In this short article, I am going to show you the methods (with step-by-step instructions) showing you how to reheat tempura.
If you have leftoevers from dinner last night or have some sitting the fridge and you need it warmed up, then this is definitely the guide for you to check out.
With that said, let us get right into it.
Can You Reheat Tempura (Shrimp, Prawns, Chicken, Vegetables, Sushi)?
Yes, you can reheat tempura, but it is best to have it when it is freshly made. When reheated properly, leftover tempura should have the same crispy/dry exterior you are used to, while being steaming hot. You can use the oven, toaster oven, air fryer or a deep fryer to reheat with pretty good results.
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How to Reheat Tempura – The Best Methods to Use
When it comes to reheating tempura there are a couple methods that can be used.
While it is best to have tempura fresh, you will often find that leftovers are reheated using the following methods:
- Oven/Toaster Oven
- Pan/Deep Fryers
- Air Fryer
Let us take a detailed look at each reheating method below.
Reheating Tempura in the Oven/Toaster Oven
If you want to replicate the general taste and texture of when tempura was freshly made, the oven is your best bet for reheating.
The dry heat from the oven will have the exterior of your tempura dish crispy and it will generally taste the same as when it was freshly made.
Steps to reheat tempura using the oven/toaster oven:
- Preheat the oven to 425°F (218°C).
- Get a non-stick baking or cookie sheet. If non-stick, you can line with parchment paper.
- Take the leftover (chicken, shrimp, vegetable or sushi) tempura and place on the baking tray, giving each piece enough space so they are not overcrowded.
- Place the baking sheet with the tempura in the oven for 3-5 minutes.
- Remove the tray from the oven after 3 minutes and flip each tempura piece to the other side.
- The baking tray should be placed back into the oven and the tempura pieces should sit and reheat for another 3 to 5 minutes.
- Once the tempura is fully reheated, it should be removed from the oven and placed on an oil draining rack.
- Allow the tempura to cool before serving.
Note: Keep a watch that the color of the tempura darkens while reheating, but do not leave it to burn or become too dark. This will give your tempura a bitter, burnt taste.
Using the oven to reheat tempura means that the tempura heats up crisp and dry, saving it from being limp and soggy.
Reheating Tempura in The Pan/Deep-Fryer
Another quick way to reheat tempura is to actually deep-fry it in hot oil.
When done properly, you will be able to retain the original crispy/crunchy taste while getting it warmed up to your liking.
Please note: With reheating tempura in oil, there is a possibility that you could overcook the food or it can soak up excess oil, which can negatively impact the taste.
Steps to reheat tempura in a pan/deep-fryer:
- Preheat oil in a pan or deep-fryer. It should reach between 350-375°F or 177-190°C
- When the oil has reached the desired temperature, take the pieces of tempura and place in the pan/deep fryer.
- Let the tempura pieces reheat in the oil for around 60-90 seconds. You do not want to keep them in too long as you are just warming the food up, not recooking it.
- Once finished, remove the tempura pieces and place them on an oil drain rack.
- Let cool and serve.
Reheating Tempura In The Air Fryer
The air fryer is a great kitchen appliance that does an excellent job at reheating different types of food, even fried ones like tempura.
It is also pretty quick and doesn’t require a lot of prep work.
Please keep in mind when using the air fryer to reheat your tempura (chicken, prawns, vegetables or sushi), you should not overcrowd the frying rack.
You want the heat to be distributed evenly, so everything is perfectly reheated.
Steps to reheat tempura using the air-fryer:
- Preheat the air fryer between 350-400°F or 177-204°C
- Once warmed up, take out the frying rack and place the tempura pieces on it. Ensure that there is enough space between the pieces.
- Let the tempura reheat for 3-4 minutes.
- Remove the frying rack and turn the pieces to the other side.
- Place the frying rack back in the air fryer and let them reheat for another 3-4 minutes.
- Check to see if the tempura is reheated to your liking, if not, place the pieces back in the air fryer for another 1-2 minutes.
- Once finished, place on oil draining rack.
- Let cool and then serve.
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Wrapping it up
We’ve now reached the end of my guide to reheating tempura.
Hopefully, you found these reheating methods useful and you will be enjoying your tempura.
Now I’d like to hear from you:
Any questions? Or anything you’d like to see added to this tempura reheating guide?
Either way, let me know by leaving a comment below.
