Soft Pretzels Reheating Guide

Soft pretzels are a delicious snack that go great with cheese, mustard and other dips. However, they tend to go stale quickly after baking. Instead of throwing out stale pretzels, you can easily reheat them and make them taste fresh again using a microwave, oven or air fryer. This article provides step-by-step instructions for reheating soft pretzels using various appliances.

Using a Microwave to Reheat Soft Pretzels

The microwave provides a quick and easy way to reheat soft pretzels to restore their softness and flavor.

How long to microwave soft pretzels?

• Whole pretzels: Microwave for 15-30 seconds at a time until warm throughout.
• Pretzel bites: Microwave for 10-15 seconds at a time until hot.

Microwaving instructions:

1. Place pretzels on a microwave-safe plate in a single layer. For optimal results, arrange bites closely together.
2. Microwave pretzels for 15-30 seconds on high power. The time will depend on your microwave wattage and amount of pretzels.
3. Check pretzels after 15 seconds. Microwave again for 10-15 seconds if needed until warm throughout.
4. Let pretzels sit for 1-2 minutes after microwaving to evenly distribute heat.

Tips:

• Add a damp paper towel over the plate to add moisture and prevent pretzels from drying out.
• Stir or flip pretzels halfway through microwaving for more even heating.
• Watch pretzels closely to avoid burning.

Reheating Soft Pretzels in the Oven

Using your oven is another hands-off way to reheat soft pretzels until they are hot and crusty again.

Oven reheating instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 300°F.
2. Arrange pretzels on a baking sheet in a single layer without overcrowding.
3. Bake pretzels for 4-8 minutes until heated through. Keep an eye on them to avoid drying out.
4. For soft crust, wrap pretzels in aluminum foil while baking. For a crispy crust, bake pretzels uncovered.
5. Allow to cool slightly before serving.

How long to reheat pretzels in oven?

• Whole pretzels: 4-8 minutes
• Pretzel bites: 3-5 minutes

Tips:

• Use a baking stone or skillet under the baking sheet for crisper crust.
• Brush pretzels with butter or oil before baking for added flavor and softness.

Using an Air Fryer

An air fryer is a great way to reheat pretzels to crispy perfection. The hot circulated air quickly reheats the pretzels without drying them out.

Air fryer instructions:

1. Preheat air fryer to 330°F.
2. Place pretzels in air fryer basket in a single layer, avoiding overcrowding.
3. Reheat for 3-5 minutes, flipping halfway through.
4. Check frequently and remove once hot and slightly browned.

How long to reheat pretzels in air fryer?

• Whole soft pretzels: 4-5 minutes
• Pretzel bites: 3-4 minutes

Tips:

• Brush pretzels with butter or oil for added flavor.
• Shake basket halfway for even reheating.
• Add dipping sauces to air fryer to warm at the same time.

Storing and Freezing Soft Pretzels

• Store fresh soft pretzels at room temperature up to 3 days.
• Freeze soft pretzels up to 3 months for longer storage. Thaw before reheating.
• Keep reheated pretzels in a 200°F oven to stay warm and crispy for serving.

FAQs about Reheating Soft Pretzels

Q: How should I reheat soft pretzels?
A: The best way to reheat soft pretzels is in the oven. Preheat your oven to 350°F and place the pretzels directly on the oven rack or on a baking sheet. Heat for 3-5 minutes until warm and soft again.

Q: Can I microwave soft pretzels to reheat them?
A: Microwaving is not recommended for reheating soft pretzels. The microwave can make the pretzels rubbery and dry. Using the oven is best to keep them soft and chewy.

Q: How long should I reheat soft pretzels for?
A: When reheating in a 350°F oven, most soft pretzels only need 3-5 minutes to become hot and soft again. Watch carefully as they can dry out if overheated.

Q: Can I reheat frozen soft pretzels?
A: Yes, you can reheat frozen soft pretzels without thawing first. Place them frozen directly on the oven rack or baking sheet and increase oven temperature to 375°F. Heat for 5-7 minutes until warm and soft. The frozen center will thaw through as they bake.

Q: Should I use a baking sheet or oven rack to reheat?
A: For best results, place directly on the oven rack or a baking sheet. The rack exposes more surface area to the hot air for faster, more even reheating. The baking sheet contains any melted butter or cinnamon sugar drippings.

Recipes for Reheating Soft Pretzels

1. Quick Oven-Baked Pretzels

• Preheat oven to 350°F.
• Place soft pretzels directly on oven rack or a baking sheet.
• Heat for 3-5 minutes, until warm and soft.
• Brush with butter or drizzle with melted cheese sauce before serving if desired.

2. Parmesan-Crusted Baked Pretzels

• Preheat oven to 375°F.
• Brush soft pretzels lightly with melted butter.
• Sprinkle with grated Parmesan cheese, garlic powder, and Italian seasoning.
• Bake for 5 minutes until cheese is melted and pretzels are heated through.

3. Cinnamon Sugar Baked Pretzels

• Preheat oven to 350°F.
• Place soft pretzels on a baking sheet.
• Sprinkle with cinnamon sugar mixture (1 tbsp cinnamon, 2 tbsp sugar).
• Bake for 4-5 minutes until warmed through and cinnamon sugar is melted.

Here are some specific model recommendations for the appliances using for reheating soft pretzels:

Microwave:

• Panasonic NN-SN936B – 1.2 cu. ft. 1200W microwave
• Toshiba EM131A5C-BS – 1.2 cu. ft. 1100W microwave
• GE JES1657SMSS – 1.6 cu. ft. 1000W microwave
• Breville Quick Touch BMO734XL – 1.2 cu. ft. 1000W microwave
• LG NeoChef LMC1575BD – 1.5 cu. ft. 1000W microwave

Oven:

• GE JTP15DNBB – 5.3 cu. ft. single electric wall oven
• Bosch HBL8451UC – 4.6 cu. ft. single electric wall oven
• LG LDE4415BD – 6.3 cu. ft. double electric wall oven
• Frigidaire FFEW2726TD – 5.3 cu. ft. single electric wall oven
• Whirlpool WOS31ES0JS – 4.3 cu. ft. single electric wall oven

Air Fryer:

• Cosori CP158-AF – 5.8 qt air fryer
• Ninja AF101 – 4 qt air fryer
• Instant Vortex Pro – 10 qt air fryer
• Philips HD9641/96 – 4 quart digital air fryer
• Dash Tasti Crisp – 2 qt air fryer

Enjoy your reheated soft pretzels within a day for the best texture and taste. Reheating stale pretzels makes them taste fresh-baked again.