Whether you've just made a fresh batch of churros or have some leftovers from last night, learning how to reheat them perfectly is key. In this guide, we'll walk you through four different methods so you can choose the one that works best for you. Plus, tips on how to keep them crispy!
For a more detailed explanation, read on! We'll walk you through the best methods for reheating churros to choose the one that works best for you.
It's inevitable. Those delicious churros you make will lose their heat and crispiness as they sit on the table. But don't worry, we've got 4 hacks for reheating churros perfectly every time so you can enjoy them until the very last bite. Happy reheating!
So how do you reheat churros?
The best way to reheat churros is in the oven and the air fryer. It's a quick and easy way to reheat them. This ensures that all the sides of the churro are reheated simultaneously, resulting in a crispy exterior. Crispy churros are guaranteed.
Preheat your oven to 350° Fahrenheit and place the churros on a baking sheet. Bake for 3-5 minutes, until the churros are warm. Check them often, so they don't overcook and become dry.
Reheating churros in the air fryer gives me the best results because it evenly reheats them without making them soggy. If you have an air fryer, preheat it to 350° Fahrenheit and cook the churros for 2-3 minutes.
Pre-caution:
It's important to know that the churros won't be as crisp as when they are made from scratch. It would be impossible to get the same level of crispiness after reheating.
But using other methods yields a good texture. Therefore the best option is to use the oven or the air fryer if you have one. Please avoid using the microwave at all costs because it makes the churros rubbery, making them inedible.
What are churros?
Churros are fried dough pastries that originate from Spain. They are traditionally made by piping dough into hot oil, resulting in a crispy on the outside and soft on the inside. Churros are often served with a chocolate dipping sauce or sugar and cinnamon.
You can purchase them in the freezer section of most grocery stores or make them at home using a churro maker. Cooking frozen churros depends on how you want your churros to turn out.
Deep frying frozen churros will give you that traditional crispy outside while baking frozen churros will result in a softer pastry. If you're looking for a quick and easy method, we recommend reheating them in the oven.
These reheating methods are ranked from best to worst:
- Oven (the best)
- Air fryer (the best)
- Stovetop (acceptable)
- Microwave (avoid if possible)
Method 1 The Oven/Toaster
This is our preferred method for reheating churros aside from using an air fryer because it evenly reheats them without making them soggy. It's quick and easy, and it doesn't require any extra oil or frying.
If you're worried about the churros burning, you can cover them with aluminum foil. But we find that if you reheat them at a lower temperature, they won't get burnt easily.
The best temperature to reheat churros in the oven?
We recommend reheating churros at 350° Fahrenheit. This is hot enough to reheat them without overcooking or drying them out. It is best to check on them often, though, so they don't overcook.
How long should I reheat churros in the oven?
For fresh churros, bake for 3-5 minutes. If they're leftovers, bake for 5-7 minutes. But keep an eye on them, so they don't overcook!
Follow these steps:
Step 1
Simply preheat your oven to 350° Fahrenheit and place the churros on a baking sheet with a drip pan or wire rack underneath. If you're reheating multiple batches, make sure to space them out, so they have room to breathe.
Step 2
Bake for 3-5 minutes or until thoroughly warmed. Watch them closely to avoid overcooking.
Step 3
Roll the churros in sugar if you want extra sweetness. Serve with chocolate dipping sauce. Serve immediately and enjoy!
The result:
You've got an evenly reheated churros crispy on the outside and soft on the inside. But remember, churros that are day-old cannot be crisp like they were fresh.
Method 2 Air Fryer
If you have an air fryer, you can use it to reheat your churros! This quick and easy method will help them retain their crispiness. This is my way of reheating churros.
The air fryer circulates hot air around the food, cooking it evenly and quickly. This is the perfect way to reheat churros without drying them out or making them soggy. You get a crispy finish just the way you like it. But remember, don't overcrowd the air fryer, or they won't cook evenly.
Do we need to wrap churros with aluminum foil?
No, you don't need to wrap them in aluminum foil. This will just make them soggy. The aluminum foil traps moisture, making the churros steam instead of reheating. This will make them tough and chewy, not crispy and delicious. So don't do it!
What is the best temperature to reheat churros?
The best temperature to reheat churros is 350° Fahrenheit. This will help them heat through evenly without overcooking or drying out.
