How to Reheat a Subway Sandwich? 8 Ways
Subway sandwich is one of the more popular forms of fast food coming from one of the largest fast-food chains in the world. They are tasty, compact, and have numerous customizable options so that you get a Subway perfectly suited to your taste. But what happens when your perfectly personalized sandwich becomes cold? How do you reheat Subway sandwich?
An oven or a microwave oven is arguably the best and easiest way of reheating a Subway sandwich. Alternatively, you can try to reheat it with a toaster oven, air fryer, or steamer pot. You can even warm it the old fashion way by heating it on a stove with a pan.
As you can see, there are several options to heat up a cold, damp sandwich and make it appetizing again. And in this article, we are going to go over most of these methods in fine detail. Hopefully, by the end, we will figure out which method is better for a specific situation and which one is the best overall.
How to Reheat a Subway Sandwich in the Oven?
To properly reheat something, like a pizza or lasagna, means to make the food warm and easily consumable without burning or spoiling it. So, there is a balance you have to achieve. Heat it too low and you will not enjoy eating it. Heat it too much and you will end up with a burnt and hard piece of food.
With all this in mind, probably the best way to heat any leftover pieces of fast food, including a Subway sandwich, is to use the oven. This is because with this method, you get an even spread of the heat. Unlike a stove or burner, the flames are not fully concentrated on one side. So, you are less likely to burn it.
And it is a rather simple process as you only need a sheet pan or oven-safe bowl and a bit of parchment paper. So, here is what you need to do to heat your leftover Subway sandwich in an oven:
Step 1
Preheat the oven to a nice 350 °F.
Step 2
Once that is happening in the background, place your sandwich on top of parchment paper on a sheet pan. The paper will catch any drip or spillage if your sandwich happens to be extra juicy.
Here, you should remove things such as mayonnaise or salsa from the sandwich as much as you can.
Step 3
Transfer the sheet pan into the oven once it is hot enough. Heat it for 6-10 minutes. At the midway mark, flip the bread to the other side so that all parts of it become warm.
Step 4
Bring the sandwich out. It should be hot enough by now. If it is not, then put it back in the oven for an additional 2 minutes. Then check it again.
The result should be an evenly hot and delicious Subway sandwich that will be as close to the fresh product as it can possibly be.
Challenges
While an oven is a great way for reheating food, they are not ideal for all types of sandwiches. Things such as mayonnaise or a sauce that has mayonnaise should not be exposed to such high heat. Similarly, tuna or leafy vegetables should not be put in the oven for reheating nor any ingredients that were added to the sandwich as a fresh dressing.
So, if you do have such ingredients on your sandwich, try to remove them before you put them in the oven. Place them in a separate bowl and add them to the sub once it is properly reheated.
How to Reheat a Subway Sandwich in the Toaster Oven?
A toaster oven is essentially a miniature version of a regular oven. But it consumes much less power and it also is better suited for heating smaller batches of food. So, in a way, it is a better oven for heating your Subway sandwich. And here is how you do it:
Step 1
Set the oven at 350 °F.
Step 2
Remove any ingredients that may wilt in the high temperature of the oven such as mayonnaise or lettuce and fresh vegetables.
Place the sandwich on a sheet pan. Cover the pan with aluminum foil. This will make a heated space for better distribution.
Step 3
Place the tray into the toaster oven. Heat the sandwich for 4 minutes. This will mostly heat up only one side of the sandwich. So, flip the sandwich after 4 minutes and heat it on that side for the same amount of time.
Step 4
Take the sandwich out and put back any toppings you may have removed. Make sure to wear oven gloves so as not to burn yourself accidentally.
Challenges
Similar to the oven, the toaster oven is not ideal for heating sauce and fresh vegetables. So, you cannot use this option if the sauce is fully integrated into other elements of the sandwich.
How to Reheat a Subway Sandwich in the Microwave?
Probably the most convenient method you can have at your disposal is to reheat pretty much any food. A microwave oven is safe, fast, and easy. Unlike traditional ovens or stoves, microwaves can ensure 360-degree heating on their own.
Challenges
The biggest problem when it comes to microwaving is that you often end up with stale bread. Fortunately, there are a couple of tricks you can employ to prevent this from happening to your sandwich.
Step 1
To prevent soggy and stale bread, wrap the sandwich in a paper towel. This will keep the filling inside the sandwich intact.
Step 2
Place the sandwich in a microwave-safe bowl. Then transfer that plate inside the microwave and reheat it at full power for 1 minute.
