How To Reheat Baked Potatoes – I Test 4 Methods [Pics]

Baked potatoes may be quick and easy to make, but are they quick and easy to reheat?

How do you keep that crisp outside and fluffy inside?

In this article, I show you the best way to revive your leftover baked potatoes and restore their fluffy filling and crisp, papery skin.

No gumminess or hardness in sight!

Ready? let’s jump right in.

A note on my experiment

I tested four different ways to reheat baked potatoes to find out which ones worked best (plus two bonus methods).

I tested:

• The oven (the best way)
• A microwave (okay if you’re in a hurry)
• A skillet (a little unusual, but worth a try)
• An air fryer (nicely crisp)

My ideal outcome was crispy skin and a light, fluffy inside.

The oven produced a near-perfect result and is useful if you’ve got a large number of potatoes to reheat. I also liked the results from the skillet.

The microwave was quick, but you don’t get crispy skins.

For ultimate crispness, I recommend the air fryer. It does a great job.

Note: I always remove any toppings from the baked potatoes before storing and then reheat them separately, usually in the microwave.

But you can reheat the toppings along with the potato if you wish.

Reheating baked potatoes in the oven

Lightly grease a baking tray and preheat the oven to 350°F (180°C). Allow the leftover baked potatoes to reach room temperature and then arrange them on the baking tray. Bake for 15 to 20 minutes until heated through. Broil for the last few minutes for added crispness.

How to reheat baked potatoes in the oven:

1. Lightly grease the baking tray or put the potatoes on a wire rack.
2. Preheat the oven to 350°F (180°C). While the oven is preheating, take the baked potatoes out of the fridge to warm to room temperature.
3. Optional: If the potatoes are already cut open, cover them loosely with foil to stop the potato from drying out.
4. Heat the potatoes for 15 to 20 minutes until heated through.
5. For added crispness, broil the potatoes for the last few minutes. You can also cut the potatoes in half (if not already) and add some butter or melted cheese for flavor.

Letting the potatoes warm up to room temperature first will reduce the time they need in the oven, meaning they’re less likely to dry out. 

You can also choose to microwave them for 10-20 seconds before putting them in the oven to give them a head start. 

To check that the potatoes are warm all the way through, push a sharp knife into the potato and feel the metal when you pull it out.

If it comes out warm, then the potato is ready.

My verdict

The oven warmed the potatoes evenly and brought some crispiness back into the skin (not as much as the air fryer though!). 

The only downside is that it takes quite a long time.

Reheating baked potatoes in a microwave

Place the baked potato on a microwave-safe dish and cover it with a damp paper towel. I like to cut my potato in half so it heats quicker, but this is up to you. Microwave the potato for 1 minute and then in 15-second intervals until it’s heated through.

How to reheat baked potatoes in a microwave:

1. Place your baked potato on a microwave-safe dish
2. Pierce some holes in the skin to stop any explosions (if there isn’t already some).
3. Cover the potato with a damp paper towel or put a glass of water in the microwave.
4. Heat for 1 minute and then keep heating in 15-second intervals until the potato is hot.
5. Remove the potato from the microwave and (optionally) broil in the oven for extra crispness.

The microwave can dry the potatoes out, so the damp paper towel helps to avoid that.

I recommend that you only reheat one baked potato at a time; otherwise, you run the risk of uneven heating and cold spots.

My verdict

The inside of my potatoes was fluffy and moist, but the skin was a disappointment. 

It was soggy and chewy instead of crisp.

However, this is a super quick method so good if you’re in a rush.

Reheating baked potatoes in a skillet

Cut the baked potato in half while heating some oil or butter in a skillet on medium heat. Place the potatoes cut-side down in the pan (or skin side if potato will fall out). Put a lid on the pan and heat the potatoes for 2-3 minutes. Remove the lid, flip the potatoes over, and heat until crispy.

How to reheat baked potatoes in a skillet:

1. Cut the baked potatoes in half (and remove any toppings).
2. Heat some oil or butter in a skillet on medium heat.
3. Add the potatoes cut-side down (if possible) and cover the pan with a lid. Heat the potatoes for 2-3 mins.
4. Remove the lid, flip the potatoes over, and heat them until the bottom is crispy. Press the potatoes down to crips as much of the skin as possible.

The butter ensures that the potato crisps up, but don’t put in too much, or the potatoes will end up too greasy.

The lid helps to keep the potatoes moist. If you don’t have a lid, you can cover the pan with foil instead. 

My verdict

I like my potato skins crispy, so this method gets a thumbs-up for the added texture.

