Mozzarella sticks are great for parties, as a snack food, or as something to tide you over until dinner time. Since mozzarella sticks take some time to prep before you cook them, you likely don’t want to waste them should you find yourself with some leftovers.
You can reheat mozzarella sticks in an oven, a toaster oven, an air fryer, and even in the microwave, depending on your personal preferences and tastes.
If you store your mozzarella sticks the right way, they can be easily reheated the next time you feel like eating them. Let’s take a look at the four main ways to do this.
How To Reheat Mozzarella Sticks
Reheating in the Oven
Reheating cheese sticks in your oven is the smartest way to do it because it gives you a crispy crust and a chewy cheesy inside. For refrigerated mozzarella sticks, just preheat your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit and place the sticks on a cooking sheet without overcrowding them. Keep them in the oven for 5 to 10 minutes and they should be just right. If you’re taking them right out of the freezer, preheat the oven to 450 degrees, place the frozen mozzarella sticks on a cooking sheet, and bake them for 8 to 15 minutes.
You’ll know that the mozzarella sticks are done when their crust gets nice and brown. If the cheese starts to melt right out of the sticks, keep a close eye on them because they are very close to being done. Be careful when taking them out of the oven because they will be very hot.
Reheating in the Toaster Oven
Toaster ovens are great because they work very similar to regular ovens and the delicious mozzarella sticks will come out much like they did when you first cooked them. Toaster ovens tend to generate less heat than standard ovens, which is why so many people use them when heating up foods such as cheese sticks. All you have to do is preheat the oven to 450 degrees Fahrenheit and cook them for roughly eight minutes. Again, the sticks are ready once cheese starts to pour out of the sides.
Also, make sure that you remove the mozzarella sticks with tongs or a similar kitchen tool to be safe.
Reheating in an Air Fryer
Air fryers are a healthy way to cook or reheat foods, and it’s super-easy and convenient to reheat mozzarella sticks this way. Simply preheat your fryer to 400 degrees Fahrenheit and place the mozzarella sticks into the basket or tray. Try not to overcrowd the cheese sticks for the best results. All you have to do is cook them for one minute and they’re ready to be eaten. These air fryers require no oil or grease. The cheese sticks should taste nice and fresh after they’re cooked.
Reheating in the Microwave
Microwave ovens tend to result in less-than-favorable tastes in food, but if you’re in a hurry or you’re really hungry for mozzarella sticks, this is still a good alternative. To microwave your cheese sticks, just place them in a single layer on a dish that is microwave-safe, then heat them in the microwave for 25 to 45 seconds.
Next, flip the cheese sticks over to the other side and cook them for 25 to 45 additional seconds. If you’re not sure if they’re done, simply cut one of the sticks in half and test the cheese in the center, being careful not to burn your fingers.
If the cheese is not yet hot, try cooking the mozzarella sticks for 15 additional seconds, adding 5 to 10 seconds afterwards until they are at the right temperature.
Tips To Remember When Reheating Mozzarella Sticks
In addition to these methods, you can also use a convection oven. These ovens distribute heat very evenly, which means that your cheese sticks will turn out just right.
Also, if you love a crust that is especially crispy, try spraying the mozzarella sticks with some type of baking spray before placing them in an oven or air fryer. The baking spray should also give the cheese sticks a taste that is a little fresher so they won’t taste as though they’ve been in the fridge or freezer for a while. If you’re cooking them on a cooking sheet in the oven, you might have to lightly spray the sheet with baking spray first because even leftover cheese sticks can stick.
It’s pretty easy to reheat cheese sticks. The important thing to remember is to make sure that you store the sticks properly before you reheat them, and take your time so that they come out crispy and chewy. Leftover cheese sticks can be just as yummy as when they were first cooked, especially if you know exactly how to reheat them.
How to Store Mozzarella Sticks
Before you decide how to reheat leftover mozzarella sticks, just know that they have to be stored the right way in the refrigerator first. If you store them correctly, mozzarella sticks last for up to two weeks. That being said, you shouldn’t try to keep mozzarella sticks that have been sitting around at room temperature for more than two hours. These cheese sticks have already been exposed to harmful bacteria and they might go bad in the fridge.
If your mozzarella sticks have been at room temperature for under two hours, it is perfectly all right to store them in the refrigerator, but you should wrap them in an airtight container first. If your intention is to freeze the mozzarella sticks, simply place them in a single layer on some type of cooking or baking sheet, then put them in the freezer. Once they’re frozen, you can simply place them in an airtight bag and put them back in the freezer.