If you’ve got some delicious, crunchy fried calamari leftovers sitting in your fridge, and you’re wondering how to reheat them – or if you even can – look no further. Reheating fried calamari is simple and easy, and there are a lot of options available to you.
The best way to reheat your leftover fried calamari, while maintaining the quality of taste and texture, is to use the oven. Preheat to 375° Fahrenheit and lay them into a foil-lined baking sheet into a single layer, and bake for approximately 7 minutes.
Can you reheat fried calamari?
Yes, you absolutely can reheat fried calamari.
Unlike other seafood, fried calamari should be eaten fresh and hot. But if you’ve made or ordered too much and end up with leftovers, it’s perfectly okay to reheat them the next day.
There are many different options available, from the humble microwave to the air fryer. But there’s definitely a best and worst method.
How to keep fried calamari crispy?
To keep your reheated fried calamari crispy, it’s best to avoid the microwave as best as you can.
The microwave will do to your fried calamari the same it does to any and all other fried foods – it will turn out soggy and stale tasting.
The air fryer or even conventional oven would be a better bet.
Can you eat cold calamari?
Sure! There’s nothing stopping you from simply grabbing it from the fridge and eating it cold.
But the taste would likely be better and more satisfying if you heat it up, especially since it’s originally eaten fresh and hot out the fryer.
It’s safe to eat it the next day, but you shouldn’t keep your fried calamari for longer than a day or two. Any seafood can harbor toxins and bacteria that could make you incredibly sick, so it’s best to eat it fast unless you’ve frozen it.
Oven
Definitely one of the best methods, and one of the easiest thankfully. It’s quick, simple, and just about everyone has a conventional oven in their homemaking this one of the more accessible options.
Texture-wise, it shouldn’t change things too much, though they could end up a little bit chewier than the first time around.
- Preheat your oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Place your calamari in a single layer on a baking sheet
- Cook for 7 minutes, flipping them halfway through.
- Remove from oven and serve immediately
Alternately, you could cook for 10 minutes at 350.
Skillet
This is a quick method and doesn’t take a lot of prep. All you’ll need is butter or a bit of oil.
With this method, you’ll be in charge of exactly how much your dish gets reheated.
Keep your eye on the temperature, flip them halfway through, and you’ll be good to go.
- Grab a heavier skillet like a cast iron
- Heat the skillet on high until fully hot
- Turn down to medium heat
- Add the oil and wait till hot
- Fry the calamari in the oil until it’s heated through, flipping once or twice
- Remove from heat and serve immediately
Air fryer
While an air fryer isn’t a kitchen appliance that everyone is going to have, it’s still definitely an excellent option for reheating any fried foods – your calamari included.
Because you’re essentially cooking them a second time, you need to be a little more mindful and careful with this method to ensure you don’t overcook or burn them.
- Preheat fryer to 350 degrees Fahrenheit
- Lay the calamari in the basket in an even layer
- Cook for 3-5 minutes, checking periodically
- Remove from the fryer and serve immediately
Microwave
Sometimes, the humble microwave is our only reheating option. It’s definitely a case for “desperate times call for desperate measures”.
The microwave won’t be able to maintain the taste and texture the same as the other methods listed here, but you can still make it work in a pinch.
- Place your calamari on a microwave-safe plate or container
- Cover with a damp paper towel, to help keep the texture from changing too much
- Set your microwave to medium power
- Heat the calamari in 20-second intervals until heated thoroughly
- Remove and serve immediately
A quick tip, be sure to keep an eye on the moisture levels of your fried calamari. If it gets too high, you’ll end up with gross soggy squid instead of a delicious crunch.
Final thoughts
As with any seafood, it’s best to eat your fried calamari immediately after reheating. Soon after, within two hours, the calamari will begin to turn soggy.
But, with any of these methods, you should have a tasty and safe second round with your calamari.
