Soft pretzels are a fantastic treat but we don’t often eat the big ones in one sitting. This is why learning how to reheat soft pretzels is important.
Whether you buy one at the fair, the movies, or even the mall you’re sure to end up with leftovers.
It can be challenging to get those soft pretzels back to their original state. They’re just so perfect when they’re first baked.
Can you really reheat a soft pretzel and get it delicious again though?
Yes! Yes, you can.
The trick to perfectly reheating a soft pretzel seems a bit surprising when you first learn it.
The trick, really, is to add moisture to the pretzel and then reheat it.

• Reheating pretzels in the air fryer
• Warming them up in the oven
• Reheating soft pretzels in the microwave is fine, if you’re in a hurry.
If you’ve ever reheated soft pretzels in the microwave, you’ve likely ended up with tough, chewy edges, or maybe the whole thing became hard as a rock. There’s a trick to avoiding that and we’re covering it below.
But if you’re in a hurry, you can heat the soft pretzel in the microwave but just know that you may be slightly disappointed with the results.
This is why we prefer these two methods to preserve the original taste and texture of your soft pretzel: the air fryer or the oven method.

Here is a quick rundown of how to reheat soft pretzels:
This is a quick summary of our preferred methods for warming up soft pretzels. (For full details, skip down to the step-by-step guide.)
In the air fryer: Moisten the soft pretzel. Reheat the air fryer to 325°F and heat up the pretzel for 3 minutes.
In the oven: Preheat the oven to 400°F. Moisten the surface of the pretzel and then wrap it in foil. Heat it in the oven for 3 minutes.

How To Reheat Soft Pretzels
If your soft pretzel is frozen, you should allow it to thaw before you reheat it. While you can heat it directly from the freezer, it will reheat evenly and taste even better if it’s thawed first.
How to reheat soft pretzels in the oven
This is the best way to reheat a soft pretzel. It will keep the pretzel from drying out and keep it from becoming too hard.
If you have the time to spare, this is the method that I would for sure recommend. However, note that you have to keep an eye on it because oven temps do vary.
I recommend starting out with only 3 minutes in the oven. If in 3 minutes you want it to get a bit crispier on the outside, you could remove it from the foil and put it back in the oven directly on the rack for an additional 2 minutes.
Estimated time required: 5 minutes (This does not include oven reheat time)
Tools required:
• Oven
• Aluminum foil
• Oven mitts
• Water
Here’s how to reheat soft pretzels in the oven:
Step 1: Preheat the oven to 400°F.
Step 2: Moisten the pretzel surface but don’t drench it. You just want to sprinkle the outside of the pretzel with several drops of water.
You can use your fingers to sprinkle the water, a teaspoon, or a pastry brush. Too much force and you will lose any salt that may be on the surface.
Step 3: Wrap the moist pretzel in aluminum foil.
Step 4: Place the wrapped pretzel in the oven and bake it for 3 minutes.
Step 5: Remove the pretzel from the oven and carefully open the foil. Check to see if it is warmed through and through.
If it isn’t warmed and crispy like you would prefer, wrap it back up and return it to the oven for 2 more minutes.
Step 6: Allow it cool briefly before serving.
Tips on this method:
• If you want the pretzel to be extra crispy on the outside, you can skip the aluminum foil. Just put it right in the oven on the rack and reheat it.
• Remove the pretzel from the aluminum foil right away and then let it cool for a moment before eating it.

How to reheat soft pretzels in the air fryer
Reheating soft pretzels in the air fryer is a fantastic option if you don’t want to heat up the entire house with the oven.
We use this method more often because it only takes a couple of minutes for the air fryer to preheat and it is easier to use than the oven.
Estimated time required: 3 minutes
Tools required:
• Air fryer
• Tongs
• Water
Here’s how to reheat soft pretzels in the oven:
Step 1: Preheat the air fryer to 325°F.
Step 2: Moisten the pretzel but don’t drench it. You just want to sprinkle the outside of the pretzel with several drops of water.
Step 3: Place the pretzel in the air fryer and cook for 3 minutes.
Note: Don’t stack the pretzels. Only do more than one at a time if you can put them in a single layer.
Step 4: Use tongs to remove the pretzel from the air fryer.
Check to see if it is reheated through and through.
If it isn’t to your satisfaction, add it back to the air fryer for 1 more minute. Cook it in 1-minute increments until it is warmed completely.
Step 5: Serve while still warm. We don’t recommend reheating a leftover pretzel more than once.

How to reheat a soft pretzel in the microwave
Reheating a soft pretzel in the microwave is the fastest and easiest option but it comes with real risk. If you aren’t careful, you’re bound to ruin the pretzel.
Be careful not to overheat the pretzel.
Estimated time required: 1 minute
Tools required:
• Microwave
• Paper towel
• Water
• Tongs
Here’s how to reheat soft pretzels in the oven:
Step 1: Dampen the paper towel.
Step 2: Loosely wrap the pretzel in the paper towel.
Step 3: Place it in the microwave and heat it on medium for 15 seconds.
Step 4: Using the tongs, remove the pretzel from the microwave. Be careful because it will be hot.
Step 5: Unwrap the pretzel and check to see if it is warm enough. If not, wrap it back in the paper towel, flip it over, and microwave it for an additional 10 seconds.
Step 6: Using the tongs, remove it from the microwave and unwrap it from the paper towel.
Step 7: Serve warm! We don’t recommend heating up an already reheated pretzel, or it becomes tough.
Tips on this method:
• The paper towel should be wet but not soaked. If it is soaked it may stick to the pretzel. Also, if it is over soaked it could make the pretzel soggy.
• Don’t overheat the pretzel because if you do it will become hard as it cools down.


How To Reheat A Soft Pretzel
Our preferred method for reheating a soft pretzel is in the air fryer.
Ingredients
- Air fryer
- Tongs
- Water
- Soft pretzel
Instructions
- Preheat the air fryer to 325 degrees
- Moisten the pretzel but don't drench it. You just want to sprinkle the outside of the pretzel with several drops of water.
- Place the pretzel in the air fryer and cook for 3 minutes.
- Use tongs to remove the pretzel from the air fryer.
- Set the pretzel on a plate and allow it to cool slightly before eating it.
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 1 Serving Size: 1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 389Total Fat: 4gSaturated Fat: 1gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 2gCholesterol: 0mgSodium: 636mgCarbohydrates: 80gFiber: 2gSugar: 0gProtein: 9g
The Bottom Line
While the oven is still one of the more preferred ways to heat soft pretzels, it is through an air fryer that does the job for us! It is easier, won’t heat up the house, and is darn faster!
Now, are you ready to get the sexy back on those soft pretzels?