The last thing anyone wants to deal with is mushy leftovers. If you originally enjoyed part of a sandwich that was delightfully toasted, melty, and fresh all at the same time, you’ll need to take care to uphold the same qualities in the reheating process. Whether you’re warming part of a sweet and savory Monte Cristo sandwich or BLT club, making sure the bread of your sandwich remains soft yet firm is essential. For the best results, utilize your toaster oven or air fryer.
A toaster oven is considered exceptionally handy since most models come with multiple settings to easily control the temperature and consistency of your food. Similar to a conventional oven, a toaster oven heats food from the outside in, creating perfectly toasted sandwich bread. That being said, your toaster oven has additional benefits like quick preheating and easy countertop monitoring.
To successfully reheat sandwiches in a toaster oven, first remove any cold toppings such as lettuce and tomato. If your sandwich is fairly thick, heat it open-faced for even warming. So your bread doesn’t become too browned or toasted, keep the toaster oven at a somewhat low temperature such as 250 degrees Fahrenheit. For softer bread, wrap your leftovers in foil. When heating your sandwich open-faced, consider using the broiler setting for a minute or two for added texture. Once your sandwich portions are perfectly warm, add back the chilled toppings and extra condiments.
How to reheat leftover sandwiches in an air fryer
Next to using your toaster oven, it’s fairly simple to hack your sandwich game with some help from your air fryer. Thanks to an air fryer’s convection-style heating system; with a few different preparation methods at your disposal, your next leftover sandwich can be properly warmed and crisp in no time. Simply set your air fryer anywhere between 250 to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
First, line the fryer basket with parchment paper and warm leftovers until heated through. This should take approximately 5 minutes depending on the thickness of your sandwich. Flip portions halfway through if necessary. The hot, circulating air gives leftover sandwich bread an evenly toasted consistency that’s anything but soggy.
Alternatively, skip the parchment paper and wrap your sandwich in aluminum foil. Foil not only prevents the bread from becoming overly-toasted, but it’s also ideal for heating sandwiches with multiple layers. Foil keeps your sandwich together and prevents melted cheese from falling through the base of the fryer basket. Though, keep in mind that with foil, you may need to extend the heating time by a few additional minutes.
If you don’t have access to an air fryer or toaster oven, feel free to utilize your oven. However, think twice before heating common items in your microwave such as bread rolls. The included sugar in bread products has the potential to overheat and crystalize, which can turn leftover sandwich bread to stone.
