Cheesesteaks are a classic, delicious sub filled with savory flavors, delicious meat and melted cheese. They are extremely popular at sandwich sub shops all over the country with good reason.
Cheesesteaks stand out amongst other sub style sandwiches due to the combination of their delicious ingredients. Sometimes you may find yourself with half of a cheesesteak due to how filling this sandwich really is. If this is the case, be sure to save it to be enjoyed later.
Cheesesteaks can easily be reheated in a variety of ways. The oven, toaster oven, air fryer and microwave can all be used to warm your cheesesteak back up for full melty, meaty goodness. The method you choose will depend on a variety of factors.
The next time you find yourself with a leftover cheesesteak (or a few), be sure to store it properly and reheat it later so none of that philly masterpiece has to go to waste.
Methods To Reheat A Cheesesteak
Thankfully when it comes to reheating a philly cheesesteak, there is no shortage of options. The conventional oven, toaster oven, microwave and even an air fryer will all successfully get the job done.
Choosing which method to use will depend on how long you have to dedicate to the reheating process and how many cheesesteaks you want to reheat. Be sure to consider this when choosing the method you want to use.
Reheating In The Oven
The conventional oven is an easy way to reheat a single cheesesteak or many of them. There is ample room for a large number of cheesesteaks to cook at the same time, and this method yields very delicious, high quality results.
One of the best things about this method is that it prevents the bread of your cheesesteak from becoming soggy. Your meat and cheese will be perfectly warm, along with your bread perfectly toasted just as it was when it was freshly made.
To do so, be sure to preheat your oven to 375 degrees fahrenheit. Find a baking sheet large enough to fit the number of philly cheesesteaks you are planning to reheat.
Cover the baking sheet in aluminum foil and place the cheesesteaks evenly spaced upon it. After putting the cheesesteaks in the oven on the middle rack, allow them to cook for about twenty five minutes.
Remove the baking sheet from the oven after cooking and allow the cheesesteaks to cool for five minutes before serving. Dish them up and pass them out to all of your friends to enjoy, or simply enjoy them yourself.
Using A Toaster Oven To Reheat Cheesesteaks
The toaster oven method is somewhat similar to the oven when it comes to reheating, one of the only differences being that it does not take as long to do, and that you can only fit one to two cheesesteaks at a time.
If you are looking to reheat more than two philly cheesesteaks, this may not be the best method to do so. Consider using the oven instead to save time and reheat a large number of cheesesteaks more easily.
One upside to using the toaster oven is that it is a relatively faster way to obtain oven reheating results. This method will still prevent bread from getting soggy in a fraction of the time. So, let’s get into it!
To reheat a cheesesteak or two in the toaster oven, begin by setting your toaster oven to 300 degrees fahrenheit. This should not take as long to preheat as the oven thanks to the smaller size and slightly lower temperature.
Wrap your cheesesteaks that you are planning to reheat in aluminum foil and place them on a baking sheet small enough to fit inside of your toaster oven.
Placing the baking sheet on the rack of your toaster oven, allow the philly cheesesteaks to cook for about five minutes before flipping it to the other side. Allow it to cook an additional five minutes after being flipped.
Once finished, remove the sandwich from the toaster oven and carefully take off the aluminum foil as it will be hot. Allow to cool for one to two minutes before enjoying.
Can I Microwave A Philly Cheesesteak?
Microwaving a philly cheesesteak is possible and relatively easy, though it will require heating the bread in the toaster oven separately from the meat and cheese. This will help prevent the bread from getting soggy.
Begin by separating your meat and cheese from the bread of your cheesesteak and placing the meat and cheese in a microwave safe dish. Preheat your toaster oven to 250 degrees fahrenheit and place your bread inside while it heats up.
Take your dish of meat and cheese and place it in the microwave. Cook on high level heat for about one and a half minutes. If it is not thoroughly heated, stir with a fork and add fifteen second intervals until cooked completely.
Once your meat has heated, take the bread out of the toaster oven and begin reassembling your sandwich by putting the meat and other fillings in between both pieces of bread.
Microwaving a philly cheesesteak and separately heating the bread may seem like a lot of work, but it delivers the best results. Microwaving the bread in an assembled sandwich can cause the bread to become soggy and less enjoyable.
But if you do not have access to a toaster oven, microwaving your philly cheesesteak is still possible. Being at work with only a microwave to work with won’t stand in your way of enjoying this delicious leftover sub.
To do so, simply remove the top piece of bread and place your sandwich on a microwave safe dish with the top piece next to it, creating an open faced sandwich. This will help evenly heat the ingredients.
Place the sandwich on the microwave safe dish into the microwave and set to medium heat. Cook for one and a half minutes.
Allow your cheesesteak to cool before eating for one minute. This is a great way to have your philly cheesesteak on the go and fully reheated in less than three minutes whether you choose to use the toaster oven for the bread or microwave it all together.
Air Fry Reheating Your Cheesesteak
Air fryers have become very popular kitchen staples in many households with good reason. They produce high quality meals of all different types in minimal time and without traditional oil frying and the health impacts of it.
If you have an air fryer and a cheesesteak laying around, they may become good pals. This method is a great, easy way to quickly heat up your cheesesteak and avoid soggy bread.
This method can only heat up one cheesesteak at a time, so if you are hoping to do multiple air frying may not be the best way.
Air frying a cheesesteak is simple and convenient. Simply set your air fryer to 300 degrees fahrenheit and allow it to reheat.
Place the cheesesteak inside once preheated and allow it to cook for three to four minutes. Once cooked, cool at room temperature for one minute before enjoying.
And that’s it! This method is one of the easiest ways to reheat your cheesesteak. Though not good for more than one sandwich, an air fryer does a great job of preserving quality in a fast way.
How To Properly Store A Cheesesteak
Cheesesteaks must be stored properly to prevent unwanted bacteria growth, and can only be at room temperature for up to two hours. Any longer than this and they are not safe to consume anymore.
Refrigerating cheesesteaks is a great way to keep them fresh if you do not plan to eat any leftovers within two hours. In the refrigerator, they can stay good for up to almost a week.
To store a philly cheesesteak in the refrigerator, palace it in an airtight container or resealable plastic bag that has had any excess air removed. Place in the refrigerator where it can be stored safely for up to five days.
If you want to store your cheesesteak for longer than five days, consider freezing them. This method will have your philly cheesesteaks safe and ready to be reheated for up to three whole months.
To do so, simply wrap each sandwich you are planning to freeze in aluminum foil, followed by a layer of heavy duty foil. This will help preserve the quality and taste of your sandwich.
Store wrapped sandwiches in the freezer for up to three months. Writing the date they were frozen on the wrapper can be a good way to know just how long they will be good for.
Wrapping Up
Cheesesteaks originated in Philadelphia but have become a popular dish all over the United States. This classic sandwich is rich in flavor and the perfect mixture of melty cheese and crisp toasted bread.
When you find yourself with leftover cheesesteaks, be sure to keep them to enjoy later. They can be stored for up to five days in the refrigerator or three months in the freezer.
When you are ready to reheat and enjoy, there are many methods to do so. You can reheat your cheesesteak in the oven, toaster oven, microwave or even an air fryer.
Any method of reheating a cheesesteak will yield delicious results that are just as good as when the sandwich was freshly made. Be sure to give them all a try and see which one you like best!