Joe Ciardullo You can’t have enough mac and cheese recipes in your arsenal. Whether you love the classic box version or prefer a homemade one, there’s no denying that it’s one snack that everyone loves. Now, imagine getting a stomach ache because you’re in love with mac and cheese all too much and forgot to take it out of the refrigerator before heating it up. Don’t wait to be sorry; refer to our guide on how to reheat mac and cheese.
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How to Reheat Mac And Cheese: 5 Simple Ways
Macaroni and cheese is classic comfort food that can be made in so many ways. But if you’ve had it for dinner, it’s probably still sitting in your fridge at dinnertime the next day. That’s when you need to learn how to reheat macaroni and cheese to bring out its best flavor.
This article gives you the tips and tricks for how to reheat mac and cheese without ruining it. You’ll find some of our favorite methods below!
1. Reheat Mac and Cheese in the Oven
If you’ve got a bit of leftover mac and cheese, there’s no reason to waste it. You can easily reheat it in the oven and get it just as hot and gooey as when you first made it.
Instructions:
- Preheat your oven to 375 degrees F.
- Put the macaroni and cheese into an oven-safe dish or container (if you’re using a glass dish, be sure to use an oven mitt). If there’s any liquid left in your pan, pour some out now — we don’t want soggy macaroni!
- Cover with foil (or another lid) and bake for 15 minutes.
- Remove from the oven and uncover so that you can check how much liquid is still left in your pan. If there’s too much, add another 10 minutes and check again until the pasta is tender but not mushy or dry-looking (don’t forget to use an oven mitt!).
- Serve immediately
Tips:
- To help prevent your mac and cheese from drying out while it’s being heated, place some water in a small dish next to the macaroni before placing it into the oven. This will help provide moisture during cooking time.
2. In the Toaster Oven
Reheating mac and cheese in the toaster oven is easy, and it makes for a quick meal. This is a great way to use leftovers or prepare for a busy weeknight. To reheat macaroni and cheese, follow these steps:
Instructions:
- Preheat your toaster oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Spray an oven-safe dish with nonstick cooking spray or line it with parchment paper for easy cleanup.
- Place the macaroni and cheese in the prepared dish and cover with lid or aluminum foil. The lid allows heat to circulate, while the aluminum foil keeps moisture trapped inside the dish so that the macaroni doesn’t dry out while reheating it in the toaster oven.
- Let sit for 10 minutes if you’re reheating just one portion of macaroni and cheese, or longer if you’re reheating several portions at once.
Tips:
- Avoid metal containers, which will cause your food to heat unevenly. Glass or ceramic containers are best.
- Reheat on high power. This will heat up your food faster and more evenly than low power will. However, if you’re using a microwave-safe dish, it’s better to use medium power than high so as not to risk burning the interior of the dish or melting plastic parts on some models.
- Check the temperature before serving.
3. On the Stovetop
Reheating mac and cheese on the stovetop is a simple way to warm up a dish that’s already been cooked. The process is similar to cooking it from scratch, but with some key differences.
If you’re reheating mac and cheese in a saucepan on the stovetop, you’ll want to use low heat and stir frequently to prevent burning or sticking. You can also use an electric griddle or frying pan.
Instructions:
- Heat a large saucepan over medium-high heat and add 1 tablespoon of butter or oil.
- Add macaroni and cook, stirring frequently, until heated through and starting to brown lightly about 7 minutes.
- Stir in milk, cheese sauce, salt, and pepper and cook over medium heat until cheese sauce is smooth and creamy, about 5 minutes more.
- Taste for seasoning and adjust if necessary before serving hot out of the pan with more chopped chives sprinkled on top.
Tips:
- Use a nonstick pot or skillet
- Cook over low heat
- Stir continuously
4. How To Reheat Mac And Cheese In the Microwave
Reheating Mac and Cheese in the microwave is a great way to enjoy this comfort food classic. You can reheat mac and cheese in the microwave, but it’s not as good as the oven. The heat of the microwave will cause the cheese to separate from the noodles and curdle when you reheat macaroni and cheese. Reheating macaroni and cheese in a crock pot or on top of the stove is better than using your microwave.
Instructions:
- Pour the macaroni into a microwave-safe bowl.
- Add the cheese sauce, milk, margarine, salt and pepper to taste. Stir until well combined.
- Cover with plastic wrap and vent one corner of the wrap by lifting it up with a knife or fork. Microwave on high for 1 minute 30 seconds (depending on your microwave) or until heated through, stirring halfway through cooking time.
