How to Reheat Ribs In Air Fryer?

Ribs are one of my favorite foods. I love to barbeque them on Sundays and then freeze them up for the weekdays.

Reheating them has become an issue though. I have failed to get the same texture and consistency in the microwave or stovetop.

They end up becoming dry and hard. At times, they end up getting burnt instead.

I have been wondering if I can reheat the ribs in the air fryer and get a crisp and juicy consistency.

Can Ribs be Reheated in an Air Fryer?

Yes! Air Fryer is an excellent kitchen appliance to get you crisp and juicy ribs after reheating.

The reason is the rapid hot air circulation that does an excellent job of reheating fast.

All you need to do is apply some sauce and a little oil to get the same crispness and softness of the freshly cooked ribs.

Another important thing is the correct temperature and time. With an Airfryer, you can time both of them down up to seconds and get amazing results.

Another benefit of reheating your ribs in the Airfryer is the speed. The speed of reheating thoroughly is unmatched by any other kitchen gadget including the oven.

What’s more, the ribs don’t dry up as they do in the microwave.

Also read: Can You Use Air Fryer to Reheat Pizza?

How to Reheat Ribs In Air Fryer?

Here are the step-by-step guidelines you need to follow :

Defrost Your Ribs

If you store the ribs in the freezer as I do, take them out a little before reheating. Allow the rib to thaw for a few hours.

If you don’t have a lot of time, you don’t have to wait till it reaches room temperature.

Just leave it on the countertop for about an hour or so for the best results.

For defrosting, you can also place them in a water bowl or wash them with water.

Preheat Your Air Fryer

This is an important step. You need to put your leftover ribs in a hot environment. This will ensure quick heating without drying up your meat.

The temperature I use is 350° F for 3-5 minutes.

Cut Into Smaller Pieces

Ribs can be very large on the grill. When I reheat them in the air fryer, I chop them into riblets so they can easily fit inside my Airfryer.

Make sure to leave some gap between each riblet for good hot air circulation.

Coat Your Ribs

If your ribs already have sauce on top, place them on the liner or foil and then put them into the air fryer basket.

If it does not have a sauce you can use beer, apple cider vinegar, tomato ketchup, or any sauce of your preference. The sauce helps the rib to remain juicy and tender.

Next, spray or brush a few drops of oil. A light Oil coating will make your ribs crispy on the outside.

Oil also helps to protect the meat from drying out under the hot air circulation.

Enter the Settings

Your rib is now ready to be reheated. Enter the temperature settings of 350F-400F for five minutes.

I like cooking in short bursts until they are done according to my taste. I usually remove the basket in about four minutes and check.

If not reheated, I let it cook for another minute and a half and check again.

If you have less time, you may reheat the frozen ribs directly by placing them immediately inside the air fryer.

Preheat at 350° F then heat at the same temperature for 12-14 minutes.

Check With a Thermometer

If you have a food reading instant thermometer, use it. Check for the internal temperature.

A heated rib will be above 75- 80° C. If not, keep reheating in short bursts till your ribs are thoroughly done.

Cooking in short bursts ensure there is no drying up or burning of meat.

Give Some Resting Time

Once the ribs are heated, allow a minute of resting time or cooling down time for your ribs. This will protect your fingers, lips, and tongue from getting scalded.

Serve the deliciously juicy and crispy ribs with your favorite barbeque sauce.

Also read: How To Reheat Fries in Air Fryer?

Safety Tips for Reheating Ribs in Air Fryer

Let me now share some safety tricks I follow for ribs to ensure it remains edible, tender, and delicious.

  • Cut your ribs into smaller chunks. Small pieces help to reheat quickly. You can also store them easily. Just make sure the pieces are not very small as they might lose moisture easily and turn rubbery.
  • Do not leave the cooked ribs out for a long time at room temperature. Store them as soon as they cool down. This will ensure the ribs stay fresh and edible, and do not dry up. It is best to refrigerate them before the first hour ends.
  • If you wish to lock in the sauce and moisture, wrap your piece of meat in foil. Put the foil in a zip lock bag in the freezer.
  • Freezing and reheating the ribs makes them dry. To make them juicy again, you need to re-marinate the ribs with any sauce, juice, or vinegar.
  • Do not store the cooked ribs for more than four days. The side effects of storing for a long time will impact the texture and taste of your ribs. They may end up shrunken and stale in taste. You can increase the time limit by deep freezing them. you can freeze the ribs for two to three months.

Here are some frequently asked questions :

How Many Times Can I Reheat the Ribs?

Although you are free to reheat the ribs whenever you want, I wouldn’t recommend reheating them more than once.

This is because reheating will suck up the moisture making your meat dry. Additionally, the nutrient content decreases on reheating repeatedly.

Reheating more than once will have a derogatory effect on the taste as well.

Follow the mantra of reheating only what you can eat.

Also read: Can You Reheat Tea In Microwave?

How to Cook Pre-Cooked Ribs in the Airfryer?

Pre-cooked ribs are an easy way to satisfy your cravings without wasting time or energy.

Preheat your air fryer for five minutes at 350F. Place an aluminum foil underneath your ribs. Set the timer to ten minutes.

After about nine minutes, flip the ribs. Set the timer to three-four more minutes until you get the perfect texture.

How Long Can I Store Pre-Cooked Ribs?

Pre Cooked Ribs can be stored for three in the fridge. It is best not to prolong the shelf life of Pre Cooked ribs. The quality and taste of your meat will go bad.

In the freezer, your pre Cooked ribs can last for two to three months. Just make sure the container is sealed well.

If it gets exposed to the air in the freezer, the ribs will become stale in taste due to freezer burn.

How to Reheat Ribs in the Ninja Air Fryer?

Follow the same technique. Preheat your Ninja Airfryer for five minutes at 350° F.

Marinate your ribs with sauce and spray some oil. You may place foil underneath the meat to stop the sauce from dripping down.

Heat at 350F for five minutes. Check for the internal temperature. Allow a minute or two of resting time. Serve with your favorite barbeque sauce.

How Do I  Reuse Leftover Ribs?

If you have leftover ribs and do not wish to eat them in the traditional style with a barbeque sauce, you can remove the meat from the bone, mix the meat piece with a topping of your choice, and make a pulled meat sandwich.

You can also mix the meat pieces with salsa and enjoy them with tacos or nachos.

How to Reheat Ribs in the Oven?

To reheat Ribs in the Oven, you have to wrap them in aluminum foil. Preheat your oven for five minutes at 350F.

Place your ribs wrapped in foil inside. Once the temperature of the ribs reaches 140 ( check with an instant food thermometer), open the foil.

Add sauce and wrap it all back until the internal temperature reaches 150° F.

Also read: How to Reheat Fried Shrimps in Air Fryer?

Final Words

An air fryer is the best option for reheating your ribs.  Follow the technique mentioned above for ribs having a juicy and tender interior and a crispy exterior.

All it takes is a little re-marination with your favorite sauce and a few drops of oil.

Cook at 350° F for approx five minutes until the ribs have heated up thoroughly. You can also manually check the heat of the ribs with an instant food reading temperature.

Just make sure you store the ribs properly to avoid food poisoning. Follow the tips above for a safe and delicious rib every time you wish to savor it.

Happy ripping into the ribs!

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I’m Jueria and I am a regular contributor on cookeryspace.com. In my articles, I share time-saving techniques, appliance wizardry, and health-friendly recipes to bring taste and wellness to your table. So raise a glass (or a spatula) with me, to good health and good food, made easy!