Blooming Onion is a delicious, mouthwatering dish with the perfect combination of crispy texture and carefully spiced crust. This dish was created relatively recently in 1985, only 36 years ago, in New Orleans but has gained mass popularity in just under four decades.
Given the delicious, fried crust and savory onion meat, it does not come as much of a surprise that this dish is so well loved. Thankfully Blooming Onion reheats well, making it just as delicious when leftover as it is freshly made.
Blooming Onion can be reheated in the microwave, oven, toaster oven, stove, or air fryer. Some methods are faster than others, and some better for larger portions, but all methods will produce delicious results.
The next time you find yourself with some leftover Blooming Onion, be sure to save it for later. Blooming Onion is great for a snack, appetizer or side dish for both lunch and dinner alike, sure to impress your friends and family whenever reheated.
What Is A Blooming Onion?
A Blooming Onion is a fun variation of a deep fried onion, somewhat similar to onion rings. This dish is great to serve at parties, restaurants and as an appetizer before dinner. It is filling, flavorful and delicious.
Blooming Onions have been deep fried, sliced into a shape that resembles a flower with petals, and then battered in breading for the perfect crispy, deep-fried taste. This dish usually comes with a dipping sauce such as ranch dressing or even honey mustard.
Blooming Onions can be made at home if you own a deep fryer. The process is relatively simple and a variety of spices can be added to give it a little extra flavor. Bacon bits can be used as a topping to tie the masterpiece of a Blooming Onion all together.
Reheating Methods
When choosing a reheating method for your Blooming Onion, be sure to choose one that best fits the time you have to complete this task and how large of a portion you are planning on reheating. Following instructions carefully is the best way to prevent your Blooming Onion from becoming mushy.
Reheat Your Blooming Onion In The Oven
Oven reheating is one of the best methods to use when preparing a Blooming Onion. This method preserves crispiness and is relatively easy to do.
Reheating a Blooming Onion in the oven is great when you have a large portion you are planning to prepare. If you are preparing a smaller portion, consider using the toaster oven as the process is almost identical but relatively faster.
But if you are in a time crunch, this may not be the best method to use. Ovens can take a while to preheat, making this a more time consuming method.
To reheat your Blooming Onion in the oven, follow these steps:
- Preheat your oven to 425 degrees fahrenheit.
- To prevent your Blooming Onion from becoming soggy, place a wire rack on top of a baking dish.
- Place the Blooming Onion onto the wire rack.
- Cook in the oven for 10 minutes.
- Switch the oven setting to broil and cook for an additional three minutes to ensure crispiness.
- Once the Blooming Onion crust is golden brown, remove from the oven and allow cooling for 3 minutes before enjoying.
Reheat Your Blooming Onion In The Toaster Oven
Toaster oven reheating is very similar to the oven method. The only major differences between these two methods is that the toaster oven does not take as long to reheat, and that it can’t hold as large of a portion as the oven can.
This method is great for when you still want that crispy Blooming Onion texture, but do not want to wait as long. It’s important to note that if you are looking to reheat a large amount of Blooming Onion at once, this isn’t the best method to do so.
Here’s how to reheat Blooming Onion in the toaster oven:
- Preheat your toaster oven to 400 degrees fahrenheit.
- Place the Blooming Onion directly onto the rack of the toaster oven.
- Cook for 15 minutes.
- Once golden brown, remove from the toaster oven and allow the Blooming Onion to cool for three minutes.
- Serve and enjoy.
Reheat Your Blooming Onion On The Stove
Reheating a Blooming Onion on the stove is a great way to obtain that crispy texture and delicious flavor. This method is perfect for when you are in a rush, as it is fast and relatively simple to do.
Another great thing about reheating a Blooming Onion on the stove is that you can easily prepare both large and small portions with this method. Just choose the appropriate sized frying pan for the amount of Blooming Onion you are preparing to reheat and give it a go.
To reheat a Blooming Onion on the stove, follow these steps:
- Detach the Blooming Onion’s petals from one another.
- Heat your frying pan on a medium-high heat.
- Add petals into the pan, spread in an even layer across the bottom of it.
- Shift slightly during the cooking so all sides of the petals get evenly cooked.
- Once the Blooming Onion begins to sizzle and produce a delicious aroma, it is finished cooking.
- Allow to cool for two minutes and enjoy.
Reheat Your Blooming Onion In An Air Fryer
The air fryer is taking over kitchens worldwide thanks to its fast, powerful and oil free cooking. Since its debut in 2010, this handy tool has made its way into kitchens of many all across the world.
This handy tool does wonders at preparing food and is just as useful when it comes to reheating food, including Blooming Onions. You will be amazed at the delicious results this method produces.
