How to reheat churros - The best way

Although the ideal is to eat the churros the same day they are made, sometimes the eyes are too big for our stomachs, so we will have to save them and reheat them.

After all, any churro is a good churro, especially if you reheat it the right way.

What is the best way to reheat churros? There are many options when it comes to reheating churros, but the best way is without a doubt in the oven. Other options are the microwave, deep fryer, stovetop, and toaster oven, but reheating the churros in the oven will make them as crispy as possible. 

If you keep reading, you’ll discover how to reheat churros in multiple ways, along with our recommendation on the best way to reheat churros. We’ll also answer some common questions about churros, such as how to store them, how to keep them crispy, and how long they’re good for.

The best way to reheat churros

There are 6 methods you can choose to reheat your churros. Here they are, listed from best to worst:

1. Oven
2. Toaster
3. air fryer
4. Stove
5. Microwave oven
6. fryer

Below we’ll explore all the possible ways to reheat churros and share our final take on the best way.

1. oven

The best way to reheat churros (if for some reason you couldn’t finish them all in one sitting) is without a doubt in the oven.

Reheating churros in the oven will keep them as crispy as possible, one of the most important considerations when reheating any fried food.

To reheat churros in the oven, preheat to 375 degrees F. Spread the churros on a baking tray and put them in for 5-8 minutes until they are heated through.

Heating the churros in the oven is undoubtedly the best option, since it heats them completely and maintains their crunchy texture.

However, if you can’t use the oven, some of the options below are also good ways to reheat churros.

2. Toaster oven

Maybe you live in a small apartment without an oven. In that case, if you have a toaster oven, it will do the job almost as well as a regular oven.

As with the oven method, spread the churros out on a baking sheet before reheating, and leave for 5-8 minutes.

375 degrees F is a good temperature to reheat in the toaster oven too, but keep in mind that due to their compact size, many toaster ovens run hotter than listed.

So, if you know your toaster oven works at high temperatures, lower the heat a bit to prevent the churros from overheating.

3. Air Fryer

Another possible option that won’t soften your churros is to reheat them in an air fryer. Since air fryers use dry heat, they won’t soften your churros.

To reheat the churros in an air fryer, simply preheat the air fryer to 375 degrees F and spread the churros out, heating for 5-8 minutes.

It is especially important to separate them. If they are touched, they are likely to trap moisture and become soft.

4. Stove

Reheating churros on the stove isn’t the ideal option, but if you don’t have any of the appliances mentioned above, it will do the trick.

You just have to heat a frying pan over medium heat and, once hot, place the churros. Heat for 5-8 minutes, until heated through.

The best way to ensure that the churros are heated through is to cover the pan.

Be sure to flip them over so each side heats up equally. Don’t grease the pan first, as this will only make them soggy.

5. In the microwave

Perhaps the fastest way to reheat churros is in the microwave.

You should only put them in for a few seconds (10-15 seconds max) each time, because if you get them too hot, they will get soggy.

Consider wrapping your churros in a paper towel, which will help them maintain their texture.

6. Fryer

Although churros are deep-fried foods, frying them is probably the worst way to reheat them.

As with most fried foods, putting them back in oil will only make them soggy and soggy—everything a churro shouldn’t be.

Stick to dry reheat methods and leave the fryer behind to make your churros the first time.

Important: keep the churros crispy!

One of the best parts of well-made churros, while they have many strong points, is their crunchy texture.

When making churros, it’s important to fry them over very high heat, making sure not to overcook them, which will cause them to become soggy.

If you make a large batch of churros, keep them under a heat lamp or in the oven so they don’t get cold.

If you have to reheat the churros, the best method is in the oven . This is because the dry heat will help keep the churros crisp.

The most important thing is that you do not add more oil when reheating, as this will soak the churros and leave them soggy.

How to properly preserve cooked churros

Ideally, eat the churros 1 or 2 days after making them , but if you can’t eat all the churros at once, there are several ways to preserve them.

If you plan to eat them within a few days, store them in an airtight container on the counter.

On the counter, the churros will last a few days, but remember that the longer they last, the softer they will be.

Do not store them in the fridge as they will soften and lose their crunchiness.

To keep them longer , you can freeze the churros. Churros can last up to a month in the freezer.

To freeze them, spread them out on a baking tray and put them in the freezer. Once completely frozen, place them in a resealable bag, making sure to remove as much air as possible before closing.

If you are going to make churros from scratch , another option is to freeze the churro dough before making them. This will ensure that your churros will be fresh and crisp in the future.

You just have to freeze the dough or form the churros beforehand and follow the same steps as above. The churro dough will also last up to a month in the freezer.

If you want to make churros from scratch, but aren’t sure how to do it, I recommend The Cooking Foodie’s tutorial on YouTube. It’s very easy to see!

Related questions

Are churros good cold?

One of the best qualities of churros is their crunchiness, and they are crunchiest right when they are cooked or reheated.

Once they cool down, they will become softer and fluffier. Cold churros are likely to be a lot more taffy than hot ones, but I guess cold churros are better than no churros at all.

Who invented churros?

The origin of churros is disputed. Some claim they were invented by nomadic Spanish herders living in the mountains, while others claim that Portuguese sailors found a similar food on their voyages to China and later introduced it to the Spanish.

One thing is certain: the conquistadors were the ones who introduced them to Latin America.

Many people mistakenly believe that churros originate from Latin America, associating this cinnamon-sugar treat with Mexican cuisine.

Although they remain popular in countries like Mexico and Chile, churros are an essential mainstay of Spanish cuisine, where they are sold in churrerías across the country.

What is the best way to eat churros?

When it comes to choosing how to eat the churros, the options are endless.

The traditional Spanish method is to dip them in a thick chocolate sauce, while the Mexican version is characterized by its sugar and cinnamon coating.

However, you can also get creative when it comes to the toppings on the churros or the dipping sauces.

Consider dipping them in Nutella instead of chocolate sauce, or dusting them with powdered sugar and lemon zest.

What else can I do with the churro dough?

Traditional churros are molded, usually with a pastry bag, into an elongated and cylindrical shape.

However, you can be creative when it comes to shaping the churro dough, creating unique churro desserts with a distinctive look and flavor.

Consider frying the churro dough into bite-size pieces or baking it into a cookie shape. Put two churro cookies together with vanilla ice cream to make an ice cream sandwich.

You can also roll the dough into balls before frying into cake pops, sprinkle with cinnamon and sugar and drizzle with chocolate to create an impressive and unique treat.

What are the most creative ideas to make churros?

If you have an event, consider doing a churro bar!

Prepare the churros in the traditional way (in the shape of an elongated cylinder) or heat already bought churros, but offer varied and creative topping options.

Be sure to include the classic chocolate dipping sauce , but include some creative alternatives as well.

An orange, pistachio-lime or birthday cake frosting are fun and creative alternatives for topping churros.

Last but not least, consider making stuffed churros!  This involves making your churros using the traditional method, then carving the center with a skewer.