You've Been Reheating Your Chipotle Bowl Wrong This Entire Time

Chipotle's bowls are big enough that you can usually get two meals out of them — especially if it's fully loaded up with toppings, alongside chips and salsa, or if you order a side of tortillas to turn the bowl's toppings into smaller burritos. However, if you can't finish your meal, store it in the fridge and reheat it later. You might typically use the microwave for this task, which perhaps is the easiest way, but there's a better way: Using a skillet on the stovetop helps ensure your food tastes as good the second time.

To get the freshest flavor out of your leftovers, you'll want to empty the bowl's contents into the skillet or frying pan first, then warm the food up over medium to high heat for a few minutes. Make sure to stir everything around to get an even cook without overheating or burning any ingredients. 

This reheating method will ensure that your leftover food is nicely crisped up and tastes almost as fresh as it did right from the restaurant. Plus, you won't risk finding cold spots from reheating in the microwave — and we think that's a win. 

After your food has been heated up on the stovetop, you could place it right back into the bowl and dig in. However, depending on which toppings you've added, tossing the entirety of the bowl's contents into a skillet to reheat could lead to some less-than-appetizing parts of your food. Though this method is a great way to reheat the ingredients in your bowl that were meant to be warm, toppings like lettuce could wilt, and sour cream could curdle.

To avoid creating any unpleasant textures in ingredients that are supposed to be enjoyed cold — like lettuce, sour cream, or creamy guacamole — you'll want to try to scoop those out before reheating the rest of your food. Cold ingredients can be placed off to the side on a plate or in a bowl while reheating the meat, rice, and beans in the skillet. Then, you can scoop these toppings back on top of the warm food once you're ready to eat.

You can skip the microwave when reheating other leftovers from Chipotle, too. For example, if you can't finish your quesadilla, try reheating it in the oven on a baking tray to create a crispier tortilla or wrap it in aluminum foil to help steam the contents. Both methods ensure the interior cooks evenly and the cheese gets nice and melty. 

Of course, you could also deploy your trusty skillet and reheat your quesadilla over low heat. Doing this will allow the inside to cook through without burning the tortilla on the outside. You could even add a little bit of oil to the pan before heating your food to give it some added crunchiness. 

For burritos, try using the air fryer or a toaster oven. However, most importantly, follow the proper guidelines for safe leftover storage before reheating anything. According to the USDA, leftovers are only good for three or four days and should be put away no more than two hours after bringing them home.