Name: Exactly How To Reheat Muffins
Cook time: 10 min
Total time: 10 min
Ingredients: 1 portion muffins (chocolate chip, blueberry, etc); 1 tsp water (optional)

Table of Contents

Muffins are always better warm.

In this article, I show you the best way to reheat your leftover muffins and regain their fluffy middle and crunchy top.

All whilst making sure to not dry them out.

I’ll also walk you through how to store and freeze your muffins to eat later.

Ready? Let’s jump right in.

The best way to reheat muffins is in the oven. Cover your muffins with foil and place them in a preheated 325°F (160°C) oven. Sprinkle the muffins lightly with water before covering them if they’re on the stale side. Reheat the muffins for 7 to 10 minutes, depending on their size.

A note on my experiment

5 muffins reheated in different ways: oven, microwave, air fryer, skillet, toaster

I got some of my favorite chocolate chip muffins from my local bakery and then left them on the counter overnight.

Then, when I was ready to eat them, I tested five different ways of reheating them:

In the oven (best for large quantities)
In the microwave (perfect in a pinch, just don’t overdo it)
In a skillet (my favorite method overall)
In the toaster (a touch awkward)
In an air fryer (good for smaller muffins)

If you’re looking for a low-risk method with consistently good results, I recommend using the oven.

However, if you’re impatient and just reheating a muffin for yourself, there’s nothing wrong with the microwave.

The skillet method was my personal favorite because of the buttery, crunchy texture.

Reheating muffins in the oven

Cover your leftover muffins with foil and place them in a preheated 325°F (160°C) oven. Sprinkle the muffins lightly with water before covering them if they’re on the stale side. Warm muffins for up to 10 minutes, depending on their size and the speed of your oven.

muffin on a baking tray covered with foil

Lower the temperature to 300°F (150°C) if you’re using a toaster oven.

How to reheat muffins in the oven:

Preheat your oven to 325°F (160°C) / 300°F (150°C) for a toaster oven.
Optional: If your muffins are slightly stale, sprinkle them lightly with water.
Cover or wrap your muffins with foil.
Warm them for up to 10 minutes. If you have big muffins, consider cutting them in half before heating them to ensure they heat through to the middle.
Once warm, serve immediately.

Covering your muffins with foil will lock in moisture and keep them soft and fluffy.

No one wants dry muffins!

A sprinkling of water will turn into steam, helping bring some freshness back to stale muffins.

If you’re using a toaster oven, make sure your muffins aren’t too close to the heating element so the tops don’t burn.

To get a crispy top, remove the foil cover for the last two to three minutes of heating.

My verdict

This was my favorite method for reheating multiple muffins at once.

It’s not the fastest, but it’s low-risk and delivers consistently good results.

My muffins came out warm and soft.

Reheating muffins in the microwave

Place one or two leftover muffins on a microwave-safe plate. Cover them with a piece of damp paper towel. Microwave the muffins for 15 seconds. Check your muffins, and then continue to heat in 10-second intervals until warm. Let the muffins rest for 15 seconds before serving.

chocolate chip muffin covered with a damp paper towel

This entire process shouldn’t take more than 30 seconds to a minute, depending on the size of your muffins.

How to reheat muffins in the microwave:

Place your leftover muffins on a microwave-safe plate.
Cover them with a piece of damp paper towel.
Microwave the muffin for 15 seconds, and then continue in 10-second intervals until warm.
Allow the muffin to rest for 15 seconds before serving.

Covering your muffins with a damp paper towel essentially “steams” them and keeps them moist.

Heat your muffins until they’re just warm, not boiling hot.

If you overheat them, they’ll start to go hard and feel really dense.

It’s also best to eat the muffins quickly after microwaving them because they’ll get very stale once they cool down again.

My verdict

This is an excellent way to remoisturize stale muffins and returns them to their soft, fluffy texture.

With fresher muffins, I found they turned a bit chewy (although they were still tasty!).

Perfect if you’re in a hurry and only looking to reheat one or two muffins.

Reheating muffins in a skillet

Melt a small amount of butter in a skillet over medium-low heat. Cut your leftover muffins in half and place them cut-side down in your pan to toast. Sprinkle some water around the skillet and cover it with a lid or foil. Heat the muffins for 3-4 minutes, but check them every minute or so to be safe.

cut muffin face down in a skillet with melted butter

For a crunchier finished product, turn up your heat to medium.

How to reheat muffins in a skillet:

Set a skillet over medium-low heat on your stove.
Melt a small amount of butter in the skillet.
Cut your leftover muffins in half and place them in your pan cut-side down.
Sprinkle a tablespoon of water around the edge of the pan to create steam.
Cover the pan with a lid or foil.
Heat the muffins for 2-4 minutes, checking regularly.
Serve immediately.

