Name: How To Reheat McMuffins
Prep time: 1 min
Cook time: 1 min
Total time: 2 min
Ingredients: 1 piece McMuffin ((sausage, bacon, or egg))

Have you ordered too many McDonald’s McMuffins, and found yourself wondering if they can be reheated and eaten later? Or even the next day?

The last thing you want is stale buns and a rubbery, chewy egg. So how can you avoid this?

Well, I’ve tried out four different reheating methods, and I’m pleased to report that it is indeed possible to restore a McMuffin to its former glory.

By this, I mean soft bread, a tasty egg, and a juicy, succulent patty.

For prolonged freshness, it’s also important to store McMuffins correctly, so I’ll include some tips and guidelines.

The short answer:

The best way to reheat a McMuffin is to use a combination of the microwave and a frying pan. First, disassemble the burger. Then lightly oil a pan and fry the patty and egg for 1-2 minutes. Meanwhile, cover the bread with a damp paper towel and microwave it for 30 seconds.

A note on my experiment

McMuffins, in all their iterations, are downright tasty, which is why I invariably end up buying too many at a time.

Yesterday morning, I stocked up on my usual preference – the sausage McMuffin – and greatly overestimated how hungry I was.

But I wasn’t about to complain. This just meant I got to have McMuffins two mornings in a row. All I needed to do was figure out how best to reheat them.

Not one to do things halfway, I decided to try out four different reheating methods on my quest for a perfectly warmed McMuffin.

These included:

Reheating a McMuffin in a frying pan (best method for a fresh-tasting sausage and egg)
Reheating a McMuffin in the microwave (very convenient, best for bread)
Reheating a McMuffin in the air fryer (a good method that adds nice crispiness)
Reheating a McMuffin in the oven (slow and inconvenient)

The frying pan technique gave me the best results in terms of the egg and patty, the bun was good too, but not as moist as it could have been.

Related: How To Make An Egg Patty

The results from the air fryer were similar but with a slightly crispier and even dryer bun.

The microwave did the best job of softening and refreshing the bread but didn’t retain as much of the sausage and egg’s flavor.

Reheating my McMuffins in the oven was a fussy and ineffective method that produced lackluster results. I wouldn’t recommend it.

Overall, a hybrid method of frying (the egg and sausage) and microwaving (the buns) is an excellent way to reheat this classic breakfast.

Note: I experimented with a sausage and egg McMuffin, but the techniques in this post will work just as well for bacon and egg or plain egg McMuffins too.

Reheating a McMuffin in a frying pan

Lightly oil a frying pan and set your stove to medium-high. Disassemble your McMuffin. Fry the egg and patty for 1 to 2 minutes on each side. Then, sprinkle some water around the pan and add the buns, cut side down. Cover the pan and heat for 1 minute. Reassemble the muffin and serve hot.

This technique reinvigorates both the meat and the egg, ensuring they’re as flavorsome as possible.

How to reheat a McMuffin in a frying pan:

Set your stove to medium-high.
Lightly oil a frying pan.
Fry your egg and patty for 1 to 2 minutes on each side.
Place the buns in the pan, cut side down.
Sprinkle some water around the edge of the pan.
Cover the pan with a lid for 1 minute.
Remove the components, reassemble, and serve.

This method is really effective when it comes to restoring the original flavor and texture of both the egg and the sausage. They taste as good as new.

Sprinkling water around the pan creates steam which helps to soften the bread (although it won’t perform miracles).

Timing is essential, as you don’t want to burn any of your delicate components, especially not your egg.

The sausage patty (or bacon) and the egg will heat up quickly, so keep an eye for signs they’re becoming overcooked, and reduce your frying time accordingly.

If you’re not keen on dryish bread, consider whizzing your muffin through the microwave for a few seconds as an alternative to pan-heating it.

My verdict

I cannot fault this method in terms of delivering a soft, evenly warmed egg and a juicy, flavorful patty.

The bun wasn’t quite as impressive, as it turned a little bit dry, but not enough to deter me from enjoying the meal as a whole.

Reheating a McMuffin in the microwave

Place your McMuffin on a microwave-safe plate. Lightly cover the muffin with a piece of damp paper towel. Microwave your muffin in 30-second intervals until it’s warmed through. Then, remove it from the microwave, remove the paper towel, and allow it to rest for a further 30 seconds. Serve and enjoy.

This method works perfectly for those mornings when you’re in a hurry, so long as you don’t overdo it on the timing.

How to reheat a McMuffin in the microwave:

Place your McMuffin on a microwave-safe plate.
Cover the muffin with a damp paper towel.
Microwave in 30 second intervals until it’s warmed through.
Remove from the microwave and uncover the muffin.
Allow it to rest for 30 seconds.
Then, serve immediately.

The moisture from the damp paper towel makes the buns super soft, like new.

That being said, don’t wrap the muffin completely, or you may end up with a soggy underside.

With proper timing, the patty stays juicy and tasty, but the egg can overcook easily and become rubbery.

Therefore, you may want to keep an eye on the muffin’s heating progress. It’s a fine balance between heating it all the way through and overheating it.

If you’re finding it hard to get the timing right, consider disassembling the sandwich and microwaving the egg and the patty first, then the bread. That way you know everything’s piping hot.

My verdict

For someone in a hurry, this is the method I’d recommend. Apart from the slightly chewy egg, it’s an effective and convenient way to reheat a McMuffin that doesn’t sacrifice taste.

