Buzzfeed asked its readers to dish on their best techniques for reheating leftovers without ruining them. Here are 10 pieces of advice to consider the next time you’re about to pop last night’s dinner into the microwave
Fries. “Turn them into a breakfast burrito! You throw them into a frying pan with some black beans, eggs, and cheese, warm up a tortilla, roll it up, and release extreme deliciousness. This has completely changed my leftovers game.”
Pizza. “Reheating pizza slices in the microwave with a cup of hot tap water beside it will result in a crispy crust, not soggy!”
Cookies. “Fresh baked cookies turn into rocks after one day. Wrap in a damp paper towel, pop in the microwave, and heat for seven seconds. They come out as soft and warm as if fresh out of the oven!”
Steak. “I like my steaks medium rare so reheating in a microwave is not an option. I heat a pan with some butter and throw that sucker in and sear on each side for a minute or two.”
Rice. “Wet paper towel over rice in the microwave, it keeps it from drying out.”
Spaghetti. “Spaghetti in a tomato based sauce should be fried up. The tomato gets a bit caramelized and the flavor is better than the first day.”
Creamy pastas. “If you’re reheating leftover mac and cheese, or any pasta with a cream based sauce, add milk and butter and put in the microwave! Works every time and it never dries out the sauce or pasta.”
Fried chicken. “Put it in the oven at like 400° for 20 minutes, VERY important for the chicken to be room temperature before reheating.”
Soup. “For reheating soups or sauces, especially those that have become a little frozen or have become solid/coagulated, try simmering a half cup of water in an extra pot before pouring it into your dish and then stirring. Reheating it while frozen can cause uneven distribution of heat, burning the bottom.”
Waffles. “Instead of saving the extra batter of waffles, go ahead and whip them up. Then the next day pop them in the toaster–they get nice and crispy again! Plus you didn’t have to drag out the waffle iron out again.”