Exactly How To Reheat A Meatball Sub – I Test 5 Methods [Pics]

Meatball subs are tricky to reheat because meatballs take longer to heat than buns. 

Making sure that everything reaches the right temperature and crispness level without losing any of the juicy goodness can be challenging.

In this article, I share the results of my experiment reheating a meatball sub (I tried 5 methods!).

I also give you some tips on how best to store and freeze your meatball subs to keep them as fresh as possible.

In a rush? Here’s the short answer.

The best way to reheat a meatball sub is to first microwave it in a V position. Cut an incision into the meatballs and pry them open. Cover the sub with a damp paper towel and microwave for 15-30 seconds. Next, place it in a preheated oven at 350°F (180°C) for 5-10 minutes until it’s piping hot.

A note on my experiment

I popped my leftover meatball subs into the fridge overnight, ready for the next day’s experiments.

The following day, I experimented with the following 5 methods to reheat my meatball subs:

• Combining the oven and the microwave (the best method)
• Just in the oven (okay result but took too long)
• Just in the microwave (not great)
• In an air fryer (good for crispy bread)
• By deconstructing (more effort)

The combined method is by far the best way to reheat a meatball sub.

The buns were crisp, and the meatballs came out moist and delicious.

The next best method was the oven. 

The microwave didn’t give the best results, but it has its place if you’re looking for a quick method or you have stale bread. 

Reheating a meatball sub – the best method

Position your sub on a microwave-safe plate in the V-position. Cut an incision into the meatballs and pry them open a little. Cover the sub with a damp paper towel and microwave for 15-30 seconds to warm the meat. Then place it in a preheated oven at 350°F (180°C) for 5-10 minutes until it’s piping hot.

How to reheat a meatball sub:

1. Place your sub so that the bread is in a V position (with meatballs inside).
2. Cut an incision through the meatballs and slightly pry them open.
3. Cover the sub with a damp paper towel so that it doesn’t dry out.
4. Microwave the sub for 15-30 seconds just to warm the meat.
5. Remove it from the microwave and place it on a wire rack.
6. Put the sub into a 350°F (180°C) preheated oven, toaster oven, or even an air fryer.
7. Heat it until the meatballs are piping hot and the bread is slightly crisp (5-10 mins).

By microwaving the sub first, you give the meatballs a head start on heating through, so the bread won’t get too dry in the oven.

I like to use a wire rack with a baking tray underneath (to catch any sauce that drips out). 

Wire racks allow the hot air to circulate freely around the sub.  

My verdict

This was my favorite method.

The bread was soft with a slightly crisp outside and the meatballs were hot right the way through.

It was convenient, and it’s not too slow.

Reheating a meatball sub in the oven

To reheat a meatball sub in the oven, preheat it to 350°F (180°C). Let the sub reach room temperature before wrapping it in foil with a bit of water sprinkled over it if the bread’s dry. Heat for 10-15 minutes, then unwrap the foil and let it crisp for another 5 minutes.

How to reheat a meatball sub in the oven:

1. Preheat your oven to 350°F (180°C).
2. Allow the sub to come up to room temp (it will take around 15-20 minutes). 
3. Wrap the sub in foil, sprinkling some water over it if you think that your bread is a little dry.
4. Heat the sub for 10-15 minutes.
5. Unwrap the foil and allow the sub to crisp for 5 more minutes. You can also add extra cheese at this point.

Letting the sub reach room temperature before you heat it helps ensure that the meatballs don’t end up cold in the middle. 

The sub will also heat slightly faster.

The foil will protect the bread from drying out, but if you don’t account for the crisping time at the end, it can come out a bit soggy.

To test if the meatballs are hot all the way through, stick a sharp knife into one and feel the metal when you pull it out.

If it’s warm, the meatballs are hot.

My verdict

This method worked quite well, but it took longer than the other methods I tried. 

The problem is that the meatballs take a while to heat through.

The oven is better suited for reheating multiple subs at once rather than individual meatball subs.

Reheating a meatball sub in the microwave

To reheat your meatball sub in the microwave, position it on a microwave-safe plate with the roll’s V-shape upward. Then slice partway through the meatballs. Cover the sub with a damp paper towel and microwave on 100% power in 15-second intervals until the meatballs are piping hot.

How to reheat a meatball sub in the microwave:

1. Put your meatball sub on a microwave-safe plate.
2. Position the bun with the V-shape upward, and then slice the meatballs open.
3. Cover the sub with a damp paper towel to prevent the roll from drying out.
4. Microwave at 15-second intervals until the meatballs are piping hot.

You’ll need to eat the sub as soon as possible once it’s microwaved because the bread will stale quickly once it starts to cool down.

