We’ve all been there. It’s a busy day, you’re tired and don’t feel like cooking – but also your wallet is screaming for mercy from all the take-out. What’s a person to do?
The short answer is to reheat your pork chops in the oven, wrapped in aluminum foil for 10 minutes at 425F. But let’s dig into this.
You’re probably now wondering – why should I learn how to reheat pork chops? Well simple! To prevent food waste. If you’ve got a large or small family, learning how to reheat foods you eat a lot will help in the long run.
Depending on your cooking needs, reheating leftovers creates a simple and quick way to get dinner on the table when you’re in a rush. Fried pork chops will last about 4 days in the fridge, but they should be eaten well within that window or you risk exposure to food spoilage.
Avoid freezing your pork chops for too long, as meat tends to lose its texture when it’s stored in the freezer for too long. Do your best to keep it within three months. Any longer and the meal might be unpalatable by the time you get to it again.
And always remember to throw away unfinished reheated food – never reheat twice!
You might be surprised to hear this, but an air fryer is a perfect way to reheat quite several food items. Most importantly, it’ll keep that delicious crunchy texture.
Step 1 – Heat your air fryer to 375 degrees Fahrenheit.
Step 2 – Line up your pork cutlets into the fryer basket, in one layer.
Step 3 – Heat your chops for 3-5 minutes, then remove.
Step 4 – Set your pork strips on a cooling rack for 1 minute before eating.
The air fryer is an amazing and simple way to reheat your fried pork chops while maintaining the quality of flavor and texture.
Option 2 – The Microwave
The microwave is hardly the ideal place to reheat your food, much less a crunchy fried pork chop. It won’t maintain the delicious crunchy exterior. But, if you’re in a crunch for time, this option will do fine.
Step 1 – Defrost your chops.
Step 2 – Place up to 3 strips on a microwaveable safe plate, covered in paper towels.
Step 3 – Heat your pork for up to 60 seconds before checking if the interior is warm.
Step 4 – Should the chops be fully reheated, remove them and serve immediately.
Step 5 (optional) – If it’s still cold, add another 10 seconds – in increments – until heated thoroughly.
While not the most ideal in terms of taste and texture, the microwave is a perfectly acceptable way to reheat your pork chops if time or convenience is an issue.
Options 3 – The Oven
This is probably the most popular method of reheating your fried pork chops. Whether frozen or chilled, the oven is the perfect method for slow reheating.
Step 1 – Turn your oven to 425 degrees Fahrenheit.
Step 2 – Place your pork cutlets on a baking sheet lined with aluminum foil, lightly sprayed with non-stick cooking spray or butter.
Step 3 – Cover the cutlets with another layer of aluminum foil.
Step 4 – Bake the chops for 8 minutes.
Step 5 – Uncover and flip the cutlets. Reseal them in aluminum foil.
Step 6 – Bake for an additional 10 minutes.
Step 7 – Remove the strips from the baking sheet and let them rest while covered for 5 minutes. Serve while hot.
If you’ve got some fried pork chops laying around that need to be reheated for your lunch or dinner, you have plenty of options. From the microwave to the air fryer, there’s wiggle room for every preference.
There are pros and cons to each method, but there’s sure to be one that suits your fancy perfectly. The microwave makes things more convenient at the cost of taste and texture quality, while the oven sacrifices time for high quality.
Your choice depends on your needs and what you expect out of your leftovers.
