How to Reheat Paella? - The Essential Guide

Paella is a delicious Spanish rice dish packed with vegetables, seafood, meats, and seasonings. It is traditionally cooked and served in a skillet, and the presentation is usually very pretty!

Paella is one of those dishes that rewards cooking in quantity. After going through all the effort of preparing and cooking paella, it’s easy to realize you’ve overcooked.

But this can be a blessing in disguise, and with a few smart moves, you can turn this into something very positive. How? Storing and reheating for your next paella craving.

So you’re probably wondering, how do you reheat paella?

We recommend reheating the paella in one of four ways: in the oven, in a skillet, in a steamer, or in the microwave. The best way to reheat paella in a pan with some extra liquid is the best way to retain the same texture as when it was originally cooked.

But before we learn how to reheat it, we need to know how to properly store it until we are ready for the reheating process. So first things first, let’s talk about how to store all that leftover paella.

The essential guide to reheating paella

Before we get into the reheating part, we have to mention our best storage tips too!

How to store cooked paella

If you have leftover paella, there is no reason to waste it by throwing it away. Instead, you can keep it in the fridge or freezer for your future paella craving.

Storing cooked paella is simple, this is how it is done:

• Transfer from the pan to an airtight container, leave the lid off until the paella has cooled, then cover and place in the fridge.

It is important to let food cool down before putting it in the fridge , especially when it comes to absorbent foods like rice.

If you put the paella in the fridge while it is still hot, the temperature difference between the fridge and the hot paella will cause condensation to form inside the pan.

This will make the paella soggy. Nobody wants that!

Let the moisture out first by placing it on the counter. It is much easier to add more water to the paella later if it is too dry than to try to salvage the soggy rice.

As a general rule, seafood paella should only be kept for a maximum of 24 hours, as seafood can go bad very quickly. It is not worth risking the side effects of eating expired seafood.

Paella made with non-seafood foods, such as chorizo or chicken, can keep for several days, potentially up to a week.

As always, be sure to double check if something is still fresh (take a good look at it along with a sniff) before reheating.

How to reheat paella

When it’s time to reheat your delicious paella, you can choose from several options.

There are four possible ways to reheat it. You can use a frying pan, you can use the oven, you can steam the paella, and you can use the microwave.

Each has its own advantages and disadvantages. We are going to delve into the differences, advantages and disadvantages of each method.

Reheat the paella in a pan

Choosing to reheat the paella in a pan is the best option if you want your paella to have the same texture and feel as when you originally cooked it. 

Cooking paella in the pan requires a little more time and effort than the other methods, but it’s the best method if you have the time. We explain how to do it:

• Start by taking the paella out of the fridge and let it rest on the counter for at least half an hour beforehand. This allows it to thaw naturally and is ready to cook. 
• Turn your oven’s top burner on to medium heat.
• Add a drizzle of olive oil and let it heat up for a few seconds.
• Add your paella to the pan (a paella pan like this one from Amazon is ideal)
• Even it out in the pan so it cooks evenly (we don’t want a chunky, half cold, half hot paella).
• Stir for several minutes, until reheated and cooked.

There is a possibility that the paella may start to cook or fry a little more than desired.

However, as long as you keep stirring to prevent any part of the paella from touching the bottom of the pan for too long, it should come out perfectly fine and heat evenly.

If it starts to dry out a bit or stick to the bottom of the pan, you can add another splash of oil and/or water (but not both at once, or it could splatter, as oil and water don’t mix well) and give it a solid scramble.

Reheat the paella in the oven

If you choose to reheat the paella in the oven, keep in mind that it will take a little longer.

However, it will require less effort on your part than the stovetop method.

The end result should be very similar in flavor and texture to when it was initially cooked. 

• Use a sturdy ceramic bowl (a cazuela or equivalent is ideal) and spread the paella evenly in a thin layer.
• Keep in mind that the thinner the layer, the faster it will cook, so don’t spread it too much or you end up with a crunchy paella.
• Add water, approximately half a cup for every two cups of paella. The intention is to add just enough water so that it is moist without making it soggy.
• Cover the paella with aluminum foil and cook it for 20 to 25 minutes at 350 degrees F. Around the 10 minute mark, stir it to make sure it cooks evenly.

Reheat the paella in a steamer

Using a steamer is an excellent option for reheating paella because the end result is usually moist and flavorful.

Also, it overheats quite quickly.

If you don’t have a steamer , you can take a look at this cool bamboo steamer that is perfect for reheating rice-based dishes like paella.

If you already have a steamer, all you have to do is spread the paella evenly in your steamer and steam for about 8 minutes.

Reheat the paella in the microwave

Using the microwave to reheat the paella is the least ideal option, but still worth mentioning.

If you need to reheat the paella and don’t have time for the other methods, you can use the microwave.

Follow this method for the best possible results: 

• In a microwave-safe bowl, add a small amount of oil and drizzle or drizzle evenly.
• Add your paella to the bowl (evenly, of course) and make sure there are no lumps.
• Microwave for 1 minute.
• Check the temperature in the center. If it’s not hot enough, stir and continue heating in 30-second increments, stirring each time.
  • It is important to stir between the heating increments because the food in the center will heat more slowly, so by stirring, you give the paella a chance to heat at a more even rate.

You should avoid using the microwave to reheat seafood paella because it can give it a rubbery texture.

Have you ever reheated frozen shrimp in the microwave? If you have, you know what we are talking about. Gross.

However you choose to reheat your paella, you now have all the information you need to safely store, reheat and serve a delicious second meal.

Related questions

Can cooked paella be frozen?

Freezing paella is a great way to preserve it for longer. If you don’t plan to eat your leftover paella within a week, it’s best to freeze it.

All you have to do at that point is put it in the freezer. Frozen paella lasts about a month before you have to throw it away. So make sure you remember when you first cooked it.

One smart thing you can do is put a label on it, so you know exactly when it was cooked.

To thaw frozen paella, you’ll need to take it out a day before you plan to eat it. When it’s time to eat it again, take it out of the freezer, put it in the fridge and leave it for about 24 hours.

After 24 hours, your paella will have thawed enough to be ready to cook using any of the four methods described above.

Are there any safety concerns when reheating paella?

Yes, there are two safety precautions when reheating paella:

1. How long can you safely store it?
2. If your paella contains shellfish

As we have said before, our recommendation is that the seafood paella is only stored for about 24 hours, and not frozen.

Chicken, chorizo, or other non-seafood dishes should be kept safely in the refrigerator for about a week or frozen for up to four weeks.

Can I eat the paella straight from the fridge?

Although we have heard people rave about eating cold paella, we do not recommend doing so.

As with any food that has been left alone for a few days, there is a risk of food poisoning. While still delicious, any bacteria that may have developed during storage will be destroyed during the reheating process.

Reheating only takes a few minutes and greatly enhances the flavor. The end result is worth it.