Using short time intervals means you won’t overcook the bread or dry the meat out.

My verdict

The microwave gave me an okay result but not great. 

The bread didn’t have any crispiness, and I found it a bit chewy. This is the risk you run when microwaving bread.

However, if your primary concern is time and you’re in a rush, the meatballs will definitely be warm!

Reheating a meatball sub in an air fryer

Preheat the air fryer to 300°F (150°C). Position the sub in the basket with the bread in an upward V-position. Cut an incision through the meatballs and pry them slightly open. Place the sub in the air fryer and heat for 5-10 minutes until the meatballs are piping hot and the bread is crisp.

How to reheat a meatball sub in an air fryer:

1. Set your air fryer to 300°F (150°C).
2. Place the sub so that the bread is in a V position.
3. Cut an incision through the meatballs and slightly pry them open.
4. Place the sub in the air fryer.
5. Air fry until the meatballs are piping hot and the bread is crisp (about 5-10 minutes).

You want to cut into the meatballs with this one.

The air fryer heat is harsh and will definitely dry the bread out before whole meatballs warm through.

I would also cut the sub into smaller sections to aid with heating.

My verdict

This method is good if you want crispy bread and a crunchy, cheesy top.

If you prefer softer bread, steer clear of the airy fryer.

Reheating a meatball sub by deconstructing it

Deconstruct your sub by removing the meatballs and as much sauce as possible. Heat the meatballs in the microwave or a pan on the stove. Splash some water over them if you want a thinner sauce. Toast the bread in an oven at 250°F (120°C) or place it cut side down in a skillet, then reassemble the sub.

How to reheat a meatball sub by deconstructing:

1. Remove the meatballs from the bun and as much sauce as possible.
2. Heat the meatballs and sauce in the microwave or on the stove, splashing on a little water if you want a looser sauce.
3. Toast the bread in a low oven at 250°F (120°C) until it’s warm and crispy. Alternatively, lightly toast it in a skillet.
4. Reassemble the sub and top it all off with more cheese if you want.

If your bread is soggy, this is a good option because you can dry it out (the oven is best for this).

I added an extra step and broiled the cheese at the end to melt it.

My verdict

This method is more involved than the other methods, and I didn’t see much benefit from the extra work.

For that reason, I don’t recommend it unless you’re looking to salvage a soggy bun.

How to store a meatball sub

The best way to store a meatball sub is to keep the meatballs and sauce separate from the bread. But if your sub is already assembled and you want to keep it that way, then cool the sub to room temperature, wrap it in foil and keep it in the fridge for 1-2 days.

The saucier your meatballs are, the soggier the bread will get in storage.

I would scrape off any excess sauce and keep it in a separate airtight container.

Ensure the meatball sub is at room temperature before wrapping it in foil.

If it’s still warm, condensation will build up inside the packaging and leave you with mushy bread. 

Can you freeze a meatball sub?

You can freeze the meatballs from a meatball sub, but not an already assembled sub (the bread will get way too soggy). 

Freeze the meatballs and sauce in freezer bags or an airtight container. You can also freeze fresh sub rolls by wrapping them in tightly plastic wrap followed by a layer of foil.

The double-layer helps prevent freezer burn. 

Portion the meatballs out before freezing them, so you can defrost one sub worth at a time. 

Another option is to flash freeze the meatballs by spreading them out on a parchment paper-lined baking tray.

Once they’re frozen solid, you can transfer them to a freezer bag without worrying about them sticking together. 

How To Reheat A Meatball Sub

In this short recipe, I show you the best way to revive and reheat your leftover meatball sub.

5 from 1 vote

Print Pin Rate

Course: Main Course

Cuisine: American

Keyword: meatball sub, reheat a meatball sub

Prep Time: 0 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 10 minutes minutes

Total Time: 10 minutes minutes

Servings: 1 person

Calories: 232kcal

Ingredients

• 1 portion meatball sub

Instructions

• Place your sub so that the bread is in a V position (with meatballs inside).
• Cut an incision through the meatballs and slightly pry them open.
• Cover the sub with a damp paper towel so that it doesn’t dry out.
• Microwave the sub for 15-30 seconds just to warm the meat.
• Remove it from the microwave and place it on a wire rack.
• Put the sub into a 350°F (180°C) preheated oven, toaster oven, or even an air fryer.
• Heat it until the meatballs are piping hot and the bread is slightly crisp (5-10 mins).

Notes

By microwaving the sub first, you give the meatballs a head start on heating through, so the bread won’t get too dry in the oven.

I like to use a wire rack with a baking tray underneath (to catch any sauce that drips out).

Wire racks allow the hot air to circulate freely around the sub.

Nutrition

Serving: 100g | Calories: 232kcal