There’s nothing quite like a warm, sweet apple crisp. But what do you do with your leftovers?
This traditional pudding is far too tasty to throw away, which is why I’ve tried and tested three different apple crisp reheating methods, to find out what’s best at delivering that freshly baked taste and texture.
When reheating apple crisp, you want to retain the syrupy, soft integrity of the apple filling and the crispy crunch of the streusel topping.
Let’s look at how to warm your apple crisp to perfection, as well as how to recover a soggy crumb topping (a very common issue!).
A note on my experiment
A good apple crisp is easy to make and generally quite a crowd-pleaser.
I almost always end up with leftovers.
This is why, after one too many half-warmed apple crisps in my lifetime, I finally set out to find the ideal way to reheat this delicious dish.
I tried three different methods, which included:
- Reheating apple crisp in the oven
- Reheating apple crisp in the microwave
- Reheating apple crisp in the air fryer
Spoiler: the oven method was my favorite. It rendered the apples juicy and the topping deliciously crispy. It was also really convenient for reheating a whole apple crisp in one go.
That being said, the microwave method surprised me.
While the apples heated up much faster than the topping (be careful!), it stayed pretty crispy, which I wasn’t expecting.
The air fryer technique also delivered good results and would be my method of choice for a single portion if I was in a hurry.
The air fryer keeps the topping nice and crunchy.
Reheating apple crisp in the oven
Preheat your oven to 350°F (180°C). Place your apple crisp in a baking tray and optionally drizzle some melted butter over the topping. Cover the tray with foil and warm in the oven for 10 to 15 minutes. To crisp the topping, remove the foil for the last 3 to 5 minutes of oven time. Serve hot.
Uncovering your apple crisp for its last few minutes in the oven goes a long way to making the topping nice and crunchy.
How to reheat apple crisp in the oven:
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (180°C).
- Place your apple crisp (whole or in portions) in a baking tray.
- Optional: drizzle some melted butter over the crisp’s topping.
- Cover the baking tray with foil and place in the oven for 10 to 15 minutes.
- To add crispiness to your topping, uncover the apple crisp for the last 3 to 5 minutes.
- Once heated through, serve immediately.
If you bake your apple crisp for too long without its foil covering, you run the risk of drying out the topping.
Drizzling a bit of additional butter over the streusel layer adds moisture which is locked in by covering the dish with foil.
If you prefer a dryer topping, you can leave the dish uncovered for the duration of the heating process.
My verdict
I loved this method because of how juicy the apple filling was in delightful contrast to the crispy, crunchy topping.
It tasted almost as good as new.
I also found my apple crisp was evenly heated and that I could manage my desired level of warmth by how long I kept it in the oven.
This is definitely the method I recommend for reheating multiple portions of apple crisp all at once.
Reheating apple crisp in the microwave
Place a portion of apple crisp on a microwave-safe plate. On half power, microwave the apple crisp in 30-second intervals until warmed through. Optionally, place your dessert under a preheated broiler for a minute or two to crisp up the topping. Serve immediately.
This method is quick and convenient, especially for individual portions.
How to reheat apple crisp in the microwave:
- Place your apple crisp on a microwave-safe plate (single portion).
- On half power, heat the dish in 30-second intervals until reheated to your liking.
- Optional: place the apple crisp under a preheated broiler for 2 to 3 minutes.
- Serve immediately.
With this method, I advise sticking to reheating one portion at a time to ensure the apple crisp is warmed through evenly.
Adding the additional broiler step reinvigorates the crispiness of the topping, lending to a freshly-baked taste.
Note that the apples warm up much faster than the topping in the microwave.
Be careful not to burn your mouth!
My verdict
What I love about this method is how quick and easy it is. The results are decent if you’re in a hurry and just reheating a bite for yourself.
I was also pleasantly surprised at how well the topping held up.
I assumed it would turn soggy, but it stayed quite crunchy, and this was amplified by a few minutes under the broiler.
