Are you looking for how to reheat empanadas so that you can enjoy them any time you want? Here, I will share how to reheat empanadas in a few different, easy ways.
When you have leftover empanadas and can’t consume them right away, there’s no need to throw them in the trash because you can store them for later.
Empanadas are delicious Latin food that can be fried or baked and can contain a vast array of fillings.
These fold-over pies are usually filled with a savory filling, then fried or baked until golden brown, and the fillings can range from vegetables, pork, beef, chorizo, seafood, and even fruits.
They’re one of the most popular foods in Latin America for centuries, and what makes these savory-filled buttery pastries even better is that they’re easy to make, store, and reheat.
In this article, I’ll share different methods to reheat empanadas easily, along with easy ways to store these mouthwatering pies so that you can consume them later.
I’ll also explain a brief history of empanadas and an effective way to freeze them to keep them fresh and edible for up to three months.
- Oven
- Air Fryer
- Toaster Oven
- Stove
- Microwave
How to reheat empanadas in the oven
Using the oven is the most effective and commonly used method to reheat empanadas because it allows you to enjoy almost the same texture and flavor that you experience while eating fresh empanadas.
Here’s a list of steps that you can follow to reheat your empanadas in an oven.
- Preheat your oven to 300 to 325 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Line a baking sheet or oven-friendly dish with non-stick oil. You can also place parchment paper on the baking sheet. It’ll prevent empanadas from sticking to the container.
- Place your leftover empanadas on the baking sheet/tray you prepared, in a single layer, not touching.
- Put in the oven for roughly about 5 to 8 minutes.
- When the time is finished, take out the pan and flip your empanadas.
- Place them in the oven again for about 5 minutes.
- Remove the reheated empanadas from the oven. If you feel they’re not crispy enough, based on your preferences, reheat them in the oven for a couple of minutes again.
- Serve immediately.
How to reheat empanadas in the air fryer
Reheating empanadas in the air fryer is the easiest way to achieve almost the same results as reheating them in the oven, but it can make the pastry a bit softer and the crust a bit drier.
If you have fried empanadas and you want to reheat them in the air fryer, I recommend you spray some cooking oil on them as it’ll help your pies to become crispy.
Here’s a step-by-step method that you can use to reheat both fried and baked empanadas in the air fryer.
- Preheat your air fryer to 325 to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Line the air fryer basket with non-stick cooking oil.
- Place your empanadas in the basket in a single layer. Make sure the pies don’t touch one another.
- If you’re reheating fried empanadas, spritz them lightly with cooking oil.
- Close the air fryer basket and reheat your empanadas for 3 to 5 minutes, depending on your air fryer size and the number of pastries in it.
- After that, inspect the pies and reheat them for about a minute or two again if they still don’t have the crispiness you want.
- Remove the reheated empanadas and serve/eat them immediately.
How to reheat empanadas in the toaster oven
If you don’t have a regular oven or air fryer, you can reheat your empanadas in the toaster oven as well.
It’s a better way of reheating empanadas than using a microwave as it generates crispy crust, but the downside is that you won’t be able to reheat as many empanadas simultaneously as you would using a regular oven.
Here’s how you can complete this method.
- Preheat your toaster oven to 300 to 325 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Spray non-stick oil on your toaster oven rack or apply it to a baking sheet if you use one.
- Place your empanadas in the toaster oven for 5 to 6 minutes.
- Next, flip your pies and reheat them again for 2 to 3 minutes to make sure they’re reheated evenly.
- Remove empanadas from the toaster oven to see if they’re warm throughout and have the crispiness you want.
- If not, reheat them again for a couple of minutes and then serve/eat them immediately.
How to reheat empanadas on the stove
Reheating your empanadas on a stove involves a pan with oil. Here are two different ways you can use to complete this process.
Shallow frying
If you want to shallow fry your empanadas to reheat them, use the steps listed below.
- Place a pan with a flat surface on a stovetop and add about one centimeter of cooking oil to it.
- Set the stove’s heat to medium and let the oil warm up. The oil temperature should be between 300 to 320 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Use a thermometer to check the oil’s temperature.
- If you don’t have a thermometer, drop some breadcrumbs in the oil, and if they start to fry immediately, your oil is warm enough to reheat your empanadas.
- Add your empanadas to the pan gently and let them fry for 1 to 2 minutes.
- Make sure that you place them in a single layer so that no two pieces touch each other. Plus, avoid overcrowding the stovetop as it’ll drop the oil’s temperature, and your empanadas will soak up oil.
