The Only Guide You Need for Reheating Brussel Sprouts
When you think about Brussel sprouts, you may feel a strong sense of nostalgia taking you back to your childhood years. All those times when your parents had to force-feed you the greens makes you question why we would even want to draft an article on reheating Brussel sprouts.
But trust us, there is much more to it.
Roasted Brussel sprouts are a delicacy enjoyed by many due to their crunchy nature and proven health benefits.
But why do you need to reheat them?
And do they retain their quality taste after the reheating procedure?
To answer these questions, the Cooked Best team have formulated this brief guide to explain all the necessary details about reheating roasted Brussel sprouts.
Key Takeaways
We recommend reheating Brussel sprouts in the oven at 350°F (about 180°C) for crispiness, avoiding microwaves to prevent sogginess.
For a quick reheat, use an air fryer for 10-12 minutes at 350°F (about 180°C) to maintain flavor.
Store Brussel sprouts in airtight containers and consume within four days to keep them fresh.
How to reheat sprouts?
The first question that may come to your mind is why you want to reheat roasted Brussel sprouts?
Well, for example, you roasted Brussel sprouts for a delicious dinner for your family, but some of it got leftover. Later that night, you find yourself hungry, so you stroll to the kitchen to find the leftover Brussel sprouts sitting on the counter.
Now you may notice that they have gone damp, mushy and lost their crunchy element completely. And obviously, you can’t eat them in their current condition, and there is a definite need for heating them before consumption.
The second query you might have can be about the reheating process. There are several ways you can reheat Brussel sprouts to keep their premium taste and retain the quality. We will shed light on some common methods so that you can do it easily at home.
4 Ways to Reheat Brussel Sprouts:
So finally, we present you with the Holy Grail. Here are a few ways you can reheat Brussel sprouts to make them delicious again:
1. Reheat the Same Way They Were Cooked
The best way to reheat a batch of Brussel sprouts is by cooking it the way you cooked it before. For example, if you fried them in olive oil, repeat the same thing but on a lower heat level because the greens are already fully cooked and only need to get the roasted exterior back.
A common recipe that many people follow is:
- Remove the stems from Brussel sprouts using a knife and filter out the damaged greens
- Use a baking sheet to hold the Brussel sprouts onto a tray and slather it with olive oil
- Add spices, salt, and pepper, then mix everything thoroughly
- Place the tray in an oven to bake the Brussel sprouts for 25 minutes at 205 degrees Celsius or 400 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Take the tray out, serve and enjoy
2. Reheating Them in the Oven
Reheating Brussel sprouts in the oven is incredibly easy as you do not have to cut out any stems or add extra spices.
Rather it’s less labour-intensive where you follow these simple steps.
- Preheat the oven at 350 degrees Fahrenheit or 175 degrees Celsius
- Place the batch in your oven on a baking sheet and sprinkle olive oil over it
- Heat the Brussel sprouts for five minutes
- Voila, they are ready to eat
3. Reheating in the Air Fryer
Using an air fryer is most probably the simplest way to reheat your leftover Brussel sprouts and we do love an air fryer here at Cooked Best.
Since you need no preparation at all, it is a fairly quick process.
- Collect the Brussel sprouts together and put them inside the air fryer
- Reheat them for 10-12 minutes at a set temperature of 350 degrees Fahrenheit
- Take them out and enjoy the savoury flavour
If you want to add bacon or another add-on to your Brussel sprouts, mix it up with the greens before putting them in the air fryer. You can also add vinegar, a preferred kind of sauce or salt, to add an extra layer of taste on top of the already delicious flavour.
4. Reheating in Microwave
If you opt for the microwave route, it is fairly easy and quick to reheat Brussel sprouts using this readily available kitchen appliance.
Follow these steps:
- Use a microwave-safe container/plate to place the greens inside the microwave
- Reheat the Brussel sprouts for 30 seconds to a minute, depending on their current state.
- Take them out and bon appetite.
Even though it is a good way to reheat Brussel sprouts, especially for people in a hurry, we do not recommend using a microwave.
Using a microwave can make your Brussel sprouts mushy or soggy, resulting in a downhill change in texture, appearance and taste.
