Reheating a cold Subway sandwich is trickier than it should be (it really depends on what kind of sub you’re dealing with).
The best method is the oven or toaster oven at 350°F, with the sandwich opened and cold vegetables removed. That’s the only way to warm the bread and fillings without ruining the texture.
- An air fryer can work but is easier to mess up.
- A microwave is a last resort and usually makes the bread rubbery.
Below, I’ll show exactly how to reheat each type of Subway sub so it still tastes good.
How to Reheat Hot Subway Sandwiches (Meatball, Steak & Cheese, Chicken)
If your Subway sandwich was meant to be hot in the first place, you’re in the best-case scenario. Hot subs are by far the easiest to reheat and the hardest to ruin.
I’ve reheated my share of sandwiches and when it comes to meatball subs, steak & cheese, or chicken sandwiches, I almost always use the oven or toaster oven. It’s the closest you’ll get to how the sandwich tasted when it was fresh.
In fact, this lines up with what a lot of people have figured out on their own:
Best Method: Oven or Toaster Oven
What to do:
- Preheat your oven (or toaster oven) to 350°F
- Leave the sandwich assembled
- Place it directly on a baking sheet or foil
- Heat for 10–15 minutes, depending on thickness
You’re aiming for:
- Meat that’s warm all the way through
- Cheese fully melted
- Bread that’s warm, not dried out
If the top starts browning too fast, loosely cover it with foil. That’s usually all it takes.
How to Reheat Cold-Cut or Veggie Subway Sandwiches (Without Ruining Them)
This is where most people mess up.
Cold-cut subs weren’t designed to be reheated as-is. Lettuce, tomatoes, cucumbers, pickles, once those hit heat, the sandwich is basically done for.
When I reheat a cold-cut sub, I always break it down first. It sounds annoying, but it’s the only way it still tastes good.
Best Method: Oven (With a Little Prep)
What to do:
- Preheat oven to 350°F
- Open the sandwich
- Remove cold veggies (lettuce, tomatoes, pickles, cucumbers)
- Scrape off excess mayo or sauces
- Place just the bread + meat + cheese in the oven
- Heat for 5–8 minutes
- Reassemble with the cold toppings after
This keeps:
- The bread warm and slightly crisp
- The meat heated without drying out
- The veggies fresh instead of soggy
Yes, it’s an extra step, but it’s the difference between “pretty good” and “why did I do this?”
Reheating Subway in an Air Fryer (Works, With One Catch)
The air fryer can reheat a Subway sandwich really well, but only if you do it right.
Of course, I’ve learned the hard way by throwing a full steak sub into the air fryer at 400°F for 5 minutes, pulled it out, and called it a win.
The problem? The outside looks great, but the center is still cold.
That’s the biggest mistake people make.
Air fryers heat fast and aggressively from the outside in. Subway sandwiches are thick, soft, and layered, so if you don’t adjust, the bread crisps before the middle ever warms up.
The Right Way to Use an Air Fryer
If you’re reheating a hot sub (steak, meatball, chicken):
- Open the sandwich
Don’t reheat it closed. This is non-negotiable. - Remove cold veggies (lettuce, tomato, pickles)
Add them back later. - Lower the temperature
Use 325–350°F, not 400°F. - Heat longer, not hotter
About 6–8 minutes, checking halfway. - Reassemble after
Put the cold ingredients back once everything is warm.
This lets the heat reach the center without burning or drying out the bread.
When the Air Fryer Works Best
- Steak & Cheese
- Meatball subs
- Chicken-based hot subs
These benefit from the air fryer’s dry heat and come out with a lightly crisped exterior, very close to fresh.
When It’s Not Ideal
- Fully loaded cold-cut subs
- Subs with lots of mayo already inside
You can make it work, but it requires more disassembly. At that point, the toaster oven is usually easier.
Now, let’s talk about the microwave, because sometimes you don’t have 10–15 minutes, and pretending otherwise isn’t helpful.
Reheating Subway in the Microwave (Last Resort, But Sometimes Necessary)
Let’s be real: sometimes you’re hungry now, not in 15 minutes.
You can reheat a Subway sandwich in the microwave, but only if you accept one thing upfront:
you’re trading texture for speed.
If you don’t do a little prep, the bread will turn soft, rubbery, or oddly chewy, that’s just how microwaves treat bread.
When the Microwave Makes Sense
- You’re reheating a hot sub (meatball, steak, chicken)
- You don’t care about crisp bread
- You need food in under 2 minutes
What Not to Do (This Is Where Most People Mess Up)
- Don’t microwave the sandwich fully wrapped
- Don’t microwave it with lettuce, tomatoes, or pickles inside
- Don’t blast it for 60+ seconds straight
That’s how you end up with soggy bread and cold centers.
The Least-Bad Way to Microwave a Subway Sandwich
If you have to do it, here’s what actually helps:
- Open the sandwich and remove any cold veggies.
- Wrap the sandwich loosely in a paper towel (not plastic).
- Microwave in 20–30 second bursts, flipping once.
- Stop as soon as the meat and cheese are warm, not hot.
The goal is to warm the filling, not “cook” the bread.
Quick Reality Check
Even done correctly:
- The bread will be soft
- There will be no crispness
- It won’t taste like day one
That’s why, if you have any extra time, the toaster oven or air fryer is still the better move.
More Subway, Explained
If you’re already thinking this much about Subway, you might want these next:
- What mayo Subway actually uses (and why it tastes different)
- What cheese Subway uses (and why it melts so predictably)
- Why every Subway smells the same
- Why Ireland says Subway bread isn’t bread
You can also check out the main Subway hub for more content.
Don’t put it in for anymore than 10min. Go from 5-8 minutes in a 350 degree pre-heated oven