6 Methods of Reheating Fried Pickles

A common question everybody has is how to properly reheat fried pickles. Fried pickles which have been refrigerated need to be reheated in order to regain their crispiness. 

Key Facts

Why Is It Important To Reheat Fried Pickles?

Though it is true that fried pickles are best when served immediately after being cooked, there are rare occasions when you have leftover fried pickles at the end of the day.  On such occasions I make sure that they are properly refrigerated.  At a later date you only have to take the fried pickles out, reheat and viola, you have hot fried pickles as crispy as they originally were.

Fried Pickles are a delicious snack food, sort of an appetizer, made with sliced dill pickles dipped in spiced batter and fried. They taste even better when taken with your favorite dipping sauce. 

This is an ideal snack food to have at any time of the year whenever you have friends coming over for any formal or informal occasion or even an outdoor barbeque. They can simply be served on their own with any cold drink of your choice or alongside your favorite barbeque recipe or even as a side dish for grilled food.

How to Store Fried Pickles

Any leftover fried pickles have to be stored in an airtight container lined with paper towels before refrigerating.  The paper towels will absorb any extra oil and prevent the fried pickles from getting soggy.  

Best Methods for Reheating Fried Pickles!

There are many methods of reheating fried pickles but the best way to reheat them depends largely on how fast you need your fried pickles to be ready.

You can reheat them in microwave, oven/toaster, air fryer, skillet or grill.  Although microwaving is the fastest and the easiest way to reheat them, it is not the best option.   For me, leftover prickles are crispier when reheated in oven, air fryer, skillet or indoor grill than in microwave.

6 Methods of How to Reheat Fried Pickles!

How to Reheat Fried Pickles In Microwave?

If you need to reheat your fried pickles in a hurry, and you do not have access to a full kitchen, microwaving is the best option. The steps to follow are – 

1. Place paper towel on a microwave safe plate.
2. Lay the fried pickles flat on the paper towel. It would be better if you can leave a bit of space between them.
3. Cover the top with another paper towel. This way, any moisture will be absorbed by the paper towels, allowing the pickles to get crispy.   
4. Reheat for 30 seconds. Changing the power setting by 50% will reduce any steam that may build up.
5. Remove paper towel.  Leaving to cool for 30 seconds will allow the batter to re-harden a little and also prevent you from burning your mouth.

If you are in a hurry but yet you need your leftover fried pickles warm, then reheating them in microwave is the best option, although they may not be very crispy.

How to Reheat Fried Pickles in Oven/Toaster? (With Bake Setting)

1. Pre-heat the oven/toaster to 400^o F.
2. Line a baking tray or a wire rack with oiled baking sheet.
3. Lay out your fried pickles on the tray/wire rack allowing space in between each pickle.
4. Bake for 10 minutes.  Then remove the baking sheet and flip the fried pickles.
5. Continue baking for another 10-15 minutes.  Watch for slight browning and sizzling grease on top of the pickles.
6. Remove pickles from oven.  Cooling for 5–10 minutes will increase the crispiness.  If necessary, add some salt and pepper as you remove them from the oven.

Using an oven/toaster for reheating will definitely get you the best crispy fried pickles.

Using a Skillet for Reheating Fried Pickles?

Pan Frying for reheating your fried pickles is faster than the oven and you are sure of getting crispiest reheated fried pickles, although it involves more cleaning up. 

1. Place your frying pan/skillet on medium high heat.  Add sufficient oil to coat the bottom. 
2. Once the pan/skillet is heated and the oil starts to run, place the fried pickles in pan quickly and safely.  Leave much space as possible between them.
3. Cook for 2-3 minutes.  Flip them and cook for another 1-2 minutes or until they are golden brown in color.
4. Remove the pickles to a paper towel or cooling rack.  Sprinkle with salt and pepper.  Cooling for 4-5 minutes will allow the reheated prickles to increase their crispiness.

Using a skillet and vegetable or canola oil will give you the best reheated crispy fried pickles, as a skillet has great conductivity and vegetable oil has the best flashpoint for deep frying.

Reheating Fried Pickles by Deep Frying

You can also reheat your left over fried pickles by deep frying and I regard it as one of the best methods.  You could say that the results are a bit better than pan frying.  Preheat oil in a deep frying pan at 355^O F.   Add prickles one by one carefully and as close as possible.  Let the prickles fry for 3 – 5 minutes until they turn to golden brown color.  Take them off the pan draining the oil and place on wire rack to drain excess oil.   Sprinkle a little pickling salt or curing salt and pepper to your taste before cooling them for 4-5 minutes to crisp them up.

Reheat Fried Pickles in Air Fryer 

1. Preheat the home or commercial air fryer to 350^O F. 
2. Place the pickles on the rack of the fryer. Fry for 4 minutes.
3. Flip the pickles and continue frying for further 4 minutes or until they are golden brown.
4. Remove the pickles leave them on a paper towel or cooling rack. Sprinkle with salt and pepper.
5. For crispier pickles, allow them to cool for a few minutes.

How to Reheat Fried Pickles In Grill?

Pour cooking oil (about 1 inch up the sides) into a small pan and place over medium fire. When it’s hot add the pickles and cook for around 5-minutes or until golden brown. Remove from pan and leave on paper towels, sprinkle with salt and pepper and dip into them immediately.

FAQs

Although fried pickles are best when served immediately after being cooked, a frequently asked question is how to keep fried pickles from getting soggy.

To avoid Fried Pickles from getting soggy, it is essential that pickles are dry as possible.  Make sure to drain your pickles of all liquid and pat them dry with paper towels.  You can lay them out on a paper towel and then press a paper towel over the top as well.  You must ensure that you have removed as much moisture as you can from the pickles before coating them with the breading to avoid soggy pickles.

I have also noticed that if the oil is not hot enough, the end result is going to be a soggy mess.  The oil has to be preheated to 350^o F.

You can check with a thermometer or sprinkle a wee bit of flour into oil and if it sizzles right up, the oil is hot and ready.  

Cook in batches, and try not to overcrowd the pan with pickles.  Overcrowding the pickles in the pan will make the temperature of the oil to drop making it difficult to flip the pickles.  

After carefully adding the breaded pickles in batches to the hot oil, cook for about 1-minute per side or until golden brown.

Remove pickles, drain the oil well and place them on a cooling rack. Continue cooking the remaining pickles in batches.  

In the absence of a wire cooling rack, a baking sheet lined with paper towels may be used to keep them from getting soggy. The fried pickles should be allowed to sit on the cooling rack or paper towel until the excess oil is drained off.