How To Reheat Stuffing

Leftover stuffing from Thanksgiving or a big family dinner? Don’t let it go to waste! Here’s your complete guide on how to reheat stuffing so it stays delicious.

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How to reheat stuffing

There are several ways to reheat stuffing once it’s been stored in the refrigerator or freezer, and they all produce different results but work equally well. 

Be sure the internal temperature reaches 165°F before eating the stuffing with any method, like this rotisserie chicken. This is important because bacteria can begin to grow while the dish rests in the refrigerator or freezer and the best way to kill them is with heat. 

Stovetop 

Reheating stuffing on the stove gives you control over its moisture and temperature. It’s a quick method that requires frequent stirring.

1. Pan: Place stuffing in a skillet or frying pan.
2. Heat: Turn stove to medium heat.
3. Moisten: Add a bit of chicken or turkey broth to keep it moist.
4. Stir: Stir occasionally to prevent sticking and to ensure even heating.
5. Check: Heat until the stuffing reaches an internal temperature of 165°F (74°C).
6. Serve: Remove from heat and serve.

Oven 

The oven is a great way to reheat stuffing and keep its classic texture. This method takes a bit longer but yields the best results.

1. Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).
2. Preparation: Place the stuffing in an oven-safe dish. Add a little chicken or turkey broth to keep it moist.
3. Cover: Use aluminum foil to cover the dish.
4. Bake: Heat for 25-30 minutes or until it reaches an internal temperature of 165°F (74°C).
5. Serve: Remove from the oven and serve warm.

Microwave 

If you’re short on time, the microwave will get your stuffing hot quickly. Just make sure to keep an eye on it to prevent drying out.

1. Portion: Place the desired amount of stuffing in a microwave-safe dish.
2. Moisten: Add a small amount of broth to prevent drying out.
3. Cover: Place a microwave-safe lid or wrap loosely with microwave-safe plastic wrap.
4. Heat: Microwave on high for 1-2 minutes, checking every 30 seconds.
5. Serve: Check that it’s heated throughout, and serve.

Air fryer 

An air fryer is a convenient tool to reheat stuffing while keeping it slightly crisp. It’s a quicker alternative to the oven with less preheat time.

1. Preheat: Preheat your air fryer to 350°F (175°C).
2. Preparation: Place stuffing in an air fryer-safe dish or directly in the air fryer basket. Be sure to add some broth to keep it moist.
3. Heat: Cook for 8-10 minutes, checking halfway to ensure it’s not drying out.
4. Temperature Check: Make sure the internal temperature reaches 165°F (74°C).
5. Serve: Remove from air fryer and serve warm.

How to Reheat Frozen Stuffing

You can cook this dish right from the freezer if you’ve frozen leftovers. This is helpful because you don’t need to allow it to thaw beforehand you can start right in with reheating it. 

1. Cover the dish with aluminum foil and bake for at least an hour. 
2. Check the temperature with a digital thermometer to see how close the center is to 165°F.
3. Remove the cover and allow the top to get crispy and finish cooking. 

Learn how to tell if leftovers are bad and also the answer to the question of can you freeze stuffing so that it lasts you longer.

Method	Pros	Cons	Steps
Oven	Retains classic texture, evenly heated	Takes longer	1. Preheat to 350°F 2. Add broth 3. Cover with foil 4. Bake 25-30 min 5. Check temp and serve
Stovetop	Quick, control over moisture	Requires frequent stirring	1. Use skillet 2. Medium heat 3. Add broth 4. Stir occasionally 5. Check temp and serve
Microwave	Very quick	Can dry out	1. Portion in microwave-safe dish 2. Add broth 3. Cover 4. Heat 1-2 min 5. Check temp and serve
Air Fryer	Quick, can make it crisp	Small batches	1. Preheat to 350°F 2. Add broth 3. Cook 8-10 min 4. Check temp and serve
Frozen	Convenient	Takes longest time	1. Cover with foil 2. Bake 1 hour 3. Check temp 4. Crisp top and serve

What is stuffing?  

Stuffing is a combination of ingredients stuffed in the cavity of a turkey and then baked together.

It’s made with celery, bread cubes, chicken broth, onions, and carrots. Once these ingredients are mixed together, stuff the cavity of your turkey and bake. 

This is an incredibly tasty side dish since the juices from the turkey drip down through the stuffing and give it an extra layer of richness. 

You can also add cornbread, sage, thyme, rosemary, chicken, sausage, parsley, breadcrumbs, or broth to this casserole. 

Also, learn the difference between stuffing and dressing.

How to reheat stuffing without drying out?

The best way to reheat stuffing without it drying out is to add more broth before heating it up. This will allow the stuffing to soak up and heat without becoming dry.

This will work for any reheating method. Stir in a bit of broth before heating it up, and add more if needed while cooking or at the end. Don’t pour in too much since this can make it soggy.  

It’s also a bit like keeping mashed potatoes warm as well.

Conclusion 

It’s easy to reheat leftover stuffing by using one of four methods. You can microwave it, heat it on the stovetop, bake it in the oven, or cook it in the air fryer. All of these ways work well and have different results. 

Test them all out to see which one works best for you.