Reheating apple crisp in the air fryer
Preheat your air fryer to 350°F (180°C). Line the air fryer basket with parchment paper and place a portion of apple crisp inside it. Heat your apple crisp for 3 to 4 minutes. Once evenly heated, remove it from the air fryer basket and serve immediately.
With this method, make sure to keep a close eye on the reheating process.
It’s very easy to accidentally burn your apple crisp.
How to reheat apple crisp in the air fryer:
- Preheat your air fryer to 350°F (180°C).
- Line your fryer basket with parchment paper.
- Place a portion of apple crisp in the basket.
- Reheat for 3 to 4 minutes.
- Once heated to your satisfaction, remove the apple crisp and serve immediately.
When using your air fryer, make sure not to overcrowd the basket as your pudding will not heat evenly.
My verdict
This method is fast and convenient (roughly 3 minutes), and the cherry on top is the delightfully crispy topping.
I also found that it warmed my apple crisp more evenly than the microwave.
This method is excellent if you want to heat a small portion in a hurry and you’re after a crispy streusel and an evenly warm, soft filling.
How to store apple crisp
- Allow the apple crisp to cool, then cover it with a paper towel and wrap the whole thing in plastic wrap.
- You can leave the apple crisp at room temperature for two days, or you can refrigerate it for up to five days. For longer-term storage, you can freeze the apple crisp.
- Make sure the apple crisp is room temperature all the way through before adding any sort of covering. If you cover the crisp prematurely, it won’t stay crispy for long.
I’ve written an entire article on how to store apple crisp.
I recommend checking it out as I provide a few extra tips for keeping your topping as crunchy as possible and preparing the dish in advance.
How to freeze apple crisp
You can freeze baked or unbaked apple crisp. For both types, wrap the apple crisp in plastic wrap followed by a layer of aluminum foil. This double protection ensures your apple crisp isn’t affected by freezer burn. The apple crisp will last up to 3 months in the freezer.
How to fix a soggy apple crisp topping
To fix a soggy topping, carefully lift as much of it as possible from the filling and spread it out on a baking tray. Heat it in a preheated 350°F (180°C) oven until it is crisp to your satisfaction or starting to turn golden. Then, spread it out over the filling once again and serve immediately.
Keep a close eye on this process to ensure you don’t burn the delicate crumbs of the topping.
If you’re in a hurry, consider popping on your broiler, but make sure you monitor it carefully so that it doesn’t scorch.
How to reheat frozen apple crisp
You can reheat apple crisp straight from frozen. Preheat your oven to 350°F (180°C). Cover your apple crisp with foil and heat it for 20 minutes. Uncover the dish and heat it for a further 3 to 5 minutes to crisp the topping. Serve once the apple crisp is warmed through.
Generally speaking, your apple crisp is evenly heated when the filling starts to bubble, and the streusel topping turns golden.
For added crunch, drizzle a small amount of melted butter over the topping before placing it in the oven. This locks in moisture and turns the streusel crispy.
Alternatively, you can reheat apple crisp from frozen in the microwave. Simply heat a small portion in 30-second intervals until it is warmed to your liking.
How long does apple crisp last?
Make the most of your apple crisp by knowing how long you can store it for.
You can use the following as a guideline for how long you can keep this delicious dessert.
Room temperature: If you store it in an airtight container, you can keep an apple crisp at room temperature for up to two days. However, if you want to keep it fresher for longer, consider storing it in the refrigerator instead.
Refrigerated: An apple crisp stored in the refrigerator will stay fresh for up to five days and fare positively in the process of reheating.
Frozen: Apple crisp freezes and reheats well, but it’s best if you consume it within three months of its initial storage date.
The Best Way To Reheat Apple Crisp
Ingredients
- 1 portion apple crisp
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (180°C).
- Place your apple crisp (whole or in portions) in a baking tray.
- Optional: drizzle some melted butter over the crisp’s topping.
- Cover the baking tray with foil and place in the oven for 10 to 15 minutes.
- To add crispiness to your topping, uncover the apple crisp for the last 3 to 5 minutes.
- Once fully reheated, serve immediately.
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