However, remember that this method is not as effective as reheating the Brussel sprouts in the oven as it doesn’t bring the crispy element to the table.
Instead, your food will be warm and edible enough. So whenever you can, prefer an oven over a microwave.
3 Storage tips for Sprouts
If you’re unaware of effective methods to store your Brussel sprouts, you may find yourself in a pickle where your greens will become mushy, repugnant and discoloured. In other words, they would not look like something you’d want to include in your delicious food.
Additionally, Brussel sprouts have a tendency to go sour if they are subjected to conditions that makes them age fast. They will also lose their flavour, and instead of adding taste to your meal, they will ruin it.
So we have talked about the different reheating methods and some extra information that may be useful to many while dealing with Brussel sprouts. But how can you store them efficiently, and how long can they last without going bad? Let’s find out.
1. Use Airtight Containers
The most important thing you need to ensure is using airtight containers to store the product so you don’t expose it to bacteria or harmful elements that may affect its freshness. The vacuum-sealed containers will ensure that whenever you’re craving Brussel sprouts, you’ll have no problem getting access to a fresh batch in your fridge.
2. Good in the fridge for four days
Often it happens that we put the leftovers in the fridge but forget about them entirely for the good part of a week.
When it comes to edibles that can survive months or even years in a cold, contained environment, it doesn’t matter.
But unfortunately, cooked Brussel sprouts aren’t that forgiving.
They will start to rot or smell if you leave them in your fridge for more than four days. So make sure to consume them before the specified period, or if you couldn’t, discard them while taking a valuable lesson next time.
Freeze Your Sprouts
A logical way to keep your Brussel sprouts safe for a long time is by stuffing them in the coldest part of your refrigerator. Since a freezer can kill any chances of bacteria growth, your Brussel sprouts can stay good for up to two months.
This process is a good choice for people who buy their groceries in bulk and need a reliable storage mechanism.
However, remember that freezing Brussel sprouts makes them soggy, but many people compromise since it is the only way to keep them edible for long. In an ideal case, you should consume your Brussel sprouts within a few days of purchasing for optimum taste and quality.
Keep Brussel sprouts on the stalk
Another way to keep your Brussel sprouts fresh is by purchasing a stalk instead of loose greens. Loose Brussel sprouts are difficult to handle and go bad sooner than those that stay on the stalk.
The stalk helps maintain the optimum moisture inside the veggies to keep them fresh and healthy. Only remove the stem once you’re ready to cook the Brussel sprouts.
By following this practice, you’ll ensure an extended shelf-life, so your purchase doesn’t end up rotting in the trash.
Plastic Bags and Crisper Drawer are the way to go
Plastic Bags are a great way to cover your fresh produce that is vulnerable to going bad if they stay in contact with air for long. Brussel sprouts tend to turn brown or yellow, especially if they are not kept fresh and covered.
So it is always a good idea to invest in BPA wraps to keep your Brussel sprouts in good shape for extended periods.
If you don’t like your food wrapped up, you can always use the crisper drawer in your refrigerator to make the most out of your veggies. If you want to be extra concerned, examine the Brussel sprouts and remove any damaged leaves for optimum storage.
Conclusion
To conclude this article, let’s recap some of the major points:
First, Brussel sprouts are far more delicious and less offensive than what our childhood memories tell us (it took the Cooked Best team some time to understand this ourselves).
Second, reheating Brussel sprouts is incredibly simple in different ways, but the ideal would be using an oven and the same recipe you used to cook them in the first place. And lastly, to store your Brussel sprouts safely, use a refrigerator or a freezer along with airtight bags that keep the product away from air and moisture.
We hope this article helped you make a new addition to your culinary skills.
If you are afraid of trying Brussel sprouts due to exaggerated opinions by people, this is your cue to take the step and bring your taste buds closer to a delicacy admired by many. Cheers!
Andy
Ever since I started cooking I’ve been fascinated by how different people’s techniques are and how they best utilise the ingredients around them. Even the person living next door will have their own unique way of frying an egg or cooking a salmon fillet.
This fascination led me on a journey across the globe to discover the countless practices and traditions the world of cooking has to offer. I thought you’d enjoy and find value in sharing that journey with me so I created Cooked Best!