Eating leftovers from last night’s dinner may not be anything special, but it doesn’t have to be boring, either. Most foods taste best when reheated right away, but there are ways to reheat leftovers so they taste just as good as they did when you made them or ordered them out.

As a lover of leftovers, I’ve tried every trick and shortcut available on the internet to turn last night’s main dish into today’s lunch. Whether it’s chicken, pizza, pasta, or steak, there are far better ways to reheat leftovers than the microwave, and many of them are just as quick and hassle-free.

Read more: Cooking a whole chicken in the air fryer is the best cooking trick I’ve found all year

If you’re looking for the best way to reheat your Thai takeout from the night before, grilled beef from the weekend barbecue, or batches of pizza, here’s how to reheat it so it doesn’t dry out or get too browned.

But let’s get something clear first.

Microwaves are not very suitable for heating up food

The microwave is the most commonly used appliance for reheating leftovers and it may be the fastest, but I would also argue that it is the worst. Most reheated foods that come out of the microwave are rubbery, dry or mushy, which was not the case when you put them in the microwave.

Microwaves also tend not to heat food evenly, which results in food being either too hot or too cold in places—sometimes both. Microwaves are also prone to unsightly explosions. Having to clean your microwave after reheating food is not a time saver.

“But it’s so much faster!” you say, but is it really? Most of the methods described below take less than five minutes. Hot air fryer cooks almost as fast as a microwave and in my opinion much better. Adding an air fryer to your kitchen may seem like an upfront investment, but this affordable super convection ovens are the best first step to better leftovers. They are also Save money on your energy bill over time.

Are there foods you should reheat in the microwave?

Although most solid foods will shrink or dry out in the microwave, some softer foods tolerate the heat of the microwave better. Foods like soup (covered), gravy, plain rice, or mashed potatoes won’t lose too much flavor when you microwave them. microwave is also a great place to quickly soften butter or make popcorn or to warm up water, baby food and other liquids. It is actually one of my favorite ways to Poach an eggSo the microwave is by no means a useless appliance.

Noodles, pasta and rice dishes

Best method for reheating: Non-stick pan

This wide-ranging category of classic takeaway dishes includes Italian pasta dishes, Indian curries with rice, Thai, Vietnamese and Korean noodles, and Chinese stir-fries. We’re talking about any starchy dish like rice or noodles with diced vegetables, meat or vegetable protein and a sauce. What they all have in common is that they are best eaten in a Non-stick pan or wok.

While you can probably cook plain fried rice in the microwave, noodles and pasta are often overcooked in the microwave and your chicken, shrimp or sliced ​​beef will likely turn rubbery. Instead, just throw everything in a nonstick pan over medium heat. Stir now and then and in a few minutes you’ll have something that tastes almost as good as it did the night before when it was on your table or door. Nonstick pans usually take all of 15 seconds to clean.

For rice dishes, you should use a stainless steel, carbon steel or cast iron frying pan to get crispy rice.

Pizza and flatbread

Best method for reheating: Air fryer

There are a handful of reasons why I love my Hot air fryerbut none is as remarkable as reheating leftovers. Microwaves destroy pizza, so we’ll cross that off the list. A toaster oven and convection oven are better, but still take too long to reheat and end up drying out the pizza by the time it’s reheated.

The quick burst of an air fryer’s super convection will heat your pizza to crispy perfection at 400°F (204°C) in about two minutes, depending on how big and thick it is. Be sure to use the basket or rack, otherwise the hot, flat bottom of the air fryer’s basket could burn the bottom of your slice. I won’t heat leftover pizza any other way. If you haven’t had enough reasons to get one, Hot air fryers use much less energy than a large oven.

Fried chicken, French fries and other fried foods

Best method for reheating: Air fryer

Leftovers from fried foods have always been one of the most difficult foods to prepare. That’s where the air fryer comes in, which can bring fried chicken, fried dumplings, mozzarella sticks, and even French fries back to life like no other appliance in the kitchen. Much like pizza, it only takes a few minutes for everything to heat through, and you should have a crispy outer shell, just like when you first cooked the fried food.

For thicker pieces of chicken, use a lower temperature of about 325 to 350 °F (160 to 175 °C) for about three minutes to ensure the outside does not burn before the center is heated through.

Side note: In addition Warm up Fried Chicken: A good air fryer will also prepare delicious “fried” chicken and other dishes using much less oil than traditional methods.

Steak, pork chops, burgers and grilled chicken

Best method for reheating: cast iron or non-stick pan

Cuts of meat, including steaks and pork chops, are another food that can be difficult to revive. Fear not, because there is a way. While it’s not impossible to reheat grilled steak or fish in an air fryer or oven, you’re likely to dry out the meat. Instead, I suggest quickly re-searing it in a covered hot oven. Cast iron pan or a non-stick pan for no more than a minute on each side. The hot surface of the pan should bring the crust back to life. Leaving it covered will heat it through before the heat of the pan has time to overcook it. For delicate fish, you may want to use a Non-stick coating Frying pan so that the meat does not stick or fall apart.

A warning: These types of reheated foods will never taste as good as the first time they came off the grill, pan or plancha, but this method should more as edible.

Braised, roasted or slow cooked meat

Best method for reheating: Covered pan with a splash of liquid

Braised dishes such as chicken in wine sauce or ribs should be reheated to resemble cooking. Simply heat them for a few minutes in a covered nonstick or stainless steel skillet with 1 to 2 ounces of water or chicken broth. The hot liquid will warm and revive the braised or slow-roasted meat, restoring its juicy tenderness.

For more delicious tips, see How to find cheap wine in the supermarket and how to create a perfect whole chicken in the hot air fryer.