How To Reheat Noodle Kugel [I Test 5 Methods]

Noodle kugel is comfort food heaven. But how can you bring it back to its former glory the next day? I did an experiment to find out and tested five different ways of reheating noodle kugel.

The best way to reheat noodle kugel is in the oven. Preheat the oven to 300°F (150°C) and cover the kugel with foil. Reheat for around 30 minutes, checking every so often for doneness. The low temperature will heat through the dense kugel without drying it out.

How I Tested Reheating Noodle Kugel

I got my mum to make me a delicious batch of noodle kugel (hers is always better than mine), and after eating my fill, put the rest in the fridge. The next day, I tested reheating it in the:

• Oven: A classic method that always delivers.
• Microwave: Quick and convenient.
• Air fryer: Great for crisping. 
• Stove: Unconventional but tasty.
• Waffle maker: Bonus method.

My goal was to find a reheating method that would warm the kugel through while preserving the soft, custardy insides and crispy top.

Reheating Noodle Kugel In The Oven

Time: 30 minutes
Rating: 8/10

1. Preheat your oven to 300°F (150°C).
2. Place your noodle kugel in a glass or ceramic baking dish. If it seems dry, sprinkle a few tablespoons of water or oil over the top.
3. Cover the dish with aluminum foil to keep the moisture in.
4. Heat the kugel for 25-30 minutes. If you’re reheating a single slice, check after 15 minutes. For the last 5-10 minutes, remove the foil to allow the top to crisp up.

A sprinkle of water before covering the noodle kugel with foil will create a steamy environment and rehydrate dry noodles. You can also use a bit of butter instead of the water for extra flavor.

The timings I’ve given here are approximate and will vary depending on the size and thickness of the kugel you’re reheating, as well as what else is in the oven. And I recommend using a glass or ceramic baking dish because these conduct heat more evenly than metal, so the bottom of the kugel won’t burn.

Results: This method might take longer, but it produced a delicious noodle kugel with a moist middle and a nicely crispy top – just what I was looking for. It also works for any portion size, and it’s the only method you can use if you want to reheat a whole kugel.

Reheating Noodle Kugel In The Microwave

Time: 3 minutes
Rating: 6/10

1. Sprinkle a few drops of water over the noodle kugel to add moisture.
2. Cover the kugel with a paper towel to trap the steam.
3. Heat in 60-second intervals, checking the center for warmth during each break. It could take 2-3 minutes for the kugel to heat through.
4. Let the hot kugel rest for 20 seconds before serving. 

If you want some crust, on your kugel, stick it under a hot broiler for a few minutes after microwaving it.

Because a kugel is quite dense, it can take a while to heat through in the microwave, but I would still check on it regularly. If you overheat a noodle kugel in the microwave, the pasta will get mushy and unappetizing.

Results: Microwaving is the fastest way to heat up your noodle kugel, but you need to sacrifice some quality for speed. The crispy top on my kugel had disappeared and the middle was a bit mushy. It still tasted good, but not as good as from the oven.

Reheating Noodle Kugel In The Air Fryer

Time: 5-7 minutes
Rating: 7/10

1. Set your air fryer to 300°F (150°C).
2. Wrap a slice of noodle kugel tightly in aluminum foil.
3. Place the wrapped slice in the air fryer basket and heat for 5-7 minutes.
4. Open the foil for the last 2 minutes of heating to crisp the kugel.

The air fryer is a harsh heating method, so you need to use foil to protect the kugel from drying out or burning. And I also suggest keeping the slices relatively small so you can be sure it will heat through in time.

Pro tip: After one too many disasters with the air fryer where I completely burnt my food, I always set the timer to a few minutes below how long I think the food will need. This way, even if I forget to check on it, I don’t ruin whatever I’m cooking.

Results: Reheating noodle kugel in the air fryer is a great option if you’re looking to quickly warm up a slice and don’t want to wait for the oven. My kugel was drier than the day before, but you can easily fix this by serving it with your favorite sauce.

Reheating Noodle Kugel On The Stove

Time: 4 minutes
Rating: 8/10

1. Take your kugel straight from the fridge and slice it into pieces approximately 1 inch thick.
2. Melt a generous knob of butter in a non-stick pan over medium heat.
3. Place a slice of kugel in the pan, heating each side for about 1 minute until warmed through.

Opting for butter over oil is a deliberate choice for better flavor. If you’re reheating a savory kugel and fancy indulging, try using bacon grease in the pan.

Like with the air fryer, keep the slices thin enough to make sure they heat through before the outside burns. A medium heat helps with this too, if the heat is too high the outsides can catch pretty quickly.

