You feel a bit peckish and decide to raid the refrigerator. There, behind the pickles, you spot a box of leftover mozzarella sticks.
Score!
The problem comes when you try to revive those bad boys – how do you get a crispy coating with a gooey center.
Not to worry, I’ve done all of the heavy lifting for you.
I’ve tested four different techniques to find the best way to reheat mozzarella sticks.
Ready? Let’s go!
A note about my experiment
One exhilarating Friday night, I ordered a few batches of mozzarella sticks and (after scoffing more than I intended to) put them in the fridge overnight.
The following day, I experimented with four reheating techniques to evaluate which method yielded the best results.
I tested:
- The oven
- In a skillet
- In the air fryer
- In the microwave
The air fryer produces the best results. The coating was just as crispy as the night before, and it was delicious.
The microwave method was the most disappointing.
The crust was all mushy, and it simply did not taste the same.
Reheating mozzarella sticks in the oven
Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C) or 450°F (230°C) for frozen mozzarella sticks. Coat the sticks lightly in oil and arrange them on a wire rack. Warm them in the oven for 5 to 10 minutes – allow double the time for frozen sticks. Then remove from the oven and serve immediately.
How to reheat mozzarella sticks in the oven:
- Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C) or 450°F (230°C) for frozen mozzarella sticks.
- Lightly coat the mozzarella sticks with oil (optional).
- Place the mozzarella sticks on a wire rack (or oven tray, in which case you need to turn them halfway through heating).
- Reheat the mozzarella sticks for 5-10 minutes (10-20 for frozen ones).
- Serve immediately.
If you’re using a toaster oven, the sticks will be closer to the heat source so they’ll warm quicker.
I recommend using a wire rack in the oven because this allows air to circulate around the sticks, crisping the bottom and the top.
On a baking tray, the bottom of the mozzarella sticks can get soggy if you forget to turn them.
My verdict
The oven is one of the better options when it comes to reheating mozzarella.
It’s not the fastest method, but it doesn’t require any effort. The mozzarella sticks were crunchy (although not as crunchy as the day before), and they tasted good.
This is the best option for reheating lots of mozzarella sticks in one go.
Reheating mozzarella sticks in a skillet
To reheat your mozzarella sticks in a skillet, lightly cover a pan with some oil and heat it over a medium heat. Wait for the oil to shimmer before adding the mozzarella sticks. Fry the sticks for 4 to 5 minutes, turning frequently. Rest the sticks on a paper towel for 30 seconds before serving.
How to reheat mozzarella sticks in a skillet:
- Set your stovetop to medium heat.
- Add some oil, making sure to cover the entire bottom of the skillet.
- Wait until the oil starts to shimmer (indicating it’s hot enough) before adding the mozzarella sticks.
- Fry the mozzarella sticks for 4 – 5 minutes, turning frequently to ensure an even cooking.
- Rest the mozzarella sticks on a paper towel for 30 seconds to remove excess oil.
- Serve while still hot.
If you’re not sure if the oil is hot yet, drop a breadcrumb into the pan. If it sizzles right away, the oil is ready.
The first time I tried this method, I used high heat and ended up burning the outside of the mozzarella sticks before the cheese melted.
Hence why I recommend a medium heat!
This allows the coating to crisp up slowly, giving the cheese plenty of time to melt.
If you find the cheese has already melted, but the outside isn’t crispy enough yet, simply blast the mozzarella sticks for a few seconds on high heat.
My verdict
The coating was super crispy using this method; however, I wasn’t a fan of the additional oil.
If the mozzarella sticks have already been fried, frying them again can make them a little greasy (that said, my partner LOVED the fried sticks, so it depends on what you like).
Also, you have to stand over the pan watching the sticks cook, which is more effort than any of the other heating methods require.
Great for some, but not to everyone’s taste.
Reheating mozzarella sticks in the air fryer
To reheat mozzarella sticks in the air fryer, preheat the air fryer to 375°F (190°C) and lightly coat the mozzarella sticks in oil. Place the sticks in the basket in a single layer. Reheat refrigerated sticks for 3 – 5 minutes and frozen sticks for 8 to 10 minutes.
How to reheat mozzarella sticks in an air fryer:
- Preheat the air fryer to 375°F (190°C).
- Spray each mozzarella stick with oil. This step is optional.
- Place the mozzarella sticks in the basket leaving a small space between each one.
- Heat refrigerated mozzarella sticks for 3-5 minutes (8-10 minutes for frozen ones).
Larger portions may require a longer cooking time, and the size of the mozzarella sticks will also have an impact, so some judgment is needed here.
Keeping the mozzarella sticks nicely spaced will ensure that the air can circulate and cook each side evenly.
Adding oil helps the sticks crisp up, but it’s totally optional
If your mozzarella sticks were previously fried, there’ll already be some oil residue on the coating, so adding more might be unnecessary.
My verdict
This is, without a doubt, the best option when it comes to reheating mozzarella sticks.
The mozzarella sticks resemble the brilliance of the night before with this technique. The texture of the coating is super crispy and the cheese inside is gooey and melty.
Reheating mozzarella sticks in the microwave
Place the sticks on a microwave-safe plate in a single layer and microwave them in 15-second intervals. Rest the sticks for 30-60 seconds before serving. Optionally, blast them under the broiler on high for 1-2 minutes to make them crunchy.
Reheating mozzarella sticks in the microwave:
- Place your mozzarella sticks on a microwave-safe plate in a single layer.
- Set the microwave at 15-second intervals. 15 seconds will be enough for one or two mozzarella sticks, but more sticks may take up to 30 seconds.
- When the cheese is warm and melted, the mozzarella sticks are ready.
