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If you want to reheat puff pastry, there are a few mistakes you should avoid. While the microwave is quick, it usually results in a soft texture. The oven or hot air fryer are better options.
Reheating puff pastry: it’s best not to use the microwave
If you want to reheat food, you usually put it in the microwave. This is often the right thing to do – but puff pastry often loses its consistency and becomes soft. The best way to reheat it is in the oven:
- Place the puff pastry in a preheated oven for approx. 15 minutes. 150 to 180 °C is sufficient to heat it up.
- To prevent the puff pastry from turning black when reheating, you can cover it with aluminum foil.
- Tip: Bake puff pastry for two days, then bake fresh food for the second day. You can store the raw puff pastry in the refrigerator overnight without any problems.
Alternative methods: Hot air fryer and microwave
There are other ways to reheat puff pastry besides the oven. These methods are practical, but the results vary significantly.
- Hot air fryer: At around 160 °C, small pieces will be crispy again in 5 to 8 minutes. Filled varieties take a little longer. Check the pieces of dough occasionally to make sure they don’t burn.
- Unfilled pieces heat up more evenly and become crispy again more quickly. Filled puff pastry, for example with cheese, vegetables, or meat, takes longer to reheat because the filling must also be heated through. In this case, it is advisable to select a slightly lower temperature and extend the baking time so that the dough does not become too dark on the outside before the filling is hot.
- Microwave: This method is only suitable in an emergency. Place the pieces in the microwave for 30 to 60 seconds at a low wattage. This will heat the filling quickly, but the quality of the dough will suffer significantly.
Storing baked puff pastry correctly
Proper storage is crucial to ensure that puff pastry still tastes good the next day. Incorrect storage can quickly cause it to become soft or dry.
- In the refrigerator: Always store baked puff pastry in an airtight container, such as a tin or cling film. This will keep it fresh for one to two days, but it will gradually lose its crispness.
- In the freezer: Cooled pieces can be frozen for up to two months. Allow them to thaw at room temperature for a few minutes before reheating, then place them in the oven, where they will be freshly baked and taste crispy again.
Common mistakes when reheating puff pastry
When storing and reheating puff pastry, mistakes are often made that significantly impair the result. Therefore, pay particular attention to the following points:
- Too high temperatures: If the oven is heated too much, your puff pastry will burn on the outside while remaining cold on the inside. Instead, you should extend the baking time slightly and preheat the oven evenly so that the heat can slowly penetrate all layers of the dough.
- Insufficient heating time: Even if the dough appears warm on the surface, it often remains moist and clammy inside. A few extra minutes in the oven or air fryer will ensure that it is thoroughly heated and crispy again.
- Wrong method: Puff pastry almost always loses its crispy texture in the microwave. Therefore, the microwave should only be used in an emergency when the sole purpose is to heat the filling quickly.