Psst… This method is inspired by a similar trick I learnt when I was testing how to reheat lasagne.

Results: Reheating noodle kugel on the stove isn’t the most conventional method, but I loved the results. I had a cheesy kugel and the cheese melted and got all oozy in the pan. It was really delicious. Although if your kugel isn’t super firm, you risk it falling apart in the pan.

Bonus Method: Waffle Maker

And (even more) out there method I tried is using a waffle maker to reheat my noodle kugel.

Preheat your waffle maker and lightly grease it with a bit of butter or non-stick spray. Cut your kugel into slices that will fit your waffle maker. Place a slice into the waffle maker and close the lid. Let the kugel heat for about 3-5 minutes.

If you like crispy edges, this is a great method for you because you get loads of them! The middle stayed surprisingly creamy as well. Overall, I’d use this method again if I fancied doing something different with my kugel.

How to Reheat Potato Kugel

From noodle kugel to potato kugel. There are two main ways to reheat potato kugel.

My favorite way to reheat potato kugel is to pour about ¾ cup of water over the top of the kugel and cover it with foil, before baking it for 4-5 hours in a low oven at around 225°F (105°C). Check on the kugel occasionally to make sure it’s not drying out.

The potatoes will slowly absorb all the moisture, and become soft and creamy, similar to an overnight kugel. The outcome will be different to the original potato kugel, but this isn’t always a bad thing!

If the sound of that doesn’t appeal to you and you prefer a firmer texture, cover the potato kugel tightly with foil and place it directly into a preheated hot oven, at around 400°F (200°C). Heat it for 40 minutes to an hour, depending on the size of the kugel. 

How To Make Nudel Kugel In Advance

The best way to prepare noodle kugel in advance is to get everything ready as you normally would and then bake the kugel for 10 minutes less than the recommended time. Slightly underbaking the kugel means when you reheat it, it will turn out perfectly cooking instead of slightly overdone.

You can also store a completely unbaked kugel for 2-3 days ready to bake when you want it.

How To Store Noodle Kugel

To store leftover noodle kugel, let it cool to room temperature and then cover it with foil or place it in an airtight container. Store the kugel in the fridge for up to 5 days. 

Avoid slicing the kugel prematurely, because the more surface area you create, the quicker the noodles will dry out.

Letting the noodle kugel cool before you wrap it means you can avoid condensation build up in the packaging, which can make everything a bit soggy.

Can You Freeze Noodle Kugel?

Noodle kugel is a great freezer meal and you can freeze any kind of kugel, sweet or savory.

To freeze noodle kugel, cool it to room temperature and then wrap it tightly in plastic wrap, removing as much air as possible from the packaging. Wrap it in a second layer of foil for added protection and freeze. Aim to use within 6 months.

If you want to have flexibility with how much you defrost at a time, slice the kugel before freezing it. Each individual slice or portion can be wrapped in the same way as above, or you can separate slices with parchment paper.

When you want to eat your noodle kugel, take it from the freezer and let it defrost overnight in the fridge. Then reheat it in a 300°F (150°C) oven for 30-40 minutes, covering the dish with foil to keep moisture in. If you need to reheat the kugel from frozen, add on an extra 30-60 minutes to the heating time.

How To Reheat Noodle Kugel [Tested Methods]

In this short recipe, I show you the best way to revive and reheat your leftover noodle kugel (and potato kugel).

5 from 1 vote

Print Pin Rate

Course: Dessert, Main

Cuisine: Jewish

Keyword: How to reheat noodle kugel

Prep Time: 0 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 10 minutes minutes

Total Time: 10 minutes minutes

Servings: 1 person

Calories: 188kcal

Ingredients

• 1 portion noodle kugel

Instructions

• Preheat your oven to 300°F (150°C).
• Place your noodle kugel in a glass or ceramic baking dish. If it seems dry, sprinkle a few tablespoons of water or oil over the top.
• Cover the dish with aluminum foil to keep the moisture in.
• Heat the kugel for 25-30 minutes. If you’re reheating a single slice, check after 15 minutes. For the last 5-10 minutes, remove the foil to allow the top to crisp up.

Notes

A sprinkle of water before covering the noodle kugel with foil will create a steamy environment and rehydrate dry noodles. You can also use a bit of butter instead of the water for extra flavor.

The timings I’ve given here are approximate and will vary depending on the size and thickness of the kugel you’re reheating, as well as what else is in the oven. And I recommend using a glass or ceramic baking dish because these conduct heat more evenly then metal, so the bottom of the kugel won’t burn.

Nutrition

Serving: 100g | Calories: 188kcal