Foods compared
Air Fryer Reheat Times for 10 Leftovers, Compared
Published by the RecipeAirFryer editorial team · How we source times · Updated
Every one of 10 common leftovers reheats in 6 minutes or less in an air fryer. The settings are cooler than for cooking: reheats average 169°C, against 186°C for recipes, because the food is already cooked and only needs heating through and crisping. 5 of the 10 use 160°C / 320°F.
Key findings
- The quickest reheats are burger, chicken nuggets and pizza.
- Potatoes and nuggets use the higher setting. Pizza and meat use the lower one so they warm through without drying.
- A reheat costs about 4.7p or 3.3¢ in electricity including preheat.
- Leftovers should be steaming hot all the way through, and reheated only once.
- Burger3-4 min
- Chicken Nuggets3-4 min
- Pizza3-5 min
- Cooked Chicken3-5 min
- Steak3-5 min
- Spring Rolls3-5 min
- Fries (Chips)3-5 min
- Chips (Fries)3-5 min
- Fried Chicken4-6 min
- Roast Potatoes4-6 min
All 10 leftovers
| Leftover | Temperature | Time | Energy (UK) | Energy (US) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Burger | 160°C / 320°F | 3-4 min | 4.3p | 3.0¢ |
| Chicken Nuggets | 180°C / 350°F | 3-4 min | 4.3p | 3.0¢ |
| Pizza | 160°C / 320°F | 3-5 min | 4.6p | 3.2¢ |
| Cooked Chicken | 160°C / 320°F | 3-5 min | 4.6p | 3.2¢ |
| Steak | 160°C / 320°F | 3-5 min | 4.6p | 3.2¢ |
| Spring Rolls | 170°C / 340°F | 3-5 min | 4.6p | 3.2¢ |
| Fries (Chips) | 180°C / 350°F | 3-5 min | 4.6p | 3.2¢ |
| Chips (Fries) | 180°C / 350°F | 3-5 min | 4.6p | 3.2¢ |
| Fried Chicken | 160°C / 320°F | 4-6 min | 5.3p | 3.7¢ |
| Roast Potatoes | 180°C / 350°F | 4-6 min | 5.3p | 3.7¢ |
Why the air fryer suits leftovers
A microwave heats the water in food, which is fast but turns crusts and coatings soft. An air fryer heats the surface with dry air, so pizza bases, chips and breaded food crisp again.
Keep the temperature moderate. The food is already cooked, so high heat only dries the outside before the middle is warm. A single layer matters as much as it does when cooking from raw.
Chill leftovers within two hours of cooking, reheat until steaming hot throughout, and do not reheat the same food twice.
How these figures were worked out
The times and temperatures are those on the 10 reheat pages of the site on 2026-10-08, for food taken from the fridge. They are stated starting points for a standard basket air fryer, not laboratory measurements.
The comparison average of 186°C is the mean temperature of the 304 recipes on the site.
Energy cost uses a 1,500 W air fryer with a 3-minute preheat at 26.32p per kWh (Ofgem price cap, October to December 2026) and 18.31¢ per kWh (EIA U.S. residential average, July 2026). It is an upper limit, because the element cycles once the basket is hot.
Sources
- Ofgem energy price cap, 1 October to 31 December 2026 (26.32p per kWh, GB average, Direct Debit)
- U.S. Energy Information Administration, Electric Power Monthly Table 5.6.A (18.31 cents per kWh, U.S. residential average, July 2026)
You may quote these figures with a link to this page. If you spot an error, tell us through the contact page and we will correct it.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does it take to reheat food in an air fryer?
3 to 6 minutes for most leftovers, at 160 to 180°C. Check that the food is steaming hot in the centre.
What temperature do you reheat food in an air fryer?
160°C / 320°F for most leftovers, and a little higher for chips and other fried food. That is lower than cooking temperatures, because the food only needs heating through.
How do you reheat pizza in an air fryer?
160°C / 320°F for 3-5 min, in a single layer. The base crisps and the cheese melts again.