Covering your pan with a lid/foil traps in steam and ensures your muffins heat from both the top and the bottom.

Keep your heat low to prevent burning, especially if you have chocolate chips exposed.

Burnt chocolate doesn’t taste great (yuk).

My verdict

My muffins ended up being super tasty.

The butter melted into the muffin, and there was a slight crisp to the edges.

It’s a bit more effort than some other methods but well worth it, especially for reinvigorating older muffins.

Reheating muffins in the toaster

Slice your leftover muffins lengthways into portion sizes that can fit into your toaster slots. Pop these pieces into the toaster and heat until they’re warm and crispy. Serve immediately. An average-sized muffin will generally end up in three “slices” of around 1-inch each.

How to reheat muffins in the toaster:

Slice your leftover muffin lengthways (into three slices).
Pop the pieces into your toaster and warm until crisp.
Serve immediately.

I like to tap my muffins on the counter before putting them in the toaster to get rid of any loose crumbs.

Chocolate chips, sugary coatings, or blueberries burn easily, so keep a close eye on your muffins’ reheating progress.

Try spreading them lightly with butter before serving for an extra toasty experience.

My verdict

I like the idea of this method, but in practice, it’s not ideal and I wouldn’t recommend it.

Fitting muffin slices into a toaster is a bit awkward. The middle piece is good as it’s flat, but the top and bottom are a weird shape.

It can also get quite messy.

Reheating muffins in the air fryer

Set your air fryer to 300°F (150°C). Spread out your leftover muffins in the fryer basket, not touching. Heat for 2-3 minutes, checking at the halfway mark. Once warm, serve immediately. Make sure there is room between your muffins for air circulation.

top down view of a muffin in an air fryer basket

How to reheat muffins in the air fryer:

Set your air fryer to 300°F (150°C).
Place your leftover muffins in the fryer basket.
Heat for 2-3 minutes, testing progress at the halfway mark.
Serve immediately.

Muffins only need a short time in the air fryer because the harsh direct heat warms them quickly.

Smaller muffins heat through faster, but larger muffins may dry out on the outside before they have a chance to heat up properly inside.

My verdict

I have mixed feelings about this method.

It works well for smaller muffins but not for all sizes and types.

It’s also not suitable for stale muffins because it just dries them out further.

How to store muffins

To store muffins, first cool them to room temperature. Then line an airtight container with a paper towel and pack your muffins in a single layer. Cover the muffins with another piece of paper towel before sealing. You can store muffins on the counter for up to four days. You can also freeze them.

two muffins in an open airtight container

two muffins in a closed airtight container covered with a paper towel

Allowing your muffins to cool completely before storing them prevents a build-up of condensation around them that will turn them soggy.

But even cool muffins will emit moisture over time.

This is where the paper towels help.

They’ll absorb the excess moisture and keep the muffins fresher for longer.

If you don’t have a suitable airtight container, you can wrap each muffin in a paper towel and store them in resealable zip-lock bags instead.

Can you freeze muffins?

Muffins freeze really well, and it’s a great way to halt the staling process. Wrap the muffins up well in airtight packaging to prevent freeze burn, and you have a convenient grab-and-go breakfast. Muffins will last for up to 3 months in the freezer.

muffin in a freezer bag with excess air removed

How to freeze muffins:

Cool your muffins to room temperature.
Arrange them on a baking sheet in a single and pop them into the freezer for 60 minutes or until stiff.
Transfer your frozen muffins into a zip-lock bag, removing excess air while sealing.
For added protection against freezer burn, place your sealed bag inside a second zip-lock bag.
Mark with the date and use within three months.

To remove the air from your freezer bag, suck it out with a straw or place the open freezer bag in a bowl of water to force the air out.

For larger muffins, you can wrap each one individually in plastic wrap before bagging them (or double wrap in plastic and foil).

Tip: You can also freeze uncooked muffin batter if you’re baking ahead of time.

Simply transfer your batter into muffin cups, filling them around 2/3rds of the way.

Freeze the muffin batter until solid, and then transfer the muffin cups into an airtight freezer bag. Place them in the freezer for up to 2 months.

How to thaw and reheat muffins

The best way to thaw muffins is to let them defrost, still wrapped on the kitchen counter (uncovered will dry them out). This should only take a few hours. You can also thaw muffins in the microwave, regularly checking until they’re soft.

Another option is to reheat your muffins straight from frozen. Wrap them in foil and warm them in the oven for 10-15 minutes at 350°F (180°C). This works best for smaller muffins, or you might end up with a still-frozen middle.