How To Reheat Waffles – I Test 6 Methods [Pics]

This article was updated on 9th September 2023 for freshness and to incorporate new insights.

Waffles are the perfect brunch food, but who wants to spend Sunday morning standing over a waffle iron? In this article, I share the results of my experiment reheating waffles using 6 (yes 6!) different methods.

The best and easiest way to reheat waffles is in the toaster; simply toast the waffles on high for 1-2 minutes. If you have a lot of waffles to reheat at once, put them in the oven at 350°F (180°C).

How I tested reheating waffles

I cooked up a big batch of waffles (using my go-to recipe) and then put them in the fridge overnight.

The next day, I tested the following reheating methods:

• In the oven: Worked well, missing a bit of crunch.
• In a toaster: My favorite method.
• In the microwave: Good for stale waffles.
• In a skillet: Nice and buttery.
• In an air fryer: Waffles ended up a bit dry.
• In a waffle iron: Good if you have access to the original waffle iron.

Reheated waffles can end up being too dry and crunchy, or they’re spongy and doughy, with all the appeal of wet cardboard. I was looking for a method that resulted in fluffy, lightly crispy waffles.

Related: How To Make Waffles Without Milk

Reheating waffles in the oven

Time: 5-15 minutes
Rating: 9/10

1. Preheat the oven to 350°F (180°C).
2. Lightly grease a baking tray with butter.
3. Spread the waffles out, but don’t stack them on top of each other. If the waffles are stale, spritz them with some water to help bring some moisture back into them.
4. Cover the waffles with aluminum foil so they don’t dry out.
5. Bake the waffles for 5-10 minutes or 15 minutes if they’re frozen. Remove the foil for the last few minutes of heating if you want to crisp the waffles.

If you prefer not to use butter on the baking tray, lining it with parchment paper works too or you can place the waffles on a wire rack. And if you like the sound of butter, I found that putting a little butter on top of the waffles and allowing it to melt and sink in produced a delicious, rich center.

The foil helps stop the waffles from drying out, but if you want crispy waffles then remove the foil for the last half of heating.

Results: This is a great method for reheating lots of waffles at once, and you’ll get consistent results. The only downside is it’s a little slower than some of the other methods, and your waffles won’t get super crisp (but hey – some people prefer softer waffles anyway).

Reheating waffles in a toaster

Time: 1-2 minutes
Rating: 9/10

1. Place your waffles in the toaster.
2. Heat them on a high setting for between one and two minutes.
3. Butter the waffles before serving (optional).

Never put pre-buttered or sauced waffles in a toaster. The fat will drip down into the bottom of the toaster and could cause a fire (unlikely, but possible).

Results: This was my favorite method because the waffles got nice and crispy on the outside but weren’t dry in the middle. The only downside to using the toaster to heat your waffles is that you can only do two at a time (unless you have a four-slice toaster).

For larger gatherings, you’ll be better off heating your waffles in the oven because you can get more done at once.

Reheating waffles in a skillet

Time: 3-4 minutes
Rating: 8/10

1. Heat your skillet on medium heat with a thin layer of butter or cooking spray.
2. Spread the waffles out in the pan.
3. Heat on one side for 1-2 minutes. If the waffles are stale, sprinkle some water around the pan and cover it with a lid for 1 minute at the beginning to steam them.
4. Flip the waffles over and heat for a further 60 seconds.
5. Serve when warm and crispy.

I like to use a medium heat so that I know the waffles won’t burn, but if you want them super crispy, use a higher heat. And I always recommend butter when it comes to heating waffles because I love the flavor. Oil just isn’t the same!

Psst… the skillet is great for reheating pancakes.

Results: This could have been my favorite method if it wasn’t for the extra pan I had to wash up after doing it! The waffles had a great butter flavor, and the edges were crispy, which I liked.

Reheating waffles in an air fryer

Time: 2-3 minutes
Rating: 6/10

1. Preheat the air fryer to 350°F (180°C).
2. Optional: butter the waffles (this will give them some extra crispiness).
3. Spread your waffles out in the air fryer basket, leaving a little space around each one.
4. Heat the waffles for two to three minutes until hot and crispy.

