Whether you love pork ribs or beef ribs, reheating leftover ribs can be a daunting job. Reheating ribs in the air fryer elevates them to the next level! You do not have to compromise on taste, juiciness, or texture.
My husband enjoys smoking ribs on the grill and they turn out delicious! Grilling is a laborious task and can take up the whole day. Knowing that we can reheat ribs in the air fryer, we have started making a little extra and freezing it for later. Next time you smoke ribs, make a double batch so you can have the leftovers another day.
📝 Why This Works
✔️Crispy and juicy – Reheating ribs in the air fryer makes the exterior crispy while locking in the moisture on the inside.
✔️Minimum effort – It takes only a few minutes to reheat ribs due to the hot air circulation and quick heating time. Unlike an oven, you do not need to wait for it to preheat.
✔️Meal prep friendly – When cooking ribs, consider making extra for meal prep. We like to freeze the ribs in a vacuum-sealed bag and reheat them for an easy meal.
🐷 Ingredients
🛒 Cooked Ribs – Whether you have baby back ribs or a St. Louis rack of ribs, you should be able to use the air fryer to reheat them. Depending on the size of the ribs and whether or not the bones are in, your cooking time may vary.
⏲️ Equipment and Tools
✅ Air fryer – Any brand of air fryer will work for this recipe. I use my Ninja air fryer.
✅ Air fryer liner – A liner will catch any drippings or grease that may come out of the ribs. I like my silicone liner, but you can use single-use liners.
✅ Tongs – Tongs will be your best friend as ribs are delicate and can fall off the bone after reheating. They will also protect your hands from burning.
✅ Meat thermometer – A meat thermometer will tell you whether the reheated ribs satisfy USDA recommendations. For pork ribs and beef ribs, the safe internal temperature is 145°F.
✅ Brush or spray bottle – Optionally, you may want to brush BBQ sauce or spray apple cider vinegar if you find that the ribs have dried out in the fridge.
🔥 Instructions
👉Step 1: Thaw refrigerated ribs on the counter for 10-15 minutes, or until it comes to room temperature. If you have frozen ribs, try defrosting in a cold water bath or leaving it in the refrigerator overnight. Do not defrost frozen ribs at room temperature as it can lead to bacteria growth!
👉Step 2: Once the ribs are thawed, place them in the air fryer basket with enough room for hot air to flow. Heat on 375°F for 5-7 minutes for THIN RIBS LIKE BABY BACK. Cook for 7-10 minutes for THICK RIBS LIKE BEEF CHUCK RIBS. Keep an eye on the food and check halfway through. Once the meat thermometer reads 145°F, take the ribs out and enjoy!
❗ Recipe Tips and Tricks
📌 Let air circulate – Leave the ribs just enough space for airflow and only do a single layer at a time. You might have to do batches, depending on how much you have.
📌 Add moisture – If the leftover ribs look a little dry, spray some apple cider vinegar before air frying. They are often used in the grilling process, and they can add some flavor to the ribs while reheating. Another option is to brush on some barbecue sauce to make it extra juicy.
🧑🍳 Storage and Reheating
Once ribs have been reheated, it is less safe to store them further. If you should refrigerate air-fried leftover ribs, store them in an airtight container in the fridge. To freeze them, you can wrap each piece in plastic wrap and store them in an airtight container. They will last longer in the freezer if you use vacuum-sealed bags.
✔️ Other Ways To Reheat Ribs
Alternative methods of reheating ribs are as follows:
👉Oven – Preheat the oven to 250°F. Place the ribs on a baking sheet and cover with aluminum foil. Bake for about 25-30 minutes or until the internal temperature reaches 145°F. Remove the cover and add BBQ sauce or seasonings as desired in the last 10 minutes of oven reheating.
👉Smoker – If you don’t mind heating the smoker to reheat ribs, you can do so at 250°F. Protect the ribs by either placing them on a sheet pan or wrapping them in double layers of foil. Smoke until the meat thermometer reads 145°F.