You don’t get the traditional baked potato flavor and texture, but it’s great if you don’t mind a slight twist on the original recipe.

Reheating baked potatoes in an air fryer

Set your air fryer to 350°F (180°C). Place the baked potatoes in the metal basket, making sure to leave a gap between each one. Heat the potatoes for 4-5 minutes. Check that the potatoes are hot in the middle before serving. 

How to reheat baked potatoes in an air fryer:

1. Set the air fryer to 350°F (180°C).
2. Place the baked potatoes in the fryer basket, leaving a gap between each potato.
3. Heat the potatoes for 4-5 minutes.
4. Check that the potatoes are hot in the middle using a temperature probe or knife before serving.

You may want to chop any larger potatoes in half so that they heat more quickly. 

The air fryer is a harsh heating method, and you can run the risk of the outside burning before the middle gets hot.

My verdict

The air fryer produced the crispiest potato skins all around but did dry the filling out a little so make sure you have some extra butter on hand!

Reheating baked potatoes on the grill

Heat the grill until it reaches approximately 400°F (204°C). Wrap the potatoes in aluminum foil and place them on the grill. Cook them for between ten and fifteen minutes, rotating each potato after 5-7 minutes. Open the foil and, avoiding the steam, check that the potato is hot in the middle.

Reheating baked potatoes in a crockpot

Prick the baked potatoes with a fork and place them inside the crockpot. A little oil will prevent them from sticking. Allow for a bit of space around each potato. Place a paper towel under the lid to catch any condensation. Turn the crockpot on and set it to high for 1-2 hours.

How to store baked potatoes

You can store baked potatoes in the fridge for 3-5 days. Remove the baked potatoes from any foil they were cooked in and separate any toppings. Let the potatoes cool to room temperature. Then place the potatoes in an airtight container or wrap them in plastic wrap. 

If you’ve added toppings to the potatoes like chili or beans, remove them before storing the potato and keep them in a separate air-tight container. 

Otherwise, your potato will get really soggy.

Can you freeze baked potatoes?

You can freeze baked potatoes for up to six months. It’s best if you slightly undercook the baked potatoes before freezing them. The firmer texture helps them hold up to the harsh freezer conditions. You can finish off cooking them when you’re reheating them.

How to freeze baked potatoes:

1. If you know you want to freeze the potatoes, don’t season them and remove them from the oven just before full doneness. 
2. Allow the baked potatoes to cool to room temperature.
3. Place the potatoes on a sheet pan and freeze them uncovered until hard.
4. Wrap the frozen potatoes individually in two layers of aluminum foil or plastic wrap.
5. Use the potatoes within six months.

Freezing the potatoes uncovered first means they freeze as fast as possible, which helps minimize textural changes. 

Double wrapping is the best way to avoid the dreaded freezer burn.

How to thaw and reheat frozen baked potatoes

Remove your frozen baked potatoes from the freezer and allow them to thaw in the refrigerator overnight. You can also thaw baked potatoes in the microwave if you’re in a hurry, but the texture might suffer. 

Once the potatoes have thawed, you can reheat them in the oven, microwave, or skillet.

Exactly How To Reheat Baked Potatoes

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

5 from 1 vote

Print Pin Rate

Course: Side Dish

Cuisine: American

Keyword: baked potato, reheat baked potato

Prep Time: 0 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 20 minutes minutes

Total Time: 20 minutes minutes

Servings: 1 person

Calories: 93kcal

Ingredients

• 1 portion baked potatoes
• 1 tbsp butter optional
• 1 tbsp melted cheese optional

Instructions

• Lightly grease the baking tray or put the potatoes on a wire rack.
• Preheat the oven to 350°F (180°C). While the oven is preheating, take the baked potatoes out of the fridge to warm to room temperature.
• Optional: If the potatoes are already cut open, cover them loosely with foil to stop the potato from drying out.
• Heat the potatoes for 15 to 20 minutes until heated through.
• For added crispness, broil the potatoes for the last few minutes. You can also cut the potatoes in half (if not already) and add some butter or melted cheese for flavor.

Notes

Letting the potatoes warm up to room temperature first will reduce the time they need in the oven, meaning they’re less likely to dry out.

You can also choose to microwave them for 10-20 seconds before putting them in the oven to give them a head start.

To check that the potatoes are warm all the way through, push a sharp knife into the potato and feel the metal when you pull it out.

If it comes out warm, then the potato is ready.

Nutrition

Serving: 100g | Calories: 93kcal