This temperature is hot enough to reheat the churros without overcooking them. But keep an eye on them, so they don't overcook! If they're leftovers, you may need to reheat them for a minute or two longer.
How long do I reheat churros in the air fryer?
For fresh churros, cook for 2-3 minutes. If they're leftovers, cook for 3-4 minutes. Watch them closely to prevent them from overcooking.
How to tell if churros are heated enough?
The best way to tell if churros are heated is by using a food thermometer. You can insert it into the center of the churro and make sure it reads at least 145° Fahrenheit.
Another way to determine if they're hot is by taking one out and breaking it in half. It should be hot all the way through with no raw dough in the center.
Follow these steps:
Step 1
Preheat your air fryer to 350° Fahrenheit. The preheating process will help the churros cook evenly and prevent them from sticking to the basket.
Step 2
Place the churros in the air fryer basket in a single layer and cook for 2-3 minutes or until heated through. Overcrowding the basket will make them cook unevenly, so be sure to cook them in batches if necessary.
Step 3
Shake the basket halfway through cooking to prevent them from sticking.
Step 4
Remove the churros from the air fryer and sprinkle sugar on top if you want some extra sweetness. Serve and enjoy immediately! Pair them with your favorite dipping sauce like chocolate ganache or dulce de leche.
The result:
Crispy yet soft churros will emerge from the reheating process. They won't be as crispy as they were when they were first made, but they'll still be delicious.
Method 3 The Stovetop
If you're not in a rush, another option to reheat churros is to fry them again. This will help them regain some of their crispiness and heat them through evenly.
Will it become oily? Yes, they will become a little oily because you're essentially frying them twice. But if you drain them on a paper towel-lined plate, they won't be too greasy. Just be sure not to overcook them, or they'll become dry and hard.
Follow these steps:
Step 1
Spray or brush some oil in a large skillet and heat over medium heat. You don't want them to be too greasy, so use just enough to coat the bottom of the pan.
Step 2:
Carefully add the churros to the hot pan in a single layer and cook for 1-2 minutes per side or until heated. Turn or flip them frequently to cook evenly on both sides.
Step 3
Remove the churros from the skillet and drain them on a paper towel-lined plate to remove excess oil.
Step 4
Sprinkle with sugar and serve with your favorite dipping sauce. Enjoy immediately!
The result:
I can say that the churros have a little bit of oil, but they were not as greasy as if you had fried them. They are warmed, but the texture wasn't as good as the oven method, meaning it was a challenge to get them crispy again, but it's doable.
Method 4 The Microwave
If you're really in a hurry, the microwave is the way to go. Just be careful not to overcook them, or they'll become dry and tough. But let me warn you, reheating churros in the microwave should only be done as a last resort. It will make them incredibly soft and soggy, so only do this if you're in a pinch.
The main reason is that microwaves heat food unevenly. This means that the outside of your churros will be hot while the inside is still cold.
Another thing to keep in mind is that microwaves can make food soggy. So if you do choose to reheat your churros in the microwave, be sure to do it in short bursts and check on them often.
Follow these steps:
Step 1
Place the churros on a microwave-safe plate. In a small container, fill halfway with water and put it next to the plate. This will help create steam and prevent the churros from drying out.
Step 2
Microwave in 10-second intervals, repeat until heated through.
Step 3
Let the churros sit for 30 seconds to cool slightly. Serve with your favorite dipping sauce like chocolate ganache or dulce de leche.
The result:
The churros turned soggy and soft. Their crispiness had deteriorated since they were first made. This option is only recommended if you're in a pinch and need to reheat stale and want to make them edible again.
Tips for keeping churros crispy
The crispiness of churros is one of the things that makes them so delicious. But it's also the quality that makes them tricky to reheat. Often, when churros are reheated, they become soft and soggy.
But there are a few things you can do to prevent this:
1 Serve them immediately after frying.
Churros are best when they're fresh out of the fryer. Whenever possible, serve them right away. Nothing beats a hot, fresh churro!
2 Store them in an airtight container.
If you're not planning on eating them right away, store them in an airtight container in the fridge. Keeping churros in a sealed container will help them stay crispier for longer.
3 Don't reheat them too many times.
Reheating churros too many times will make them tough and dry. If you're not going to eat them all in one sitting, only reheat the churros you plan on eating.