If your air fryer is anything like mine, then it’ll have a habit of burning food if you’re not careful. As waffles are pretty delicate and burn easily, you have to watch them carefully to avoid ruining yours.

Just 1 minute too long could spell disaster.

Results: This method was okay, but I found the waffles dried out slightly. I definitely wouldn’t recommend using this method if your waffles are stale. That said, it’s nothing that lots of syrup couldn’t solve!

Reheating waffles in a waffle iron

Time: 1-2 minutes
Rating: 6/10

To reheat waffles in a waffle iron, you’ll need to use the same one you used to make the waffles (to make sure they fit). Preheat the waffle iron, and when it’s hot, place the waffles inside and heat them for 1-2 minutes.

Results: This method works really well, but if your waffles are already on the browner side, it could tip them over the edge.

Reheating waffles in the microwave

Time: 10-30 seconds
Rating: 1/10 (but 5/10 for softening stale waffles)

1. Spread your waffles out on a microwave-safe plate and cover them with a damp paper towel. 
2. Heat in 10-second intervals.
3. When they’re warm, remove the waffles from the microwave and let them rest for 30 seconds before serving.

Top tip: The microwave is excellent at reviving stale waffles.

Eat the waffles quickly before they cool down. Cold microwaved waffles will be very dry – basically like eating cardboard. You should also be careful not to leave the waffles in the microwave too long. This will dry them out as well.

Results: The microwave is super fast, but the waffles suffer. Instead of being crisp, they’re limp and chewy (but still taste nice!). The only time I recommend using the microwave is if your waffles are old and really stale. It’s very good at softening hard waffles.

How to store waffles

To store waffles, let them cool to room temperature before refrigerating them in a tightly sealed Ziploc bag. Waffles will become stale quickly in the fridge, so if you plan on keeping them for longer than one day, I recommend freezing them instead. 

Allowing the waffles to cool down before sealing them helps avoid the issue of condensation forming inside their container.

Related: How To Keep Churros Fresh

Can you freeze waffles?

Waffles freeze really well as long as they’re fresh when you freeze them. Frozen waffles last up to three months in the freezer, and they’re very easy to reheat straight from frozen, so you don’t need to worry about thawing them. 

How to freeze waffles:

1. Allow the waffles to cool to room temperature (ideally on a cooling rack, so they don’t get soggy bottoms).
2. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and spread the waffles out on top.
3. If you have a lot of waffles, stack them in layers with parchment paper between each layer.
4. Flash freeze for two hours, then remove them from the freezer.
5. Transfer the frozen waffles to a freezer bag.
6. Remove the air from the freezer bag before labeling and dating it.
7. Return the waffles to the freezer for up to 3 months.

Flash-freezing the waffles first means you can easily take one or two out at a time, rather than having to defrost a whole bag’s worth because they’re stuck together. Alternatively, you can separate the waffles with parchment paper before putting them into the freezer bag.

Removing the air from the freezer bag is an important step because it reduces the risk of freezer burn. The best way to get rid of the air (besides vacuum sealing) is to suck the air out with a straw or dunk the bag in some water to force the air out.

Read Next: What To Serve With Chicken And Waffles

How To Reheat Waffles [Tested Methods]

In this short recipe, I show you the best way to revive and reheat your leftover waffles.

5 from 2 votes

Print Pin Rate

Course: Breakfast

Cuisine: American

Keyword: reheat waffles, waffles

Prep Time: 0 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 2 minutes minutes

Total Time: 2 minutes minutes

Servings: 1 person

Calories: 291kcal

Ingredients

• 1 portion waffles
• 1 portion extra toppings optional

Instructions

• Place your waffles in the toaster.
• Heat the waffles on a high-heat setting for between one and two minutes. Be careful to not let the waffles burn.
• Serve immediately and optionally top with extra toppings (maple syrup anyone?!).

Notes

Never put pre-buttered or sauced waffles in a toaster.

The fat will drip down into the bottom of the toaster and could cause a fire.

The only downside to using the toaster to heat your waffles is that you can only do two at a time (unless you have a four-slice toaster).

For larger gatherings, you’ll be better off heating your waffles in the oven as you can get more done at once.

Nutrition

Serving: 100g | Calories: 291kcal