👉Pan – You can reheat ribs on the stove. Place the ribs on a pan and cook on low heat with the lids closed for about 20 minutes.
👉Microwave – Microwaving will save some time, but it may reheat unevenly. Place the ribs in a microwave-safe bowl and cover with a paper towel. Heat at 30-second intervals at a time, keeping an eye on the ribs.
👉Steamer – If you have ever steamed meat, you know it comes out tender. It may not have a crispy texture anymore, but it is easier to eat. Add a quarter cup of water or apple juice to the bottom of your steaming pan. Steam on low for about 30 minutes, depending on the size of your ribs.
👉Sous vide – Start a water bath in a large pot. The sous vide machine should read at 165°F. Place a vacuum-sealed bag or ziplock bag of ribs in the water bath, and slowly cook until the ribs are thoroughly reheated.
🏈 Serving Suggestions
⭐Crunchy sides – I served these ribs with some tortilla chips on the side. If you want a healthier but crunchy side, try making these Air Fryer Zucchini Chips.
⭐Dipping sauce – Have delicious dipping sauces on hand for ribs, such as BBQ sauce or ranch.
⭐Game day sides – Ribs are a big part of game days. Spruce up your reheated ribs with classic game-day dishes, such as macaroni and cheese, beans, chicken wings, or french fries.
Air Fryer Reheating
How to Reheat Fries in the Air Fryer
Reheat Fried Fish in the Air Fryer
Reheat Fried Chicken in the Air Fryer
How to Reheat Pork Chops in the Air Fryer
How to Reheat Ribs in the Air Fryer
How to Reheat Burger in the Air Fryer
Reheat Onion Rings in the Air Fryer
❓ Recipe FAQ
The best way to reheat ribs without drying them out is to add a layer of BBQ sauce on top or spray with apple cider vinegar. In the reheating process, the additional liquid will help make the ribs juicier.
You can reheat ribs the day after cooking it. The USDA recommends that you store leftover ribs in the refrigerator for up to four days after cooking.
The best way to reheat pre-cooked ribs would be to air fry them. It is quick, easy, and effective.
If you have leftover frozen ribs, it is best to thaw them in the fridge overnight or defrost in cold water for 30 minutes before attempting to reheat them. Reheating frozen ribs right away risks leaving cold spots and poses a health risk.
Reheat Ribs in Air Fryer
Ingredients
- Ribs leftover
Instructions
Thin Ribs (Baby back, St Louis Style)
- Remove the ribs from the refrigerator for a few minutes to allow to come down to room temperature.
- Place the ribs in the air fryer (we used our Ninja), and space them out to allow air to flow and circulate around the ribs. Cook for 5-7 minutes, flipping half way through cooking time.
Thick Ribs (Beef Chuck Short Ribs)
- Take the ribs out of the refrigerator and allow to come down to room temperature. This should take 15 minutes or so. If you don't do this with thick ribs, you could overcook them and they will become dry and hard.
- Place the thicker ribs in the air fryer and allow space to flow and circulate in between all of the ribs. Cook for 7-10 minutes, flipping half way through cooking time.
Notes
Hi!
Ginny Collins is a passionate foodie and recipe creator of Savor and Savvy and Kitchenlaughter. Indoors she focuses on easy, quick recipes for busy families and kitchen basics. Outdoors, she focuses on backyard grilling and smoking to bring family and friends together. She is a lifelong learner who is always taking cooking classes on her travels overseas and stateside. Her work has been featured on MSN, Parade, Fox News, Yahoo, Cosmopolitan, Elle, and many local news outlets. She lives in Florida where you will find her outside on the water in her kayak, riding her bike on trails, and planning her next overseas adventure.
Yoshiko.Tromp says
The air fryer heats the ribs perfectly so that they are fried on the outside and juicy on the inside, while at the same time minimizing the use of extra oil. This method is faster for reheating the ribs compared to an oven or microwave oven and, as a result, offers a tastier experience. Rib Heating at the Air Fryer is a great option for a quick, practical and delicious snack or main course. https://retrobowlfriv.com/