Refried beans have to be one of the easiest things to reheat. Think about it. Someone already refried them. Reheating refried beans is like reheating them twice.
You can reheat refried beans in the oven, in the toaster oven, on the stove, or in the microwave. How you reheat them really depends on how you want to eat them. If you put them on a tortilla, it is best to reheat them in the oven or on the stove. If you just need to reheat the beans alone, the microwave will work well.
Remember that refried beans can be gassy. The longer you cook them, they release more of the gas that makes them so interesting to eat and digest. For this reason, it is preferable that you don’t use the microwave. But if you don’t mind a little flatulence, then reheat them in the microwave and fire away!
Reheating Refried Beans In the Conventional Oven
This method is best when you want to reheat the refried beans on top of a tortilla. You can use a flour, white corn, or yellow corn tortilla, the results are the same. The beans will heat all the way through and the tortilla will be warm.
While you are at it, why don’t you throw a piece of cheese on top before you put the refried beans in the oven? You can use a piece of cheddar, Monterey jack, or even a piece of swiss cheese. By the time the cheese melts, the refried beans will also be hot.
To reheat your refried beans in the conventional oven, follow these steps.
- Preheat the conventional over to 350 degrees.
- Spread a layer of refried beans on a tortilla.
- Place the tortilla on a metal baking sheet.
- Cook for approximately five minutes.
- Remove from oven and eat immediately.
You can turn these refried beans into a sumptuous meal if you have any of the following toppings.
- Cheese
- Salsa
- Black olives
- Shredded lettuce
- Fresh onions
- Sour cream
- Any other topping you can think of that would be good on nachos.
How to Reheat Refried Beans on the Stove Top
This method is best if the refried beans gave you a healthy amount of gas the first time you ate them. You will want to heat the beans up for as long as possible. Adding water to the beans will allow you to cook them longer.
For every half a cup of refried beans, add a quarter cup of water. A pinch of baking soda will help disperse even more of that gas. Put the mixture in a pot and heat on low. Stir frequently, but keep covered as much as possible.
It is best if you can reheat the beans for 15 minutes or longer. Check to see that the beans are not drying up. Add more water if necessary.
Don’t worry if the beans get a little dry. Adding water will restore them to their creamy best. So long as the refried beans aren’t burnt, they will be delicious.
Another option is to fry your refried beans. Put a little oil in a non-stick pan and heat it to a medium temperature. Add the refried beans and cook them like you would cook scrambled eggs. They will cook in a few minutes.
You can also put the refried beans on a tortilla and lightly fry the tortilla in a non-stick pan. This method would also work in an electric skillet.
How to Reheat Refried Beans in a Toaster Oven
This method is nearly identical to the instructions given for the conventional oven. The only difference is that you will only be able to cook two tortillas with beans at a time. The advantage is that this method is quicker because the oven does not need to preheat. It will also save valuable energy.
How to Reheat Refried Beans in a Microwave Oven
This method is the easiest, but it does not give the best results. Since the refried beans will only heat for a short time, most of the gas will remain in the beans. Use this method with care if you are on a first date.
You can reheat the refried beans on top of a tortilla in the microwave. Unfortunately, the tortilla will not turn out crispy. In fact, it might turn out a little soggy.
If you want to heat the refried beans on top of something, tortilla chips are a good option. They are already crunchy and they will not get soggy in the microwave. Of course, you will probably want to add some cheese to make nachos.
To reheat refried beans in the microwave oven, use the following instructions.
- If the refried beans are dry, stir in some water until they reach the desired consistency.
- Put the beans in a microwave-safe dish.
- Put a lid on the beans. (This will save your microwave from refried bean flatulence)
- Microwave on high (One cup of beans will require about 60 seconds)
- Enjoy your refried beans, but be aware of undesired side effects.
Conclusion
Refried beans are one of the most versatile foods that exist. They are easy to reheat and you can store them in either the refrigerator or the freezer. You can use a conventional oven, a toaster oven, the stovetop, or a microwave oven to reheat refried beans. Remember that the longer you can cook them, the more they will release their gas.
