The Best Way To Reheat Frozen Waffles

If each one of us had to make an educated guess as to why frozen waffles became so popular in the 1950s and continued to gain traction over the years, we would all probably reiterate different versions of the same answer. Unlike a simple bowl of cereal or pre-boiled eggs, simple classic waffles take some precious time to whip up in the kitchen and can't just be made on a whim — that is, unless you have a carefree morning on your hands. Though if you find yourself feeling adventurous on a lazy Saturday morning, you might be up for crafting not only one standard batch of homemade waffles but two: this way you're set with a quick breakfast option to go along with the hustle of yet another busy work week.

Unlike pancakes, waffles tend to have not only more fat but also a bit more sugar, so the checkerboard cakes can crisp up adequately in your waffle iron. If you saved plenty of extras to enjoy on another day, you definitely don't want to take the time to reheat your homemade waffles to accidentally find yourself sitting down to a soggy meal. You might not have guessed that the best way to reheat frozen waffles next to your trusted toaster is in your oven. What's so special about an oven's capabilities when reheating classic homestyle waffles?

Truth be told, there are lots of things you didn't know you could do with frozen waffles, and pinning down the right way to reheat these cake-like delicacies is essential to using them in your weekly meal prep. While there isn't just one way to reheat frozen waffles, if you want the texture of these stowed-away cakes to mirror freshly made waffles, your oven is the way to go. Especially if you're planning on reheating waffles for more than just yourself, the oven is the quickest and most efficient way to get the job done. Simply place however many waffles you'd like on a baking sheet, cover with foil, and heat in a 350-degree oven for up to 15 minutes.

While you can reheat both pancakes and waffles with this method, since waffles are traditionally fried in a waffle iron with oil, remove the foil for five or so minutes before taking your waffles out of the oven. This way, you're sure to recreate that signature crisp-like exterior without removing the necessary moisture that makes waffles tender yet crispy. The only downside to reheating waffles this way lies in the time it takes to do so. If you're pressed for time, you may want to try two more common reheating methods. These additional methods may not necessarily match the consistency of oven waffles but still produce similar, sufficient results.

You probably didn't know there's actually more than one reason why you should stop throwing out broken waffles from the freezer but once you're armed with these fast, convenient ways of reheating, you'll be repurposing those frozen ends in no time. Using your toaster, for example, ensures that waffles remain nice and soft on the inside, but this method most notably guarantees a crisp outer layer, which toasters so brilliantly achieve in such a short amount of time. The only concern with using a toaster lies in the length of time you leave your frozen waffle between those hot metal prongs. While the toaster gives you a hot crispy waffle faster than your oven could, these homemade foods can burn quite easily so you should always play it safe and keep a watchful eye on them as they reheat.

The other quick method of reheating waffles is through your microwave. Even though this speedy approach produces warm results in less than a minute or two, chances are you'll be missing out on those crunchy edges. Using your microwave may also cause your precious waffles to become dry or difficult to chew if left cooking for too long. If you're only reheating one or two waffles, you're better off relying on your toaster to get those edges nice and crisp. However, if you want your frozen breakfast to mimic freshly homemade waffles, your oven is the best kitchen appliance for the job.