- Next, flip them over and fry them for the same amount of time from the other side.
- Use a slotted spoon to remove your empanadas from the pan and place them on a plate with a paper towel.
Deep frying
Here’s how you can reheat empanadas using the deep frying method.
- Place a high-rimmed pot, half-filled, with oil on a stovetop.
- Set the stove to medium to high temperature and let it warm up. The temperature of the oil should be 325 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Place your empanadas in the pot and let them deep fry for 2 to 3 minutes. Try not to fry them for too long.
- Remove reheated empanadas from the oil and place on a plate covered with a clean kitchen towel or paper towel.
Regardless of the method you choose, make sure that you let your empanadas sit on the paper towel for about a minute before eating.
It’ll allow the paper towel to absorb excess oil from your reheated pies.
How to reheat empanadas in the microwave
Using the microwave is the fastest method to reheat empanadas.
Depending on the size of the pies and the model of your microwave, it’ll take about 2 to 3 minutes to complete the process.
Here’s a list of steps you can follow to complete this method.
- Grab a microwave-friendly plate or dish and place your empanadas on it in a single layer. Don’t overlap your pies, and make sure they don’t touch each other.
- Place them inside the microwave and set the appliance to low to medium heat.
- Run the microwave for 20 to 30 seconds.
- Remove the dish from the microwave and flip them.
- Heat your pies again for 20 to 30 seconds.
- Repeat this process (from step 2 to step 4) two-three times. It’ll prevent your empanadas from becoming too gummy or soggy.
While using the microwave is the fastest way to reheat empanadas, it’s not the best method as it doesn’t make your pies as crispy as other methods discussed above.
That’s because the microwave heats unevenly and creates steam that moistens the food.
Your empanadas will still offer a good taste, but you won’t be able to enjoy the crispy crust.
Therefore, I recommend you use this method only when you’re in a hurry and don’t have enough time to use the other methods discussed above.
Important notes about reheated empanadas
You must consume your reheated empanadas right after reheating them to enjoy the best taste and maximum freshness.
If you keep your empanadas at room temperature for an extended period, they’ll become unsafe for consumption.
According to the USDA, bacteria in all perishable foods grow rapidly between 40 to 140 degrees
Fahrenheit of temperature.
If you keep your food at room temperature, from 40 to 90 degrees Fahrenheit, for more than 2 hours, it
can become unsafe for human consumption.
If the temperature is between 90 and 140 degrees Fahrenheit, then the food can become unsafe within an hour.
Therefore, you must consume your empanadas right after reheating them and avoid letting them sit at room temperature for the amount of time mentioned above.
Can I reheat fried empanadas?
Yes, you can reheat fried empanadas using shallow/deep frying and air frying methods.
Shallow/deep frying is the best way to reheat fried empanadas, as it’s quick and straightforward and gives your pies a crispy texture.
Air frying also generates a crispy crust, but it might not create the same flavor that you experience while eating freshly fried empanadas.
Tips on storing empanadas
You can use the following methods to store your empanadas.
At room temperature
The easiest way to store your empanadas is to place them in an airtight container and let them sit at room temperature.
However, it’s not the safest storing method, and you’ll need to consume your pastries within a couple of hours if the temperature is between 40 to 90 degrees Fahrenheit.
If the room temperature in your area falls between 90 to 140 degrees Fahrenheit, you’ll need to ensure that you consume your pies within an hour.
Refrigerator
The refrigerator can keep your empanadas fresh and edible for up to three days.
To store your empanadas in the refrigerator, wrap each pastry using plastic wrap and place it inside a plastic container.
When all the pastries are wrapped and placed inside the container, close the container’s lid to make it airtight and place it inside the fridge.
You can use the same method to refrigerate your unbaked empanadas as well.
When you need to reheat your refrigerated empanadas, remove the container from the fridge and unwrap the pastries.
If they’re unbaked, place them in the oven directly, and follow the instructions of your recipe to make fresh pies.
If they’re already cooked, use any of the above methods to reheat them right after unwrapping them from plastic wrap.
As mentioned, your empanadas can stay fresh in the refrigerator for up to three days, but you’ll need to make sure that the temperature inside your fridge is 40 degrees Fahrenheit or below.
Can you freeze empanadas?
Yes, you can freeze empanadas to increase their shelf-life and keep them fresh for a long period of time.
