Can You Reheat Baked Potato?

Yes, you can reheat a baked potato. The result depends almost entirely on which method you choose. The oven restores the crispy skin and fluffy interior that made it good the first time. The microwave is faster but leaves the skin soft and slightly chewy. Both are worth knowing, because the right choice depends on how much time you have.

Can You Reheat a Baked Potato?

Yes. A cooked baked potato keeps in the fridge for three to five days, either wrapped in foil or in a sealed container. Do not store baked potatoes wrapped in foil at room temperature: this creates low-oxygen conditions that can allow Clostridium botulinum to grow in the moist interior. Refrigerate within two hours, reheat to 75°C (165°F) throughout, and reheat only once.

Reheating a Baked Potato in the Oven

The best method for texture. The dry heat of the oven removes moisture from the skin as it heats, restoring the crisp shell and keeping the inside light and fluffy rather than gummy.

1. Take the potato out of the fridge 20 to 30 minutes before reheating. Starting from closer to room temperature cuts oven time and prevents the outside from drying out before the centre is warm.
2. Preheat the oven to 190 to 200°C (375 to 390°F).
3. Place the potato directly on the oven rack or on a baking tray. Do not wrap in foil: foil traps steam and softens the skin, which is the opposite of what you want.
4. Bake for 15 to 20 minutes until the skin is crisp to a tap and a knife inserted in the centre meets no resistance.

Reheating a Baked Potato in the Microwave

Ready in under four minutes and acceptable for most purposes, though the skin will be soft rather than crisp.

1. Pierce the potato several times with a fork. Cold baked potatoes can build steam pressure quickly in a microwave and the piercing provides escape routes.
2. Place on a microwave-safe plate.
3. Microwave on full power for two minutes.
4. Flip and heat for another one to two minutes. The centre should be hot and yield easily to gentle pressure.
5. Leave to stand for one minute before cutting: the interior continues to heat from residual steam.

If you want the benefits of both methods, use the microwave to heat through (two to three minutes), then put the potato in a preheated 220°C oven for five minutes to crisp the skin. This is the fastest route to a good texture.

Reheating a Stuffed Baked Potato

Potatoes stuffed with cheese, sour cream, bacon, or other toppings need slightly different handling:

• Oven at 190°C for 20 to 25 minutes, covered with foil for the first 15 minutes to prevent the topping from burning before the interior is warm
• Microwave: two to three minutes at 70% power, checking frequently
• Add any dairy toppings (sour cream, cream cheese) after reheating, not before: they split and become grainy when heated

Which Method Should You Use?

Q: I have never thought about reheating a baked potato until a few days ago. How exactly do you go about reheating a baked potato with no toppings?

A: The important factor is that the baked potato does not have any toppings when you are reheating it. If it has butter, cheese, or non-dairy toppings, those are safe to reheat. However, sour cream, salsa and various other toppings should be avoided as they will not be very tasty when heated. The potato itself is easy to reheat, and there are quite a few ways to reheat it depending on the appliances you have available.

The Microwave Method

To microwave a baked potato, you can either place it on a microwave-safe plate and heat on full power for one minute, then checking for warmth as some pieces will heat unevenly. Alternatively, if you still have a full potato that has most of its shape still, you can wrap it in a moist paper towel and microwave on high for two minutes and 30 seconds. Cut into the potato and check the middle for warmth. If it is not warmed all the way through, leave it halved, and microwave for an additional 45 seconds.

The Oven Method

Using the oven to reheat a baked potato is by far the easiest way to reheat them. Simply wrap tightly in foil and bake for 15 minutes at 350 degrees. You can place it right on the rack, or on baking sheet depending on your preference.

The Skillet Method

For those of us who are going to be mashing our potato up on our plate anyways, you can always use the skillet to heat up a baked potato. Simply oil a pan sparingly, add the potato and chunk it up in the pan. Use a medium heat and move the potato around the pan until warmed all the way through.

A useful tip is to cover the potato when you are using the skillet as it will reduce the amount of time was taken to warm!

A baked potato is a great way to get a filling side to any meal, and having leftovers is always nice. So take a baked potato to the office or anywhere on the go and enjoy a warm, filling lunch! Please note that you should always heat food based on your knowledge of the appliances, nothing is worse than cold, or over cooked food.