4 Let them cool completely before reheating.
If you can, let the churros cool entirely before reheating. This may seem counterintuitive, but it helps prevent them from becoming soggy. When churros are reheated, the moisture in the air condenses on the surface of the churro, making it wet and soggy. But if the churro is cooled completely, the surface will be dry, which helps to prevent this from happening.
5 Use the oven or air fryer.
The oven or air fryer is the best way to reheat churros because it helps preserve their crispiness. The microwave is convenient, but it's not the best way to reheat churros. The oven or air fryer will help them retain their crispiness better.
6 Reheat them in batches.
If you're reheating a large batch of churros, do it in batches rather than all at once. This will help them stay crisp and prevent them from steaming.
7 Don't overcook them.
This is the most important tip of all. When reheating churros, be careful not to overcook them, or they'll become dry and tough. Reheat them just until they're warmed through.
Common mistakes when reheating churros
The biggest mistake you can make when reheating churros is to think that they'll taste just as good as when they were fresh out of the fryer.
Unfortunately, that's not the case. Churros are best enjoyed hot and fresh, so reheating them will never give you the same results.
Churros are fried food. Refrying them will make them greasy, and reheating in the microwave will make them soggy. There's a right way and a wrong way to reheat churros like any other food.
That's why it's so important to choose the right reheating method. If you're not careful, you'll end up with a sad, limp churro that's nothing like the crispy treat you know and love.
There are still ways to reheat them, so they taste pretty darn close. Just avoid these common mistakes:
1 Not preheating the oven
This is a mistake whether you're reheating churros or anything else. Preheating the oven ensures that your food will start cooking evenly as soon as it goes in.
2 Putting them straight from the fridge
This one is critical if you're reheating leftover churros. Letting them sit at room temperature before reheating will help them retain their shape and texture better.
The moisture in the air condenses on the surface of the churro, making it wet and soggy. But if the churro is cooled completely, the surface will be dry, which helps to prevent this from happening.
3 Not using a wire rack
In the oven, you should use a wire rack to reheat churros. This will help hot air circulate around them and keep them from steaming.
4 Reheating for too long
This is the most common mistake people make when reheating churros. The assumption is that since they're already cooked, they can reheat them until they're hot. That doesn't work. Fried foods like churros become greasy after too much reheating. Microwaving them makes them soggy. Warm them up to just the right temperature before serving.
5 Not using enough oil
You want to make sure you use enough oil so the churros don't stick to the pan and don't dry out.
6 Overheating
This will make the churros tough and chewy, so be careful not to overdo it.
The bottom line
Reheating churros will not give you the same results as fresh churros, but if you follow these tips, you can get pretty close. Just be sure to avoid common mistakes so you can enjoy them.
Related questions
Yes, you can freeze churros. Just wrap them tightly in plastic wrap or place them in a freezer bag. Thaw them overnight in the fridge when you're ready to reheat them, and then follow the reheating instructions above.
You can, but it's not recommended. When churros are frozen and thawed, they become soggy and soft. Therefore, it's best only to freeze them once.
Reheating churros in the microwave is not a good idea. This will make them soggy and wet. If you must reheat them in the microwave, do so for no more than 10- second bursts until heated through, and make sure to place them on a paper towel to absorb any excess moisture.
Yes, churros must be fried. This is what gives them their signature crispy exterior and fluffy interior. If you try to bake them, they will not be the same.
The best way to revive stale churros is to reheat them in the oven. This will help them regain some of their crispiness. But keep in mind that they will never be as good as fresh churros.
The best oil for frying churros is vegetable oil; it has a high smoke point and won't impart any flavor to the churros. Other good options include canola oil and peanut oil.
Churros will last for 2-3 days in the fridge. If you want to extend their shelf life, you can freeze them. But keep in mind that they will not be as good as fresh churros.
Keep the churros in airtight containers in the refrigerator. If you want to extend their shelf life, you can freeze them. If stored in the fridge, you don't need to wrap them individually. Just make sure they're in an airtight container, so they don't dry out.
The most significant difference between churros and doughnuts is the shape. Churros are typically long and thin, while doughnuts are round with a hole in the center. Doughnuts are also naturally sweeter than churros.
Churros are usually crunchy, while doughnuts are soft and fluffy. Another difference is that doughnuts are typically fried in a mixture of fat and flour, while churros are only fried in fat. And finally, churros generally are served with a dipping sauce, while doughnuts are often served with a glaze or frosting.
