The Best Ways to Reheat Dinner Rolls: A Guide to Microwaves, Ovens, and More

Dinner rolls are a delicious bread that pairs well with many meals. However, they often go stale if you have leftovers. Fortunately, there are several easy ways to reheat dinner rolls and restore their fresh, warm taste and texture.

Reheating Dinner Rolls in the Microwave

The microwave provides a quick and convenient way to reheat dinner rolls.

• Place the rolls on a microwave-safe plate and cover them with a damp paper towel. The moisture from the towel will prevent the rolls from drying out.
• Microwave the rolls in 30-second intervals until heated through, checking and flipping the rolls between intervals. Rolls generally take 1-2 minutes to reheat in the microwave, depending on quantity.
• Allow the heated rolls to sit covered for 1-2 minutes after microwaving to evenly distribute the heat.
• If reheating frozen rolls, extend microwaving time to 2-3 minutes, again checking and flipping halfway through. Let sit for 2-3 minutes after microwaving.

Reheating Dinner Rolls in the Oven

The oven allows you to reheat many rolls at once while producing a crispy crust.

• Preheat oven to 300°F. Arrange rolls on a baking sheet and cover loosely with aluminum foil.
• Heat rolls for 10-15 minutes until warmed through. The timing will vary based on oven and quantity of rolls.
• Remove foil during the last 2-3 minutes if you want to recrisp the crust. Watch closely to avoid burning.
• Allow rolls to cool slightly before serving, as they will be very hot straight out of the oven.

Reheating Dinner Rolls in the Air Fryer

An air fryer is great for reheating dinner rolls and gives them a crispy exterior.

• Place rolls in the air fryer basket in a single layer, leaving some space between each roll.
• Set air fryer to 300°F and cook for 3-5 minutes, until rolls are warmed through and crust is crispy.
• Flip rolls over about halfway during cooking time for even reheating.
• Check rolls frequently as reheating time will vary based on your air fryer model.
• Let rolls rest 1-2 minutes before serving. Enjoy the crispy texture!

Tips

• Place rolls on a skillet over medium-low heat. Cook 2-3 minutes per side until warmed through.
• Wrap rolls in foil and place in a low (250°F) oven for 10-15 minutes to gently reheat.
• Steam rolls for 3-5 minutes to refresh stale rolls. Remove from steam before they get soggy.
• For quicker steaming, place a damp paper towel over rolls and microwave for 30-60 seconds.
• For bread that’s extra stale, mist rolls lightly with water before reheating to add moisture.
• Reheat rolls for just a few seconds more than the minimum time for a warm, crispy crust.
• Add a bowl of water to the oven or microwave when reheating rolls to create steam and prevent drying.
• Preheat your oven or toaster oven before using for fastest, most even reheating.
• Brush rolls lightly with butter or oil before reheating for a softer crust.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: How do you keep dinner rolls from drying out when reheating?

A: Use a damp paper towel or foil to cover the rolls during reheating. This traps steam and prevents drying. Only reheat for the minimum amount of time needed. And allow rolls to cool slightly before serving.

Q: Can you reheat rolls the next day or should they be eaten right away?

A: Leftover rolls can absolutely be reheated the next day. Store them properly overnight in an airtight container at room temperature. Then simply reheat and enjoy.

Q: Is it safe to reheat dinner rolls more than once?

A: It’s best to only reheat dinner rolls once for food safety reasons. The starch in bread can develop bacteria over time after being reheated initially. Reheat leftover rolls within 3-4 days and do not reheat rolls that are more than a week old.

Recipes

Microwave Bacon, Egg and Cheese Breakfast Rolls

Ingredients:

• 4 leftover dinner rolls
• 4 eggs
• 4 strips cooked bacon
• 4 slices cheese

Directions:

1. Cut rolls in half. Scoop out some bread from the top half to create a bowl shape.
2. Microwave eggs in a microwave-safe bowl for 1 minute until cooked. Cut in halves.
3. Place cheese, bacon and eggs into roll bottoms. Top with roll tops.
4. Microwave sandwiches for 30-60 seconds until cheese melts and rolls are warmed through.

Air Fryer French Toast Roll-Ups

Ingredients:

• 8 dinner rolls
• 2 eggs
• 1/4 cup milk
• 1 tsp cinnamon
• 1 tsp vanilla
• powdered sugar

Directions:

1. Mix together eggs, milk, cinnamon and vanilla. Cut rolls in half.
2. Dip each roll half into egg mixture. Roll up and place seam side down in air fryer.
3. Cook at 300°F for 5-7 minutes until golden brown.
4. Dust with powdered sugar before serving warm.

Skillet-Toasted Leftover Rolls

Ingredients:

• 4 leftover dinner rolls
• 1 tbsp butter
• 1 garlic clove, minced
• 1/4 tsp dried oregano
• 2 tsp Parmesan cheese

Directions:

1. Slice rolls in half horizontally.
2. Melt butter in skillet over medium heat. Add garlic and cook 1 minute.
3. Place roll halves cut-side down in skillet. Toast for 2-3 minutes until golden brown.
4. Flip and toast other side 1 minute.
5. Remove from pan and top toasted rolls with oregano and Parmesan. Enjoy!

Recommended Models

Microwaves:

1. Toshiba EM131A5C-BS Microwave Oven
2. Panasonic Microwave Oven NN-SN966S
3. Cuisinart CMW-200 Convection Microwave Oven
4. Breville Quick Touch BMO734XL Microwave
5. GE JES1097SMSS Microwave Oven

Ovens:

1. GE JT5000SFSS Electric Single Oven
2. LG LDE4415ST Double Electric Oven
3. Bosch Benchmark BOV73A5UC Electric Oven
4. Frigidaire FFEB2726TS Electric Single Oven
5. Whirlpool WFE535S0JS Electric Range Oven

Air Fryers:

1. Instant Vortex Plus 7-in-1 Air Fryer
2. Ninja AF101 Air Fryer
3. Cosori CP158-AF Air Fryer
4. Chefman TurboFry 3.6 Quart Air Fryer
5. Dash Tasti-Crisp Electric Air Fryer

Toaster Ovens:

1. Cuisinart Chef’s Convection Toaster Oven
2. Breville BOV845BSS Smart Oven
3. Hamilton Beach 31401 Toaster Oven
4. Black+Decker 6-Slice Digital Toaster Oven
5. KitchenAid KCO273SS 12″ Convection Toaster Oven

Dinner rolls are a delicious accompaniment to many meals, but reheating them properly is key to maintaining their fresh taste and texture. With the right technique, appliances like the microwave, oven, air fryer, and toaster oven can revive leftover rolls so they taste like new again. Follow these guidelines for optimally reheated rolls every time.