Sandwiches make a great meal on the go. Whether you make your own at home or head to a local sub shop, you can get a few meals out of a large-sized sandwich. With many sub shops offering foot-long sandwiches, what do you do with the leftovers?
Many sandwich varieties can be rewarmed to eat the next day. You can reheat a sandwich in the oven by wrapping it in foil to seal in the moisture as it warms. Or you could also deconstruct the sandwich, so it gets heated evenly throughout.
The main thing to keep in mind when reheating your sandwich in the oven is to keep the temperature low, so it doesn’t dry out. Also, you probably wouldn’t want to reheat condiments, like mayonnaise, if you can help it.
Step by Step to Reheat a Sandwich in the Oven
By following these simple steps, you can improve your chances of successfully reheating your sandwich in the oven with great flavor.
- Remove the bread from the sandwich and set it aside.
- Preheat your oven to 250 degrees.
- Place the sandwich toppings on a baking sheet.
- Put the sandwich toppings (meat, cheese, etc.) on the baking sheet into the oven and heat until warmed through, usually about 5-10 minutes.
- Pull the baking sheet out of the oven, put the sandwich filling inside the bread, and wrap it with foil.
- Place the wrapped sandwich back on the baking sheet in the oven for an additional 5 minutes.
- Remove from the oven, unwrap from foil, and let cool a bit.
While this may seem like a long process to just reheat a sandwich in the oven, doing so ensures your bread will stay warm and soft instead of becoming soggy or hard. Not to mention, the filling will warm thoroughly, as it takes longer to heat up than the bread.
You can even reheat your sandwich as many times as you want, as long as you don’t mind sacrificing quality.
Tips to Get Your Sandwich Bread Crunchy in the Oven
If you enjoy a good crunch when you bite into your sandwich, you can modify your oven heating method to accomplish this. Instead of wrapping the bread up with the filling inside, you will want to use the broiler element of your oven to create a toasted finish on your bread.
To do so, simply turn your broiler on. Follow the above instructions, but put the bread under the broiler for a few minutes. Watch for browning, and pull out when it turns the desired color.
Then, add your filling that has already been warmed. Enjoy your sandwich with a delicious, crunchy texture. This works well for club sandwiches.
Turn Your Sandwich Into a Panini in the Oven
You can always reheat your sandwich in the oven in a new way by turning it into a panini. This will require you to pay a bit more attention to the way you reheat your sandwich in the oven, but it will pay off when you take that first delicious bite.
Follow the above-mentioned heating instructions, but add some extra cheese to your sandwich filling as it warms. Grab the filling when hot, place it into your sandwich and lay it back on the baking sheet.
Then, place a heavy pan on top of your sandwich to compress it. Put it back in the oven and let it finish cooking for 10 minutes. This will give you a melty panini with oozy cheese that we all love.
Sandwiches with Hearty Fillings
Some sandwiches have heartier fillings than others. Grilled chicken sandwiches, french dip sandwiches, and steak sandwiches will have to have their filling heated for a longer period before adding it to your bread.
If you need to, you can heat the fillings in a skillet before adding them to the bread and placing it into the oven on a baking sheet. By adding some extra cheese or sauce, you can bring life back into your reheated sandwich this way.
Adding Extra Toppings to Your Sandwich Reheated in the Oven
When you’ve had the same type of sandwich leftovers for a few days, they can get rather boring. By reheating your sandwich in the oven, you can try out different alternatives to spice up a bland leftover.
You can add toppings like black olives, pepperoncini, onions, pickles, kimchi, and zesty sauce to give your sandwich a different flavor. Experiment with putting different toppings on a reheated sandwich before and after you heat it to play with temperature and texture.
Reheated sandwiches don’t have to be boring. They can be a great way to have a quick and convenient meal on the go.