How to Reheat Spanakopita: Tips and Tricks for Perfectly Crispy Leftovers

If you’ve ever enjoyed the tasty Greek spinach pie known as spanakopita, you know how delicious it can be.

But if you have leftovers or frozen portions that need reheating, it can be tricky to get that same crispy texture and flavorful filling.

Fortunately, there are a few methods you can use to reheat spanakopita with great success.

Preparing Spanakopita for Reheating

Before we dive into the best methods for reheating your spanakopita, let’s talk about preparing it properly.

If you have store-bought or homemade spanakopita that hasn’t been baked yet, follow the cooking instructions first before thinking about reheating.

If you’re dealing with leftover or frozen spanakopita, there are a few things to remember before moving on:

• Don’t thaw your frozen spanakopita before reheating.
• Place your leftover (or frozen) spanakopita in a single layer on a microwave-safe dish.
• Don’t stack multiple pieces of the pastry on top of each other; this will affect their ability to heat evenly.

Method 1: Oven Reheating of Spanakopita

The oven is probably the best way to reheat your leftover or frozen spanakopita since it delivers an even temperature that will prevent burning and ensure a perfect crust-to-filling ratio. Here’s how:

1. Preheat your oven to 350°F (180°C).
2. Arrange your leftover/frozen pieces in a single layer on a baking tray lined with parchment paper.
3. Cover them loosely with another sheet of parchment paper so they don’t dry out.
4. Bake for 10-15 minutes or until heated through (larger pieces may require more time).
5. When they’re hot all the way through, remove them from the oven and let them cool for a few minutes before serving.

Method 2: Microwave Reheating of Spanakopita

Microwaves are convenient and quick, but we don’t recommend using them to heat up your spanakopita. The microwave tends to make the pastry soft and soggy, which can be unpleasant. If you must use this method because you need a quick snack, here’s how:

1. Place your leftovers or frozen spanakopita in a microwave safe dish.
2. Cover it with a dampened paper towel or microwave-safe bowl cover.
3. Heat on high for one minute.
4. Check if the pastry has warmed up enough, if not give it another thirty seconds burst.
5. When hot all the way through, carefully remove it from the microwave.

Method 3: Air Fryer Reheating of Spanakopita

Air-Fryers are becoming popular equipment in most households and can be handy to reheat frozen Spanakopita or even some crispy leftover variations like puff Spanakopitas.

Here’s how:

1. Preheat your air fryer to 350°F (180°C).
2. Line accessory basket with parchment paper and place both store-bought/frozen or leftover spankopitas without touching insides of each other 3 Set time for around three minutes. 4 After three minutes check inside filling (use fork/spoon) If filling feels lukewarm/mild warm increase time by two more minute increments 5 Once you have desirable heat level, take out from basket and serv immediately

Tips for Properly Reheated Spanakopita

To ensure that your reheated spanakopita comes out perfectly crispy each time:

• Use an oven where possible; microwaving isn’t ideal for this dish.
• Avoid stacking pieces on top of one another while reheating, so that the heat can flow evenly.
• Use parchment paper to keep the pastry from sticking to your pan or air-fryer
• Don’t overheat, as this can turn it into a crisped slab rather than a flaky treat.
• Serve immediately after reheating before any condensation that might take away crunch

How Long Can You Store and Reheat Spanakopita?

If store-bought, packed spanakopita can have an expiry date from one week to while some homemade cooked variations last up until 5 days refrigerated. Similarly, for freezing purposes, 6 months is an ideal timeline for frozen models.

As for reheating: If you’ve stored leftover spanakopita in the fridge; you’re good to go if consumed within three days. Frozen pastries should be consumed preferably within a month.

Conclusion: Perfectly Repurposing Leftover & Store-Bought Spanakopita

It’s always better when there are leftover snacks like fenugreek fritters or spanakopitas sitting around after the meals. But if you plan on saving these treats for another time or repurposing them – knowing how to reheat them without ruining their taste and texture is key.

Using an oven is the best way to reheat store-bought and frozen spanakopita while still retaining its crispy texture but only microwave when necessary. Don’t forget your parchment paper while baking/reheating in oven or air fryer helps crisp it up quicker and saves clean-up time; Also remember not leaving out too long (after reheating) before serving!