According to the University of Nebraska Lincoln, empanadas will stay fresh and edible for up to three months in the freezer.
If you have leftover empanadas, wrap each piece using plastic wrap or aluminum foil to make them airtight, and then place them inside an airtight container or freezer bag.
Using plastic wrap or aluminum foil is important as it keeps pies from sticking to each other and will also prevent freezer burn.
You can use this method to store both cooked and uncooked empanadas in the freezer.
Never use plastic containers made of polystyrene or polyvinyl chloride to freeze your empanadas because these materials can become brittle below the freezing temperature.
In addition, make sure that you let your cooked empanadas cool down before you place them in the freezer or refrigerator.
If you place hot pastries inside the freezer/fridge, it’ll reduce the temperature inside and put the safety of other foods at risk.
Don’t forget to label each bag/container before placing it inside the freezer so that you can remove and consume your pies before they go rancid.
Thawing and reheating frozen empanadas
The easiest and safest way to thaw and reheat your frozen empanadas is to remove them from the freezer and place them in your refrigerator overnight.
After that, you can use any of the methods discussed above to reheat them properly, and if they’re uncooked, you can follow your recipe to cook them.
However, if you don’t have enough time, you can preheat your oven to 350 to 375 degrees Fahrenheit and place your frozen empanadas directly from the freezer into the oven for 15 to 20 minutes.
Use an oven-safe container and line it with non-stick cooking oil before placing your pasties on it in a single layer.
It’s also possible to reheat frozen empanadas using your air fryer, and for this method to work, you’ll need to preheat the appliance to 350 degrees Fahrenheit and reheat your pies for 10 to 12 minutes.
If you’re in a hurry and want your empanadas reheated as quickly as possible, I recommend you opt for the deep-frying method.
Place a high-rimmed pot, half-filled, with oil on a stovetop and warm up the oil at medium to high temperature.
Use a thermometer, or perform the breadcrumb test (as discussed above) to make sure that the temperature of the oil is between 325 and 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
After that, place your frozen empanadas in the oil and deep fry them for 3 to 5 minutes.
Make sure that you avoid overcrowding your pot and fry pastries in small quantities to prevent them from soaking up the oil and becoming oil-drenched parcels.
A brief history of empanadas
As mentioned, empanadas are stuffed pastries that are served fried or baked in different countries of Latin America (it’s also popular in some parts of South Europe).
The word “empanada” is derived from “empanar,” a Spanish word, which translates to cover or roll.
It’s important to note that “pan” is another Spanish word that means “bread,” and that’s why many food experts suggest that empanada means “covered/wrapped in bread.”
This food first appeared in Medieval Iberia during Moorish invasions, and there’s a cookbook, published way back in 1520 in Catalan, containing information about it.
This cookbook mentions empanadas with seafood filling, along with some other Arabian, French, Italian, and Catalan food recipes, and it’s believed that empanadas are derived from samosas, which are
Arabic/Persian meat-filled pies.
Working people used to carry this hearty meal because of its portability, and that’s how it reached Latin
America through Galician immigrants, where it remains popular to this day.
The bottom line
Empanadas are delicious pies that you can enjoy at breakfast, lunch, or even dinner as a savory side dish or dessert.
There are countless recipes that you can follow to make this incredible dish, and the best thing about this food is that it’s easy to make and store.
When it’s time to eat your stored empanadas, use any of the methods discussed in this guide if they’re stored at room temperature or fridge.
However, using the oven/toaster oven and air fryer generates the best results, but if you’re in a hurry, you can use a microwave to reheat them quickly.
Looking for ideas for what to serve with your empanadas, we have a list of 21 Best Amazing Side Dishes you should definitely give a try.
How To Reheat Empanadas In The Airfryer ⏲️
Here’s an easy step-by-step on how to reheat empanadas for both fried and baked empanadas in the air fryer.
Ingredients
- Airfryer
- Non-stick cooking oil
Instructions
- Preheat your air fryer to 325 to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Line the air fryer basket with non-stick cooking oil.
- Place your empanadas in the basket in a single layer. Make sure the pies don’t touch one another.
- If you’re reheating fried empanadas, spritz them lightly with cooking oil.
- Close the air fryer basket and reheat your empanadas for 3 to 5 minutes, depending on your air fryer size and the number of pastries in it.
- After that, inspect the pies and reheat them for about a minute or two again if they still don't have the crispiness you want.
- Remove the reheated empanadas and serve/eat them immediately.