat for at least 3-5 minutes. This will ensure that the air fryer is hot enough to reheat the ribs and achieve a crispy exterior properly. Additionally, preheating the air fryer helps to distribute heat evenly throughout the cooking process, resulting in more consistent and delicious ribs.
Step 2: Place the ribs in the air fryer
Then, place your ribs in the air fryer at the bottom of the basket. Make sure that the ribs don’t overlap. This will allow for adequate airflow and guarantee that every rib cooks uniformly. If necessary, you can cook the ribs in batches to avoid overcrowding the air fryer.
Step 3: Turn the air fryer on
Next, set the timer for 8 minutes and let the ribs fry, and the air fryer do its magic. Alternatively, midway through the heating process, you can put the process on pause and brush additional sauce on the ribs for flavor. Afterward, resume the process and let it fry for 5-7 minutes.
Step 4: Take the ribs out with the tongs
Once the ribs are done, take them out of the air fryer, not with your bare hands but with a pair of tongs. With the tongs, serve them on your plate to enjoy your newly reheated steaks.
Enjoying your ribs, the easy way
The idea of how air fryers work, using convection to heat food, is nothing new, but it’s good that it’s gaining traction now. There are a lot of benefits that can come from a nearly oil-free alternative to fryers, including, but not limited to, reheating ribs. With this guide, we hope you’ve learned how to reheat ribs in an air fryer and more about everyone’s favorite convection oven.
Recommended Reads:
