How To Reheat Fish and Chips – The 4 Best Ways

Fish and Chips is a delicious signature British dish. However, most people believe that takeaway fish and chips portions are too big for them.

With this iconic dish, it’s totally unacceptable to throw away leftovers if you can reheat them to taste as good as new. And this is exactly why we prepared this detailed guide for you.

What is the best way to reheat fish and chips? The best way to reheat fish and chips is using an air fryer, you can also skillet-fry your leftovers or toss them in the oven after sprinkling them with a little amount of oil. A microwave should be your last option because the results won’t be as impressive.

The Best Ways to Reheat Fish and Chips

Fish and chips is a popular and tasty dish, but if you can’t finish your meal, you don’t have to throw it away.

Storing the fish and chips after they have cooled down in an open container will prevent the condensation from building up. Next, move the leftovers to an air-tight container, which can keep them in good condition for up to 4 days.

When it’s time to reheat your fish and chips, let them cool off and pat the food dry with a paper towel to remove as much moisture as you can.

If you’re keeping your leftovers in the freezer, your fish can last up to 1 month, while the chips can stay good for a year.

Now that your fish and chips are ready, and it’s time to reheat your leftovers. Here are the 4 best ways to reheat your fish and chips.

How to Reheat Fish and Chips in an Air Fryer

Using the air fryer is probably the best way to reheat takeaway or yesterday’s delicious homemade fried dish leftovers.

The main reason why fish and chips get soggy when reheated is the moisture, and deep-frying is a potent way of letting the moisture escape while maintaining the crunchiness.

The air fryer does the trick, and if you’re trying to cut down on your oil consumption, then using the air fryer will be the best option. It keeps the crust crispy while using a healthy method to cook and reheat your fried food.

First of all, you need to arrange your fish and chips in the air fryer basket, then just spray a tiny amount of oil. The air fryer allows hot air to spin around your food, removing the moisture to prevent your food from getting soggy. At the same time, the oil keeps the crust crunchy and tasty.

It’s crucial to turn the fish to the other side, so both sides will be crispy. After removing the fish, you can reheat your chips using a higher setting. The air fryer will already be hot, so it will remove the moisture from your chips.

Here are the Steps to Reheat Fish and Chips in an Air Fryer

1. Take the fish and chips out of the freezer or fridge.
2. Use paper towels to dry them.
3. Arrange the fish in the air fryer.
4. Spray a little amount of extra virgin olive or sunflower oil to both sides of the fish.
5. Set the air fryer to medium heat or 320°F and turn it on for 4 minutes.
6. Stop the air fryer, and turn your fish to the other side.
7. Continue for another 3 minutes.
8. Remove the fish and arrange the chips in a single layer.
9. Set the temperature at 360°F timer for up to 6 minutes, depending on how crunchy you want your chips to be.
10. After 3 minutes, shake or stir the chips.
11. Continue for another 3 minutes.

The only problem with reheating fish and chips in the air fryer is that you should use two different settings.

Using high heat while reheating fish will turn them rubbery or chewy. However, with the chips, increasing the time up to 6 minutes will make them crispier and tastier.

Another issue that you need to pay attention to is that the air fryer is usually less convenient when you’re reheating food for a large family. For example, if you’re reheating fish and chips for 4 people, you will probably have to do that in batches.

How to Reheat Fish and Chips on a Skillet

Reheating fish and chips on a skillet is the next best thing if you don’t have an air fryer. This method eliminates the moisture and works for reheating small and big batches without ending up with a soggy hot mess.

Using a skillet is as good as deep frying your fish and chips one more time, but you use just a little amount of oil. The inside of your fish will be hot and juicy, while the crust stays crunchy. It also works for chips that would otherwise become soggy.

We also love using a skillet because it’s a quick method that takes only a few minutes.

However, remember that if the batter comes off, there’s no turning back. This is why we recommend using a non-stick skillet for reheating your fish and chips.

Here are the steps for reheating fish and chips on a skillet.

1. Defrost or thaw your fish and chips in advance.
2. Add a little vegetable oil to your skillet and allow it to heat.
3. Add the chips first and toss them a little. Be careful not to break them while stirring.
4. Remove the chips after 2 to 3 minutes.
5. Place your fish in the hot oil for about 3 minutes.
6. Turn the fish to the other side using a pair of long tongs. Be careful to keep the crust intact.
7. Remove the fish from the skillet when each side is golden.

The only downside to this method is that it requires your presence throughout the whole process; otherwise, your food will burn.

If you get annoyed by the smell of fish, you might also hate this method. Nevertheless, it’s one of the most appropriate ways to reheat takeaway fish and chips in very little time.

How to Reheat Fish and Chips in the Oven

If you’ve got some time to spare, reheating your fish and chips in the oven will be the way to go. It allows the moisture to escape and reheats your dish evenly.

This method works best if you have large to medium fried fish pieces because small pieces can get burned. It’s also a great way to reheat a big batch of fries and chips for the whole family.

A convection oven will be a great choice because it allows the hot air to rotate, guaranteeing even reheating while reducing cold spots.

For better results, let the fish cool down on the counter while getting the oven ready. This will allow all the pieces to have the same internal temperature. You also need to preheat the oven before reheating your fish and chips leftovers.

Here are the steps to reheat fish and chips in the oven.

1. Preheat the oven to 350°F while letting your fish and chips defrost or thaw to reach room temperature.
2. Place your fried fish on a baking sheet or in an oven-safe dish.
3. Allow the fish to reheat between 10 and 15 minutes, depending on the size of the pieces and the type of your oven. A convection oven can take less time than a regular one.
4. Make sure that all the pieces are reheated all the way through the center, then remove.
5. Increase the temperature of the oven to 400°F or 450°F.
6. Spread your chips in a single well-spaced layer on a baking sheet or an oven-safe dish, and reheat for 10 to 15 minutes.

The only problem with reheating fish and chips in the oven is that it takes more time than other methods. However, if you’ve got 30 minutes to spare before dinner, this will be an excellent way to enjoy tasty and crispy fish and chips.

How to Reheat Fish and Chips in the Microwave

Reheating fish and chips in the microwave should be your last option. However, it might be the only one if you’re in a hurry or reheating your leftovers in a dorm room or office break room.

A modern microwave with the reheat option will make your reheated fish slightly tastier. You can also use the potatoes option to reheat your chips.

Here are the steps to reheat fish and chips in the microwave.

1. Allow the fish and chips to reach room temperature, and use paper towels to pat the food.
2. Place your fish in a microwave-safe dish.
3. Set the microwave to reheat or choose a low heat setting and activate it for about 3 minutes.
4. Remove the fish and add the chips.
5. Keep the heat low, or use the built-in potatoes option for up to 3 minutes.

Compared to other methods, this one delivers the least satisfying results. Microwave cooking is known to keep the food moist, so your fish and chips will be soggy. Moreover, increasing the time or temperature will overcook your dish.

However, things can be slightly better if you have a reheat option on your microwave. Some microwaves also have a built-in sensor that reheats food without overcooking the ingredients.

Can You Reheat Fish and Chips?

Yes, you can. As a matter of fact, there are several reheating options that you can consider if you don’t want to waste your fish and chips leftovers.

Your fish and chips will taste as good as new if you use the air fryer to reheat your leftovers. This method doesn’t overcook your fish and retains the crispiness of the crust and the chips without using too much oil.

A skillet is another successful method, but you need to be careful while tossing your fish. If you need to reheat a large batch of fish and chips, the oven will work for you. However, you need to be careful not to exceed the right temperature setting, or your fish will become too dry.

Reheat your fish and chips in the microwave only in the case of an emergency. This our least favorite way, but it might work for you if you’re reheating leftovers in the dorm room or office break room.

Follow our step-by-step guide, and your several-day-old fish and chips will taste delicious and crispy.