How To Reheat Baked Potato Without Drying It Out

Baked potatoes can be served and enjoyed in so many ways, whether you prefer to add them as a great side dish or load them with delicious ingredients as a hearty and comforting main meal!

But what if you have leftover potatoes? Is it really possible to retain that fluffy potato texture with a crispy exterior after storing and reheating? This article walks you through the best practices of storage and the various reheating methods available to ensure that your leftover baked potatoes are just as delicious as they were when first cooked on the oven rack!

two air fryer baked potatoes cut in half topped with melting butter and chopped green onions.

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The Basics of Storing Baked Potatoes
Allow the Potatoes to Cool
Wrap the Potatoes
Store in an Airtight Container
Refrigerate or Freeze
Label and Date
Reheating Baked Potatoes
Reheating In the Oven
Reheating In the Microwave
Reheating In the Air Fryer
Reheating in A Skillet
Reheating On the Grill
Tips for Reheating Baked Potatoes
More Delicious Baked Potato Recipes
More Cooking Tips
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The Basics of Storing Baked Potatoes

Proper storage of food is key to maintaining quality and optimal freshness. When it comes to baked potatoes, good storage practices are important to prevent the potatoes from drying out, absorbing other odors, or being at risk of bacteria growth.

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Allow the Potatoes to Cool

Allow the baked potatoes to cool completely at room temperature before attempting to store them. This will help retain moisture within the potatoes and prevent condensation in the container which can spoil the potato and promote bacteria growth.

Wrap the Potatoes

Once cooled, but before transferring the potatoes to an airtight container, it’s a good idea to wrap each potato in aluminum foil or plastic wrap. This is another way to keep moisture locked into the baked potato so it doesn’t dry out in storage.

Store in an Airtight Container

When cooled and wrapped, place the baked potatoes in a sealed container or resealable plastic bags which will help keep the potatoes fresh and prevent odors from other food in the fridge from being absorbed by the potatoes.

Refrigerate or Freeze

Your baked potatoes should be stored in the fridge within 2 hours of cooking to prevent the growth of harmful bacteria and to maintain freshness. Baked potatoes stored in the fridge should last for 3-4 days.

For longer storage, consider storing your baked potatoes in the freezer for 1-3 months. I don’t recommend storing baked potatoes in the freezer for longer than 3 months as this can affect the texture and taste of the potatoes and they won’t be as appetizing!

Label and Date

Don’t forget to label and date your wrapped and stored baked potatoes, especially when storing them for longer in the freezer.

Reheating Baked Potatoes

Now that your baked potatoes have been adequately stored, you have a few different ways available to reheat them. Each reheating method can produce different results which is why it’s important to consider them all and choose one which is best suited to you.

Reheating In the Oven

Reheating baked potatoes in the oven on a baking tray is probably the best way to maintain a potato’s texture and flavor due to the even heating created in the oven.

To reheat baked potatoes using the oven method, preheat the oven to around 350°F and then place potatoes on a baking sheet. Heat the potatoes for 15-20 minutes, or until they are heated through.

This reheating method also helps to regain a crispy skin on the baked potatoes.

Reheating In the Microwave

Reheating baked potatoes in the microwave is the quickest method as there’s no preheating time required. That said, there is a risk of drying the potatoes out if you don’t cover the potatoes in a damp paper towel to help retain moisture.

If you do choose this reheating method, place the baked potato on a microwave-safe dish, cover it with a damp paper towel, and heat for 30-second intervals. Cutting the baked potato into smaller pieces is another option when reheating in the microwave.

Reheating In the Air Fryer

Air fryers have become increasingly popular over the past few years for cooking and reheating various foods. This is a great option when trying to regain a crispy outer skin on leftover baked potatoes and it’s super quick to do too!

Preheat the air fryer to 350°F, and place the baked potatoes in the air fryer basket (making sure not to overcrowd the basket). Heat for 5-10 minutes, turning them occasionally for an even heating on all sides.

Reheating in A Skillet

Baked potatoes can also be reheated in a skillet on the stovetop. Add some olive oil or butter to the skillet and slice or dice the leftover baked potato. Reheat the potato until heated through.

This method is perfect for those who prefer a slightly crispy texture and want to infuse some extra flavor into the potatoes - perfect for adding to your breakfast alongside scrambled eggs.

Reheating On the Grill

Baked potatoes can also be reheated on the grill on medium heat, turning them occasionally and reheating for 10-15 minutes. You can either add the potatoes straight to the grill grates or reheat a foil-wrapped potato on the grill. The grill will impart a lovely smokey flavor.

Tips for Reheating Baked Potatoes

Don’t overheat your baked potatoes while reheating, as this will result in dried-out potatoes that lose moisture and become dry and tough. Avoid high temperatures when reheating potatoes of any kind.
Add moisture to the potatoes while reheating. This can be done by covering the potatoes with a damp cloth while reheating in the microwave or sprinkling some water over the potatoes before reheating in the oven or air fryer.
Season your leftover and reheated baked potatoes before serving for the best taste. Salt, pepper, spices, or herbs will enhance the flavor.
You can use a meat thermometer to test the internal temperature of the reheated potatoes, which should be around 165F.
For more even reheating, reheat the baked potatoes in smaller portions.
These tips and tricks for storage and reheating are applicable to any type of potato, whether regular potatoes or sweet potatoes.
Discard any leftover spuds that have developed green parts of potatoes as a result of potato storage as this can be a sign of illness-causing bacteria in the potato skins that can result in food poisoning.

Storing and reheating baked potatoes properly can make all the difference in preserving their flavor and fluffy texture. Whether you opt for the convenience of the microwave, the crispiness of the oven, or the smoky aroma of the grill, there's a method that suits your preferences and available equipment.

Follow these tips and tricks to ensure the best results for your reheated baked potatoes!

More Delicious Baked Potato Recipes

More Cooking Tips

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