The patty’s flavor wasn’t exactly as good as the frying pan or air fryer methods, but the bread’s texture was a definite winner.

Reheating a McMuffin in the air fryer

Set your air fryer to 350°F (180°C). Disassemble the muffin and place the egg and patty in the fryer basket. Heat them for 1 to 2 minutes. Then, add the buns (cut side down) to the basket and heat for a further 30 seconds. Remove and reassemble the McMuffin. Serve immediately.

If you have an air fryer, this is a tasty method to try. It lends a bit of pizzazz to the patty and gives the bread a scintillating crunch.

How to reheat a McMuffin in an air fryer:

Set your air fryer to 350°F (180°C).
Disassemble the muffin.
Place the egg and patty in the basket.
Fry them for 1 to 2 minutes.
Then, add the buns, cut side down, to the basket.
Heat for a further 30 seconds.
Remove the bread, egg, and patty from the basket and reassemble.
Serve immediately.

Air fryers heat food at lightning speed, so keep a close eye on your egg to avoid overcooking it. You also don’t want to burn or dry out the meat component.

With no added moisture, the buns come out pretty dry, but they develop a pleasing crunch.

If you prefer soft buns, you can heat your bread in the microwave instead.

My verdict

This technique resulted in a fun twist on the signature texture of McMuffins. Everything had a little extra crispiness, and the muffin also had great flavor.

Therefore, it’s a nice method if you have an air fryer, but if you don’t, you’ll get similar results using the frying pan technique.

Reheating a McMuffin in the oven

Preheat your oven to 350°F (180°C). Disassemble the muffin. Wrap the patty and egg (together) in tin foil and heat for 4 to 5 minutes. Then, sprinkle the bread with water and wrap it in foil too. Slip it into the oven alongside the fillings for 2 to 3 minutes. Reassemble the muffin and serve.

Wrapping the muffin’s components in foil seals in heat, warming the ingredients evenly throughout.

How to reheat a McMuffin in the oven:

Preheat your oven to 350°F (180°C).
Disassemble the muffin.
Wrap the patty and egg in foil together.
Place them in the oven for 4 to 5 minutes.
Sprinkle the muffin halves with water and wrap them in foil.
Place them alongside the egg and patty in the oven for 2 to 3 minutes.
Once warm, reassemble the muffin and serve immediately.

Preheating the oven takes a while, but once the muffin is in there, it can overheat very quickly, making the patty tough, the egg chewy, and the bread dry. Keep an eye on the time.

On the other hand, if you remove them from the oven too quickly, they’ll only be partially warm.

This is a convenient method for reheating multiple McMuffins at once, but it’s a lot of effort for only one.

My verdict

This method produced the most disappointing results. I found that the taste and texture of the patty and egg weren’t amplified – quite the opposite. And they lacked flavor in a similar way to the microwave egg and patty.

It was also far too involved for on-the-go breakfast food.

How to store a McMuffin

The best way to store McMuffins is in an airtight container in the fridge. You can keep your muffins in their original packaging or wrap them individually in a piece of paper towel. Place them in the airtight container and seal them tightly. In the fridge, McMuffins will stay fresh for up to 5 days.

By keeping your McMuffins wrapped, you effectively lock in moisture that prevents them from drying out. The added measure of sealing them in an airtight container keeps nasty bacteria away.

Can you freeze a McMuffin?

When freezing a McMuffin, first allow it to cool to room temperature. Then, wrap it tightly in a paper towel and place it in a freezer bag. Remove as much air from the freezer bag as possible, and seal it tightly. McMuffins in the freezer will last for up to 2 months.

Wrapping the McMuffin in a paper towel retains moisture and deters freezer burn.

How to freeze a McMuffin:

Cool your McMuffin to room temperature.
Wrap it in a piece of paper towel.
Place it in a freezer bag.
Remove as much air from the freezer bag as possible.
Seal the bag tightly.
Place in the freezer and use within two months.

McMuffins freeze well, so it’s nice to keep a stock on hand for those on-the-go mornings.

For maximum freshness, remove as much air from the freezer bag as possible. You can use a straw or press it down with your hands as you seal it.

How to thaw a McMuffin

You can thaw a McMuffin by allowing it to stand in the fridge overnight. Keep it wrapped in its paper towel, as this will soak up any extra moisture that arises during defrosting. Alternatively, you can reheat a McMuffin from frozen.

How to reheat a frozen McMuffin

To reheat a frozen McMuffin, place it on a piece of paper towel on a microwave-safe plate and warm at 50% heat for 1 minute. Then, turn it over and heat for a further 30 seconds to 1 minute on high, or until warmed through. Allow the muffin to rest for a minute and then serve immediately.

Placing the paper towel beneath the muffin will soak up moisture from the thawing process and prevent the muffin from going soggy.

You can also reheat McMuffins from frozen in the oven.

Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C). Wrap the muffin in tin foil and heat for 10 to 15 minutes. Once it is warm, unwrap the muffin and heat it for a further few minutes to develop a bit of a crispy texture.

How long does a McMuffin last?

The following timeframes will guide you as to how long you can store your McMuffins.

Room temperature: McMuffins should not be left standing at room temperature for more than two hours. It’s best to store them as soon as they are no longer hot.
Refrigerated: McMuffins can be stored in the fridge for up to five days. They will, however, start to become stale after 2 to 3 days.
Frozen: McMuffins that are frozen correctly can last for up to 2 months in the freezer.