Tips:
- Use a microwave-safe dish. If you’re using a glass or ceramic dish, be sure to use a microwave-safe cover that fits snugly over the top of the dish. If you’re using a metal dish, place a paper towel on top of the food before microwaving it so that steam doesn’t collect on top of the food.
- Spread out the macaroni noodles evenly in one layer in your baking dish before baking them so they’ll cook evenly through.
- Stir the macaroni and cheese before serving it to make sure all of the ingredients are combined well again after cooling down from being baked in an oven or on top of an outdoor grill.
5. Use An Oil-free Fryer
Mac and cheese is a staple of the American diet, but it is among the worst foods you can eat if you want to lose weight. That’s because it is loaded with calories and fat. Fortunately, there are many ways to make macaroni and cheese without using oil or butter. This method uses an oil-free fryer to reheat leftover macaroni and cheese into a tasty treat that won’t add too many calories or fat grams to your daily total.
Instructions:
- Heat up an oil-free fryer on low until hot (about five minutes).
- Place your macaroni and cheese in a single layer inside the fryer basket so that none of it touches another piece of food. The pieces should be no more than 1/2 inch thick. Make sure to leave plenty of space between each piece so that they don’t stick together when cooking. If you have smaller pieces than what’s recommended above, simply use a larger amount of them in order to get as much surface area as possible on each piece of food being reheated in the fryer basket.
- Cover the basket with aluminum foil and cook for five minutes at 350 degrees Fahrenheit (176 C). After five minutes, remove the basket from the fryer and unplug the appliance. Remove any pieces of food that appear burnt or underdone and add more to the oil-free fryer so that everything is well-coated.
- Replace the basket in the fryer, turn on heat to medium-low, and heat for a total of fifteen minutes. Cook until your desired doneness level is reached.
Tips:
- Make sure the noodles don’t stick together. You can do this by spraying olive oil on top of them before heating them up or adding a little bit of butter or margarine when they come out of the microwave.
- Make sure your microwave isn’t too hot when reheating macaroni and cheese
How to Reheat Frozen Mac and Cheese
There are a few different ways you can reheat frozen mac and cheese, which means that there are plenty of options if you’re looking for an easy and convenient way to enjoy this classic dish.
You can reheat frozen mac and cheese in the oven or microwave. If you’re not sure how to do this, follow these steps:
- Remove the plastic wrapping from your frozen dish. Do not thaw it before reheating.
- Preheat your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit, or turn on your microwave if you prefer to use that instead of an oven.
- Place the dish into an oven-safe dish or casserole, then cover with aluminum foil. For microwaving, place the covered container inside a microwave-safe dish with 1-2 inches of water in it to prevent burning yourself while reheating (this will also prevent burning). Do not cover with plastic wrap; this will cause damage when you remove it later on!
- Heat for 10-15 minutes until warm all throughout—check by inserting a toothpick into the center; if it comes out clean, it’s done! When done heating thoroughly, remove from the heat source and allow to cool for about 5 minutes before serving or eating (this will prevent burning your mouth).
FAQs About How To Reheat Mac And Cheese
1. How long can you keep macaroni & cheese in the fridge?
Macaroni and cheese are one of those foods that can be eaten cold or hot. If you prefer to eat it cold, you can refrigerate it for up to 3 days. If you want to eat it hot, you can reheat it quickly in the microwave or oven.
2. Can you freeze leftover mac & cheese?
You can freeze leftover macaroni and cheese so that you have some ready-to-eat meals on hand when time is short. The best way to do this is by freezing individual servings rather than making a large batch and freezing the entire thing. Once frozen, you can reheat individual servings by placing them in the microwave or warming them in an oven set at 350 degrees Fahrenheit until they reach the desired temperature.
3. Is it safe to eat mac and cheese that’s been left out overnight?
It depends. If it’s homemade and you made it with whole, unprocessed ingredients, then yes, it’s safe to eat. If the mac and cheese were made with processed foods and preservatives, then it may be unsafe to eat after being left out overnight. How long can you leave cooked pasta out before it goes bad?
Conclusion
Macaroni and cheese is a delicious meal that many people enjoy and, often, many try to eat more frequently than they should. It is also something that, when left out at room temperature for extended periods of time, can get really gross really quickly. This guide will tell you how to reheat mac and cheese in a way that will make the dish taste exactly like it did the moment you put it in your mouth, without any gross side effects.