You do not need to rotate or flip the sandwich while it is in the microwave. The microwave will do that for you as modern microwaves are all self-rotating.
Take the sandwich out after a minute, unwrap the towel, and see if it is hot enough. If it is still a little cold, then wrap it up again and microwave for an additional 20-30 seconds.
Can You Microwave Subway Paper?
You can microwave the Subway paper along with the sandwich. It is a non-toxic material that will not catch fire or melt in the microwave if you take it out in due time.
How to Reheat a Subway Sandwich in Air Fryer?
You might think air fryers are only meant for frying things like potatoes or wings. But you can also use it to heat your leftover food in a pinch. This is especially handy for sandwiches with meatballs or any fried element to them like french fries. Because the air fryer will preserve the crispiness so that it tastes as if it were fresh.
Challenge
Air fryers can get very hot very quickly. So, you need to be careful about how long you keep the sandwich inside the machine. If you keep it for too long, you will likely burn the sandwich, especially the top half. This is why it is best to remove the top half and heat the rest initially. Here’s how:
Step 1
Take the top bread of the sandwich off and keep it aside. Place the rest of the sandwich in the basket. This way the top part does not have an easy opportunity to burn.
Now, reheat the sandwich for 2-3 minutes at 350 to 400 °F.
Step 2
After 2-3 minutes, check to see if the sandwich is hot enough. You can use a thermometer or a butter knife to test the temperature inside.
If it is hot enough, place the top bread on top and heat again for just 20-30 seconds. This way all of the sandwiches will become warm without the risk of burning.
How to Reheat a Subway Sandwich in Waffle Maker?
It is always fun to apply kitchen appliances in a new and clever way. And one such way is using a waffle maker to heat up a leftover Sub. This may seem impractical at first but the result can be quite useful. Waffle makers can make a crispy, tender, and warm sandwich in a very quick time.
A great thing about this method is that it allows you to improve on the sandwich after the fact. Meaning you can apply additional toppings such as extra cheese or coleslaw and press all of the items together to get an improved sandwich.
Challenges
When you are heating the sub in any waffle iron, you will inevitably alter its structure. That is the only way you are going to make this method work. Now, if your sandwich was a bit extreme with its filing, this may prove to be a challenge as the filling may spill out once you start pressing it. things such as meatballs will get flattened and that is something you have to accept.
So, this method is best with Subs that have a moderate filling and a compliant bread on top. Also, you may need to cut the sandwich into two or more pieces for them to properly fit in the iron. This is going to depend on how large the sub you ordered is.
Step 1
Cut the sandwich into slices that will fit the iron without spilling over. If there is too much filling, remove some of them into a bowl and set them aside.
Step 2
Now, place the Sub or a slice of it on the bottom pan of the iron. This is where you can add more cheese or other toppings that will melt in between the two layers of bread. Now, press the iron down and keep it there for 30 seconds.
After 30 seconds, check to see if the sub is hot enough. If not, press the iron down again and repeat this process for 30 seconds at a time until you get perfectly warm and crispy sandwiches.
How to Reheat a Subway Sandwich on a Stove?
In all honesty, a good old skillet on top of a stove is all you need to reheat leftover food. Sure, this method is a bit less automatic and more hand on. But it is also quicker than the oven or air fryer. Plus, you really get to control how hot you want to make the sandwiches.
Challenges
You need to be careful about which skillet you use. A cast-iron skillet is ideal as it will heat the sandwich quicker and give it a crunchy finish. You also have to be careful about the filling. Since you are going to rotate it by hand, the filling may come out during the process.
To prevent this from happening, it is better to keep the sub wrapped in the aluminum foil it came in. This will make it much easier for you to handle the sandwich.
Step 1
Keep the sub wrapped in a foil. Place a cast-iron skillet on top of the stove over medium-high heat.
Step 2
Place the Sub on the skillet once it has become hot. Gently press the sandwich with your fingers and warm one side of the sub for 40-50 seconds. Then with the help of a spatula, rotate the sub and heat the other side for the same amount of time.
You may need to heat the Sub for longer sometimes. You can get a pretty good gauge as to how hot the sandwich has become since your finger will be in contact with it. Just avoid contacting the skillet directly or you will end up with first-degree burns.
Now, once the sandwich is warm enough, kill the heat and take it on a plate. Remove the foil and enjoy.
How to Reheat a Subway Sandwich on a Grill?
If you want to add a touch of BBQ flavor to your sub as well as heat it up, then the grill is the perfect option for you. You will need a grill rack, some olive oil, a spatula or pincer, and a thermometer to do this method.