An air fryer should not be used to reheat large portions of Blooming Onion given its small size. This method is great when you are looking to reheat a Blooming Onion in a rush without compromising that delicious, crispy texture.
To reheat a Blooming Onion in an air fryer, follow these steps:
- Brush the portion of Blooming Onion you are planning to reheat with a small amount of oil.
- Place inside of the air fryer and set to 400 degrees fahrenheit.
- Cook for about ten minutes until golden brown.
- Cool for one minute before enjoying.
Reheating Your Blooming Onion In The Microwave
Though the microwave is not the best method to reheat a Blooming Onion, you can still use it. This method should only be used when you don’t have access to an oven, toaster oven, stove or air fryer.
The reason the microwave is not recommended is because it can cause your Blooming Onion to become mushy and soggy during the reheating process. This method can cause your Blooming Onion to lose that crispy crunch that it is known for.
But desperate times call for desperate measures, and if you only have a microwave available to you such as in the office or when staying in a hotel room, you can still enjoy your flavorful and mouth watering Blooming Onion.
To reheat a Blooming Onion in the microwave, follow these steps:
- Place a paper towel or paper napkin onto a microwave safe dish.
- Place your desired amount of Blooming Onion onto the dish on top of the paper towel.
- Cook inside of the microwave for three minutes.
- Allow your Blooming Onion to cool for three minutes before enjoying.
Reheating a blooming onion in the microwave is great when you are in a rush and don’t have more than a few minutes to dedicate to this task. It is important to note that given the small size of the microwave, this method is not the best for reheating large portions of Blooming Onion at once.
How To Store A Blooming Onion
Properly storing your Blooming Onion is essential to making sure it is still safe to consume when you are ready to reheat it. A Blooming Onion that has not been properly stored is at risk of picking up unwanted bacterias that can cause food-borne illnesses such as food poisoning.
It is important to make sure you do not leave Blooming Onion out at room temperature for more than two hours before properly storing it to avoid these unwanted bacteria. A Blooming Onion can be properly stored in the refrigerator or freezer.
To store Blooming Onion in the refrigerator, line a container or plastic bag with a paper towel inside to prevent sogginess. Place the blooming onion inside of the airtight container or resealable plastic bag with all excess air removed.
Store the Blooming Onion inside of your refrigerator for up to three days. Be sure the paper towel is covering the entire bottom side of the container to catch any extra moisture.
To store Blooming Onion in the freezer, place it directly into an airtight container or resealable plastic bag with excess air removed. Do not place a paper towel into the container or bag when freezing.
Store in your freezer for up to three months. Be sure that no heavy objects get placed on top of the Blooming Onion as this will cause the food to become crushed.
Blooming Onion vs Onion Rings
Blooming Onions can be considered the cousin of onion rings. Both are fried, flavorful versions of an onion though they differ in form.
Onion rings are more bite size in comparison to Blooming Onions, though both are essentially the same food. Blooming Onions look much different and resemble a flower.
Onion rings are single circles of onion pieces that have been fried individually, where Blooming Onions have been fried with pieces attached together. Blooming Onions are a great appetizer for a large group as everyone can pull the pieces off that they desire to eat.
Onion rings and Blooming Onions can be dipped in similar sauces, such as ranch dressing. They can also be enjoyed without sauce and on their own. If you are a fan of onion rings, consider giving a Blooming Onion a try the next time you spot it on a menu.
Like onion rings, a Blooming Onion can be added to another dish for extra flavor or texture. These toasted onion pieces can be added into soup or chili, as well as on top of green bean casserole. This dish is traditionally an appetizer but can be used in other ways as it is relatively versatile.
In Conclusion
Blooming Onion is a staple appetizer served at a variety of restaurants and bars all over the country. It is delicious, crispy and perfect to share with some friends or family when you go out to grab a bite to eat.
When you find yourself with leftover Blooming Onion, whether it was homemade or brought home from eating a meal out, be sure to save it to enjoy later. Blooming Onion is just as mouthwatering leftover as it is when freshly made.
The oven is a great method of reheating Blooming Onion that only takes a few steps and yields delicious, crispy results. If you are looking for a faster method when reheating just a small portion of Blooming Onion, the toaster oven is a great fit.
Air frying a Blooming Onion is a wonderful way to reheat it in just a few minutes. The stove method of reheating a Blooming Onion is another great option that can be done easily when you are in a rush.
Though the microwave is not recommended, it is still available when needed. No matter what method you choose to use when reheating a Blooming Onion, you will not be disappointed with the flavorful and tasty results.
Pick whatever method sounds best to you and give them all a try to find your favorite!