To reheat refried beans, it’s best to use the stove. But, this doesn’t mean that there aren’t other practical ways to reheat this dish.
By knowing how to store and reheat food properly, you reduce food waste and make sure there’s always a delicious meal at hand.
Refried beans are a beloved meal in Mexican and Tex-Mex cuisines. It’s cooked and finely mashed beans.
In some cuisines, the beans are boiled and then mashed to make a paste and then fried or baked. Even though they’re fried once, the term refried may be confusing because the beans aren’t fried twice, but only fried more intensely.
To make sure you reheat refried beans properly and have them as yummy as the first time you cooked them, you need to be cautious about the method of reheating, the temperature, and the duration.
Keep reading to learn how to reheat refried beans in the comfort of your own kitchen!
Table of Contents
Can You Reheat Refried Beans Using the Stove?
“When in doubt, choose the stove.”,-this is the way to go when reheating food, at least when it comes to refried beans.
This is the easiest and most practical way of reheating beans.
It’s actually the most convenient because most kitchens are equipped with a stove and it shouldn’t be a problem.
To reheat them in this way, transfer the beans into a pot and turn on the stove to low heat. If the beans appear drier, don’t shy away from adding water or oil so that you improve their consistency.
Reheat them for five to six minutes and make sure you stir frequently. Once they’re hot enough, put them aside.
Can You Reheat Refried Beans Using the Microwave?
This is a fast and easy way to reheat refried beans. If you’re in a rush and have to prep food faster, choose the microwave and you’re good to go!
Transfer the leftovers to a microwave-safe bowl and put plastic wrap or a paper towel on top.
Reheat the beans for a minute or two in 30-second intervals. Stir them every break. If the dish appears dry, add a bit of water or oil to loosen them up, after the first 30 seconds of reheating.
This is because the heat may create all the necessary moisture and you want to avoid adding too much water and getting watery refried beans.
When microwaving refried beans, and other foods too, it’s always better to microwave smaller portions. This is because bigger ones may heat unevenly and as a result, some areas will be overcooked and others will be undercooked.
Can You Reheat Refried Beans in the Oven?
Although it takes more time to reheat refried beans in the oven than in the microwave or on the stove, it’s a pretty good option.
To reheat the beans, preheat the oven first to 350 degrees F. Put the beans in an oven-safe tray. Add stock or water to ensure moisture while the beans are warming up.
Cover the beans with foil and warm them up for 10 minutes or so.
Stir them after five minutes of reheating. Considering this method is a slower option, it works best for bigger portions of leftover refried beans.
Can You Reheat Refried Beans in the Crock Pot?
This may seem a tempting option to reheat refried beans, but it’s not usually recommended. The crockpot is a slow cooker.
This means that it takes some amount of time for the pot to reach a certain bacteria. If you decide to reheat the refried beans in the crockpot, you expose the beans to bacteria for a prolonged period of time.
This increases the risk of making them unsafe for consumption.
With this in mind, when choosing a method to reheat refried beans, it’s a much better option to go with the stove, the microwave, or the oven instead of with the crockpot.
The crockpot is awesome for keeping dishes warm, so you can put them there after reheating them to ensure they stay warm until your guests or family members arrive and serve the food warm.
Can You Reheat Refried Beans in the Air Fryer?
Increasingly popular and practical, the air fryer is a beloved kitchen appliance today.
And, it’s an excellent option to reheat refried beans! Transfer the beans to the fryer’s basket and cook them for five minutes at 350 degrees F.
If you’re in no rush and you don’t mind cleaning the air fryer (which can be time-consuming), this reheating option is highly recommendable, energy-saving, and a fast way to reheat leftover refried beans, but numerous other foods as well.
How Can I Use Leftover Refried Beans?
Adding leftover refried beans to your meals is easily done and there are plenty of options you can choose from.
Check some of the tastiest suggestions below:
- Mexican-style pizza
Spread out the warm refried beans and you have a yummy base. Add any other toppings you prefer and bake.
- Tasty soup
Combine refried beans with corn and stock and you’ll make a tasty and nutritious bean soup that the whole family will love!
- Dip with beans
Combine the leftover refried beans with sour cream and cheese cream and you will make the most delicious dip to combine with nachos and enjoy a get-together night with your friends and family.
Final Thoughts
Reheating refried beans is an easy and convenient way to preserve food, avert food waste, and have a yummy meal option at home.
When you have leftover refried beans, store them properly in the fridge or freezer and reheat them when you plan.
The good news is that there are so many reheating options beyond the stove, including the microwave and the oven.
The air fryer is also an excellent and convenient method to reheat refried beans and other leftovers.
