Name: Exactly How To Reheat Mahi Mahi
Cook time: 6 min
Total time: 6 min
Ingredients: 1 portion mahi mahi; 2 tbsp water

Table of Contents

Fish can be tricky to reheat in any form, but that doesn’t mean you have to let it go to waste.

If you’ve been wondering how to reheat mahi-mahi without drying it out or overcooking it, you’ve come to the right place.

I tested five different reheating methods to see which one best preserved this delicious fish’s flavor and texture.

The best way to reheat mahi mahi is in a skillet. Melt some butter in a pan over a low heat. Place your fish in the pan and sprinkle 1-2 tablespoons of water around the edges. Cover with a lid and reheat your mahi mahi for 4-6 minutes, turning once. Serve immediately for best results.

A note on my experiment

The reheating techniques I tried were:

In the oven (retains moisture and tenderness)
In a skillet (tasty and quick)
In the microwave (not ideal, but fine for a quick lunch)
By steaming (great results)
In a water bath/sous vide (lots of effort)

I was really impressed with the steamer method and the skillet method.

The oven also worked well.

Note: Leftover mahi mahi is also delicious cold, especially when flaked into mayo for a sandwich or chopped up and added to a salad.

You can also stir flaked mahi mahi into hot pasta sauce and warm it up that way.

Read next: what to eat with mahi mahi

Reheating mahi mahi in the oven

Preheat your oven to 275°F (135°C). Splash a tiny bit of water over your leftover fish and wrap it loosely in foil. Pop into the oven for 10-15 minutes, depending on the thickness of your mahi mahi fillet. Check the temperature at the halfway mark. Serve hot.

Consider adding a dab of butter or lemon juice to your fish for extra flavor before reheating.

How to reheat mahi mahi in the oven:

Preheat your oven to 275°F (135°C).
Drizzle a small amount of water over your leftover mahi mahi.
Wrap it in tinfoil.
Rest your foil package on a baking sheet or wire rack and warm for 10 – 15 minutes.
Once hot, serve immediately.

An easy way to check the internal temperature of your fish is to insert a knife into your fish’s center and feel how warm the metal is when you pull it out.

If the metal is warm to the touch, the fish is done.

Always remember to re-wrap the fish in foil before putting it back in the oven.

Uncovered fish will dry out fast in the oven.

My verdict

This method worked well, and I would use it again, especially if I was reheating several fillets of mahi mahi.

It’s a bit slow, but my fish was evenly warm and didn’t dry out or become overcooked.

Reheating mahi mahi in a skillet

Melt some butter in a pan over a low heat. Place your fish in the pan and sprinkle 1-2 tablespoons of water around the edges of the pan. Cover with a lid and heat your fish for 2-3 minutes. Flip it over and heat for a further 2-3 minutes on the other side. Serve immediately.

Be careful and try to minimize turning or handling your fish where possible so it doesn’t fall apart.

How to reheat mahi mahi in a skillet:

Melt some butter in a pan over low heat on your stove.
Gently place your fish in the pan.
Sprinkle 1-2 tablespoons of water around the pan’s edges.
Cover with a lid and heat for 2-3 minutes.
Turn your fish over, and heat for a further 2-3 minutes on the other side.
Once hot, serve immediately.

Low and slow is the way to go with this reheating method.

If the heat’s too high, the outside of the fish may end up overcooking before the inside has had a chance to warm up.

The added water will create steam in the pa, which helps keep the mahi mahi moist.

For thinner fillets, reduce the time you fry each side to 1-2 minutes.

My verdict

This technique was quick and delivered delicious results, although I found it a bit inconsistent.

Factors like the type of pan you are using, the stove’s strength, and the fillet’s size can impact how well your fish reheats.

Reheating mahi mahi in the microwave

Place your leftover mahi mahi on a microwave-safe plate and cover it with a piece of damp paper towel. Set your microwave to a low power (30% to 40% power) and reheat your fish in 30-second intervals until warm to your satisfaction.

How to reheat mahi mahi in the microwave:

Place your leftover mahi mahi on a microwave-safe plate.
Cover the fish with a piece of damp paper towel.
Set your microwave to 30% to 40% power.
Reheat your fish in 30-second intervals, gently turning at each stop.
Serve once hot.

With this method, stick to reheating one or two pieces at a time so as not to overcrowd your plate.

The low power and short time intervals may seem excessive, but any more aggressive, and there’s a real risk your fish will end up rubbery.