Challenge
Working the grill machine can be quite a challenge, particularly if you are not that experienced with it. But follow these easy steps and you will end up with a warm and juicy Subway sandwich with a hint of BBQ aftertaste.
Step 1
Prepare the grill. Once the heat reaches 300 °F, you can start heating the sub. Use a cooking thermometer to check the temperature.
Step 2
Lightly drizzle some olive oil on the rack. This will prevent the sub from sticking to the bottom. Now, place the sub on the rack and place the rack on top of the hottest part of the grill.
Heat it on one side for 2-3 minutes. Then flip the sub over to the other side and heat for 2-3 minutes again. Use the spatula to gently press the sandwiches on both sides. You can use the same thermometer to check if the inside of the sandwich has also heated properly or not.
How to Reheat a Subway Sandwich in a Steamer Pot?
The unique part about steamer pots is that you utilize steam to heat the sub instead of direct flames. The benefit of this method is that it will remove any risk of the quality diminishing due to the high heat of an oven or stove. The steam will evenly heat the sub without risking any burns or deteriorating quality.
For this method, you would require a steamer pot, steamer basket, water, aluminum foil, and lid.
Step 1
Fill the steamer pot with water and place the basket in it. Make sure the water does not touch the top of the basket.
Step 2
Wrap the sub with aluminum foil and place it in the basket inside the steamer. Make sure the foil is a bit loose. Otherwise, steam will get trapped inside, leading to very soggy bread.
What is the Best Way to Reheat Subway Sandwich?
The oven is arguably the most reliable method for heating a Subway sandwich. It can thoroughly heat all the way through and has a low chance of burning the sub, unlike a stove or waffle iron. It will also preserve a lot of the quality and shape of the original sandwich.
However, if you were looking for a quicker solution to reheating, then the microwave oven cannot be beaten. It is faster than all other traditional methods and has practically little to no chance of burning the sub. Just take a couple of cautionary steps to avoid getting stale bread when you use this method.
Can You Eat Leftover Subway Sandwich the Next Day?
You can eat leftover Subway sandwich the next day if you properly store it.
Most sandwiches will consist of perishable foods such as cooked meat, cheese, and cooked vegetables. So, to properly store them for later use, you have to keep them in the fridge. Otherwise, that food is going to go bad, and eating it will lead to food poisoning.
Can You Reheat Leftover Subway Sandwich the Next Day?
You can definitely reheat your Subway sandwich from the previous day, provided you properly stored it in the fridge. The sandwich will still taste good once you reheat it correctly with an oven or stove. The quality of the Sub sandwich may decrease depending on the constitution of the sandwich.
If however, you did not transfer the Sub into the fridge within 2-3 hours after purchasing it, there is a good chance that bacteria and other germs have begun to grow in the food to an unsafe level. And reheating it will not manage to kill all of them. So, if you leave the sandwich out in the open for a day, reheating it may not make it safe to consume.
How Long Can Subway Sandwich Sit Out?
Generally speaking, a Subway sandwich with perishable items like cheese and meat can stay out in the open for 2-3 hours. This is how long the USDA says it is safe to keep food out in the open. Exactly how long the Sub will stay fresh and safe for consumption will depend on the nature of the sub and the environment it is kept in.
For example, if it is particularly hot outside and/or you have kept the Sub completely uncovered, then it is likely to go bad faster. Similarly, if you keep it someplace damp, then things such as fungus or mold will grow on it quicker.
So, keep the Subway sandwich wrapped in its original foil and/or place it inside a safe container. This way you can preserve that sandwich for 1-2 hours. If you plan on keeping it for longer, then most certainly transfer that sandwich inside the fridge. The low temperature will prevent any bacteria or fungus from growing at an alarming rate.
Can You Eat Cold Subway?
You can eat cold Subway that has not been left in the open for more than 2 hours or it has been kept in the refrigerator. However, there will be a significant decrease in quality if you do not heat it up. For example, things such as cheese and sauce will be hard and damp.
Can You Put Subway Sandwich in Fridge? How to Store It?
If you want to preserve your sandwich for a couple of hours, then definitely look to store it in the fridge. This way you can keep the Sub safe for consumption for 2-3 days easily.
Keep the Subway sandwich wrapped in the aluminum foil it came in or a new one. Preferably place the wrapped sandwich in an airtight container. Then place the container inside the fridge.
To conclude, the last thing you want is for your perfectly customized sandwich to become cold and dry, ruining all your efforts and time. Fortunately, by utilizing one of the many methods highlighted in this article, you can bring your sandwich back to life to the delight of your taste buds.
