How to Reheat Popeyes Fries? [5 Methods]
Popeyes fries are as close to perfect as a fry can get. Crispy, flavorful, salty, and delicious, there is no occasion too fancy where they wouldn’t fit. Still, when you have leftover Popeyes fries, when they get stiff and lifeless, discarding them is not an option because there are ways you can revive them. So, how to reheat Popeyes fries?
You can reheat Popeyes fries in the oven, pan, microwave, air fryer, or waffle maker. Each method has its specificities, but they can be as good as freshly made with proper care. You must be careful not to expose them to excess moisture and make them crispy again.
Popeyes fries are known for their crispiness and Cajun-style seasoning. They are dense and creamy inside and crispy and crunchy on the outside. Reheating Popeyes fries can be a challenge, but it is doable, so in the following paragraphs, I will explain how each reheating method works.
How Do You Reheat Popeyes Fries in the Oven?
The oven method is one of the best ways to reheat Popeyes fries. Popeyes uses Idaho potatoes which are known for their density and resilience. When Popeyes fries go a little stale, the creamy consistency of the Idaho potatoes gets a little soggy.
The sogginess transfers onto the fries’ exterior, giving you a wobbly fry. So, to reheat them in the oven, you need to give them back their exterior ruggedness while drawing out the moisture without over-drying them.
This may sound a little complicated, but it is simpler than it seems. All you need is a tray and some parchment paper. Lay each fry on the parchment paper and make sure there is enough space between the fries so they don’t stick to each other.
Spray the fries with cooking oil, but ensure you only cover them with a very thin layer, as excess oil could ruin your efforts. Remember that Popeyes fries are already greasy, so adding even a tiny bit too much oil could make them too greasy.
Preheat the oven for about 10 minutes at 350 °F, i.e., 170 °C, and pop the frying tray inside. Let the fries reheat for about 10 minutes at the same temperature, and take them out. If they seem a little soggy, don’t worry, they just need time to set, so let them rest on the counter for another ten minutes and enjoy your revived Popeyes fries.
How Do You Reheat Popeyes Fries in the Microwave?
The microwave is the last appliance you should use to reheat your Popeyes fries, and you should use it only as a last resort. A microwave is an appliance that creates vibrations in the food, making it cook from the inside out. It also creates hot and moist air circulating the food, getting easily absorbed since the food molecules are already displaced.
As a result of how the microwave works, you will get overly moist, soggy, and soft fries. Moreover, the taste will be ruined due to the bad consistency, and you won’t be able to enjoy your Popeyes fries.
Still, there is a way where there is a will, but don’t get your hopes too high with this method. You can reduce the amount of moisture absorbed in Popeyes fries, but you won’t be able to reduce it to zero.
Place a piece of parchment paper on the microwave plate to keep as much moisture as possible from getting inside your Popeyes fries. Lay the Popeyes fries on the paper and cover them with a cotton kitchen towel.
Set the timer to 30 seconds, check how your Popeyes fries turn out and adjust the time accordingly. After you remove the fries from the microwave, let them sit on the counter, so the moisture evaporates as much as possible. They will still be soggy and soft, but as a last resort, the microwave can at least warm the Popeyes fries, so you don’t have them cold.
How to Reheat Popeyes Fries in Pan?
Reheating Popeyes fries in the pan means refrying them. Refrying Popeyes fries are an excellent way to bring them back to life, but they are very prone to sticking, so make sure you choose a non-stick pan.
It is also very important to remember that refrying Popeyes fries is not the same as frying raw fries. Therefore, don’t add as many Popeyes fries as the pan can fit, but make sure you have about a quarter of the pan space free.
The oil amount is another thing you need to be careful about. When making fries, you fill up the pan with oil, but this is refrying, so do not add as much oil to the pan. Instead, just smear the bottom and walls of the pan with an oily napkin.
Refry the Popeyes fries only on the pan bottom. Do not layer them onto each other. When mixing, don’t use a spatula, but try and flip them like flipping a pancake.
Preheat the pan to high temperature on the stove plate and add the Popeyes fries. Let them sizzle for about two minutes, and then flip them inside the pan. Sizzle them for a couple of minutes and remove the pan from the hot plate.
Take the Popeyes fries out of the pan, place them on a paper napkin-covered plate to absorb any excess grease, and let them set for a few minutes.
How to Reheat Popeyes Fries in Air Fryer?
The air fryer is another excellent method to reheat your Popeyes fries and make them crispy again. Moreover, the air fryer will revive the flavor of your Popeyes and return their crispiness.
The hot air circulating Popeyes fries will draw out the excess moisture from the fries and will bring back the creaminess on the inside and make them resilient from the outside. The Cajun spices will get back their shine, and your Popeyes fries will be very close to their former glory.
To reheat your Popeyes fries in the air fryer properly, you need to spray some cooking oil on the tray and ensure they are lightly placed onto one another and not squeezed together. Set the timer to two minutes and let the air fryer do its magic.
Once you take them out of the air fryer, let your Popeyes fries settle for a few minutes before you serve them. Let them rest on a paper napkin to absorb any excess grease.
How to Reheat Popeyes Fries in Waffle Maker?
Although it isn’t the worst idea, I don’t recommend the waffle maker to reheat your Popeyes fries unless you are into experimenting and look forward to new and unpredictable results. Nevertheless, there are two sides to the coin.
On the one hand, reheated in the waffle maker, your Popeyes fries will turn out flavorful and somewhat crispy, but on the other hand, they could be squished due to the pressure of the top plate.
If you decide to use this method, don’t pile the Popeyes fries into the waffle maker, and make sure you don’t apply pressure to the top plate. You can even hold the top plate by the edge, using an oven mitt, so it doesn’t fall onto the fries.
Spray the waffle maker plates with cooking oil and place the Popeyes fries on them. Give them a few minutes, about five and take them out, place them on a paper napkin, and let them rest for a few more minutes.
What Can You Do With Leftover Popeyes Fries?
In addition to reheating them, you can also repurpose your leftover Popeyes fries. You can add your leftover Popeyes fries to a burrito and make a delicious burger wrap. Adding them to a chicken pan while baking will make your Popeyes fries a great addition to roast chicken.
Another way you can use them is by turning them into mashed potatoes. You must squish them, add some milk, and enjoy delicious Cajun mashed potatoes.
You can turn them into a frittata, make a casserole, or even add it to a meat pie. What you can do with leftover Popeyes fries is only limited by your imagination.