My verdict

Everything I’ve read online says that reheating mahi mahi in the microwave is a big no-no, but it didn’t turn out too bad.

The fish wasn’t as good as some of the other reheating methods, and the edges were a little overcooked.

But if all you want is a quick lunch, the microwave will do.

Reheating mahi-mahi by steaming

Set up your steamer. Fill the bottom compartment with a few inches of water and bring it to a gentle simmer. Add your leftover mahi mahi to the steamer basket and allow it to warm for 4-5 minutes. Gently turn it at the halfway mark for more even heating. Once hot, serve immediately.

If you don’t have a steamer, you can construct a makeshift one using a pot and a sieve or a colander.

How to reheat mahi mahi by steaming:

Set up your steamer (or make one using a pot and a colander/sieve).
Fill the bottom compartment with a few inches of water and bring it to a simmer.
Add your fish to the steamer basket and warm it for 4 – 5 minutes.
Optional: Turn your mahi mahi at the halfway mark, especially if the fillets are thick.
Once warm, remove from the steamer and serve immediately.

You can also steam mahi mahi in a pan on the stove.

Use a low heat and place the pan half-on and half-off the heat.

Place the fish on the pan’s cool side (‘off-side’) and add water to the hot side (‘on-side’).

Cover the pan, and as the water evaporates, it will create steam and warm your fish.

My verdict

This method delivered really moist, deliciously warm fish that wasn’t at all overcooked.

The only thing to be wary of is that the steam can cause any marinades or sauce you used for the fish to run off.

Reheating mahi mahi in a water bath (sous vide)

Place your leftover fish in a zip-lock bag and remove excess air while sealing. Set up a water bath with a temperature of 130°F-140°F (55°C-60°C). Place your bag with fish in the water and let it rest for 20-30 minutes. Optionally sear it for a few seconds in a skillet to brown the outsides.

The water temperature is crucial for this method to be effective, so try to measure it with a thermometer if possible.

Note: timings will vary depending on how thick your mahi mahi fillet is.

How to reheat mahi mahi in a water bath (home sous vide):

Place your leftover fish in a sturdy zip-lock bag.
Remove as much air as possible while sealing.
Set up a water bath with 130°F-140°F (55°C-60°C) water
Place your sealed bag in the water.
Allow your fish to warm for 20-30 minutes.
Optional: Flash-fry your fish in a hot skillet to brown the outsides.
Serve immediately.

This is an ideal method if you have an actual sous vide machine, but if not, you can use a water bath constructed at home.

Keeping your water to the right temperature can be tricky, and you may need to replace it a few times during the warming process.

My verdict

Wow.

My fish tasted pretty much exactly like it did when I first cooked it. It didn’t overcook and came out nice and warm.

One (quite big) downside is that keeping the water temperature regulated is a lot of effort, and it’s hard to tell when the fish is warmed through.

Personally, it’s too much effort for me.

How to store mahi mahi

You can store leftover mahi mahi in an airtight container in the fridge for up to three days. But ideally, you want to reheat and consume it within one day of storing. If you’ve got fried mahi mahi, line the airtight container with a paper towel to help keep the batter crunchy.

Can you freeze mahi mahi?

You can freeze leftover mahi mahi for up to a month, but it may be less delicate and moist when you reheat it. The trick is to get it frozen as fast as possible. I chill it in the fridge first and then pop it in the freezer. Wrap the fish tightly to avoid freezer burn.

How to freeze mahi mahi:

Cool your leftover mahi mahi to room temperature.
Then, place it in the fridge for an hour or two to get it as cold as possible.
Wrap up your leftover fish tightly in plastic wrap and then a layer of foil.
Mark and pop into the freezer as fast as possible once out of the fridge.
Use within one month.

Wrapping your leftovers in both foil and plastic reduces the risk of freezer burn.

You can also store your fish in convenient portions that don’t get stuck together, making it difficult to reheat them.

How to reheat frozen mahi mahi

Always thaw frozen mahi mahi before reheating it, as warming from frozen will result in unappetizing, overcooked fish.

Leave your fish to defrost overnight in the fridge, or let it rest (sealed) in cold water.

You can also try to thaw it in your microwave using your defrost setting, but I wouldn’t recommend this.

Once thawed, you can reheat your leftover mahi mahi using any of the methods detailed in this post.

However, for best results, I recommend using your thawed fish a little differently than usual.

For example, you could puree it for a dip, use it for fishcakes, or use it in a soup.