Can You Reheat Chipotle?

Yes, you can reheat Chipotle takeout, and it comes back well if you handle the components correctly. The main mistake people make is trying to reheat the whole bowl or burrito at once, cold toppings and all. Separate what should stay cold from what needs heat and the result is much better than you’d expect from day-old takeout.

Can You Reheat Chipotle?

Yes. Chipotle bowls and burritos keep in the fridge for three to four days when refrigerated promptly. Separate components (rice, protein, beans, hot salsas) store better individually. The components to always keep cold and never reheat are: sour cream, guacamole, fresh tomato salsa (pico de gallo), and shredded lettuce. These should be set aside before reheating and added back cold or at room temperature after.

Reheating a Chipotle Bowl

The easiest approach since the components are already separate.

1. Remove cold toppings: sour cream, guacamole, pico de gallo, lettuce, and cheese if it’s on top rather than mixed in.
2. Transfer the warm components (rice, beans, meat, cooked salsas) to a microwave-safe bowl.
3. Add a tablespoon of water or chicken broth and stir through. Rice and beans dry out overnight and the liquid helps them steam back to the right consistency.
4. Cover loosely and microwave on full power for 90 seconds to two minutes.
5. Stir halfway through to redistribute heat.
6. Check the protein temperature specifically: chicken and steak should reach 75°C (165°F) throughout.
7. Add cold toppings back after heating and serve.

Reheating a Chipotle Burrito

Burritos are trickier because everything is wrapped together. The oven gives a better result than the microwave here.

Oven method:

1. Preheat the oven to 175°C (350°F).
2. Wrap the burrito in foil.
3. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes until hot throughout.
4. Open the foil for the last five minutes if you want the tortilla to firm up slightly rather than staying soft.

Microwave method:

1. Wrap the burrito in a damp paper towel.
2. Microwave on full power for 60 seconds.
3. Flip and heat for another 60 seconds.
4. Check the centre. Add 30-second bursts if the filling is still cold.

What to Do With Guacamole and Sour Cream

Both separate and become unpleasant when heated. Guacamole turns grey-brown and watery; sour cream curdles. Both are best served cold. If your guacamole has browned on top from oxidation, scrape away the top layer: the green avocado underneath is usually still fresh and flavourful. A squeeze of lime juice on guacamole before refrigerating slows the oxidation significantly for next-day leftovers.

Component Reheating Guide

Q: Whenever I go to Chipotle, I always get a burrito bowl, but I can never finish it. To be honest, I am tired of eating it cold the day after. How can I reheat my burrito bowl to have it just as good?

A: The thing about burrito bowls is that it combines many items that can be reheated, and many things that shouldn’t be. For any of the methods we have listed, you will need to break down the contents and heat things separately.

You must remove:

Sour cream

Salsa

Lettuce

Any fresh vegetable

Guacamole

Needless to say, you can only reheat the meat (or tofu), beans, rice, and cheese. There are quite a few steps, but it really pays off.

The Skillet

After you have removed all the toppings that cannot be reheated, simply throw the rest into a skillet and warm over medium-low heat, for about seven minutes. Everything should heat quickly as it is not very dense, however, every appliance is different, and should be adjusted accordingly.

The Microwave Method

A quick way to warm up your burrito bowl is to simply pop everything that can be reheated, in the microwave for one minute in a microwave-safe dish. After heating, stir, and microwave for another one minute. If you would like it to be warmer, only do it in 30-second increments as some ingredients do not do well under heat, such as tofu.

After heating, go ahead and add all the ingredients you had to separate back into the bowl. Whether you used the skillet or the microwave, you can always freshen up your leftovers with the addition of new toppings if you have them in your fridge, or just serve with nacho chips.

Ordering a great burrito bowl is the challenge every time you go into a Chipotle restaurant, so when you finally reach the pinnacle of satisfaction, you do not want to waste any of it. Quit suffering by eating your bowl cold, take the extra time to separate the ingredients, and your taste buds will thank you!