- Allow the mozzarella sticks to rest for 30-60 seconds before serving.
Be very careful when removing the sticks from the microwave.
The cheese can be extremely hot, and you can burn your mouth if you bite straight into them.
The microwave makes the mozzarella sticks very mushy, but there is hope.
You can get some crispiness back into the coating by heating the mozzarella sticks under the broiler at a high heat.
However, this kind of cancels out the convenience aspect of the microwave.
Don’t leave the mozzarella sticks in the microwave for too long, or the crispy coating will dry out and taste like cardboard.
Top tip: If your mozzarella sticks seem greasy, line the plate with a paper towel to soak up any oil that seeps out.
My verdict
This was my least favorite method of reheating mozzarella sticks.
Not only are the sticks very soggy and soft, but the cheese was rubbery and tasted cheap.
It’s also hard to restore the crunch with this technique. Hard, but not impossible.
I wouldn’t recommend using this technique.
Reheating mozzarella sticks in a home fryer
Heat your oil to 350-375°F (175°C-190°C). Fry a test mozzarella stick for 30-45 seconds (1-2 mins if it’s frozen) and test its temperature when you take it out. Adjust the timings if needed, and continue to fry the rest of the sticks. Rest the sticks on a paper towel for 60 seconds before serving.
How to reheat mozzarella sticks in a home fryer:
- In a deep fryer, or a pan suitable for shallow frying, preheat your oil to 350-375°F (175°C-190°C).
- Place one mozzarella stick in the oil to test the heat and time and fry for 30 – 45 seconds. This time increases for frozen mozzarella sticks to 2 minutes max.
- If the mozzarella stick comes out how you want it, continue to fry the other mozzarella sticks. If not, adjust the time and temperature.
- If you’re shallow frying, flip the mozzarella sticks halfway through heating.
- Rest the sticks on a paper towel for 60 seconds to remove excess oil.
- Serve while hot.
For best results, do not overfill the pot.
This will lower the overall temperature of the pot, and the mozzarella sticks will not fry properly.
I only recommend this method if you have a thermometer to measure the oil temperature.
However, if you do not have one, you can also do the wooden spoon trick.
Check the oil by gently holding the handle of a wooden spoon in the oil. I
f the oil bubbles quickly around the handle, the oil is ready to use. If the bubbles are extreme, it’s too hot.
If no bubbles form, the oil is not hot enough.
My verdict
I have to admit that this method produces the crunchiest coating, but for me, it simply does not justify the effort involved.
I also find using so much oil gives the mozzarella sticks an unpleasant oily aftertaste. This is a considerable risk if you’re not used to deep frying and are guessing the oil temperature.
However, it could suffice if you have lots of mozzarella sticks to reheat.
How to store mozzarella sticks
To store mozzarella sticks, place the sticks in an airtight container lined with paper towel to soak up any excess moisture. Store the sticks in the refrigerator for up to five days. Discard any mozzarella sticks that have been out in the open for more than two hours.
Always wait until the mozzarella sticks are completely cool to store them. Otherwise, condensation will build up in the container and drip down onto the sticks, leaving them soggy.
Can you freeze mozzarella sticks?
Mozzarella sticks freeze really well. You can freeze them for up to six months. Make sure to keep them in an airtight container to prevent freezer burn. You can also cook them straight from frozen without thawing them, so they’re perfect for a quick snack.
How to freeze mozzarella sticks:
- Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper (to avoid sticking).
- Place the mozzarella sticks on the tray in a single layer.
- Put the tray in the freezer for 2-3 hours, or until the mozzarella sticks are frozen solid.
- Once frozen, move the sticks to a freezer bag.
- Remove excess air from the bag by squeezing it out.
- Freeze the mozzarella sticks for up to six months.
The first three steps are what’s known as flash freezing.
Flash freezing means you can keep all the mozzarella sticks in one bag without worrying about them sticking together.
If you don’t want to flash freeze the sticks, you can use parchment paper or plastic wrap to separate them instead.
Removing the air from the freezer bag is a really important step in preventing freezer burn.
You can squeeze it out or use a straw to suck it out. But the most effective method (excluding a vacuum sealer) is to dunk the open freezer bag in water.
This forces all the air out, and you can seal it.
How to reheat frozen mozzarella sticks
- Remove the mozzarella sticks from the freezer.
- Preheat your oven (or toaster oven) to 450°F (235°C).
- Place the mozzarella sticks on a wire rack or oven tray and reheat for 10-15 minutes, until golden and cooked all the way through.
- If they’re on an oven tray, turn the sticks halfway through heating.
I have given instructions for using the oven to reheat mozzarella sticks, but you can also use the microwave, air fryer, or even a deep fryer.
If you have shop-bought frozen mozzarella sticks, follow the instructions on the packet.
I don’t advise thawing the mozzarella sticks before heating them because this will leave you with a mushy outer coating.
How long do mozzarella sticks last
You can keep mozzarella sticks in the fridge for 4-5 days before you need to throw them out.
They can last in the freezer for up to six months if you package them properly. However, they will still be safe to consume after that period.
The six-month period simply highlights that the mozzarella sticks are best during this time frame. If stored at 0°F, they will last indefinitely.
The Best Way To Reheat Mozzarella Sticks
Ingredients
- 1 portion mozzarella sticks
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C) or 450°F (230°C) for frozen mozzarella sticks.
- Lightly coat the mozzarella sticks with oil (optional).
- Place the mozzarella sticks on a wire rack (or oven tray, in which case you need to turn them halfway through heating).
- Reheat the mozzarella sticks for 5-10 minutes (10-20 for frozen ones).
- Serve immediately.
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