Seafood boil actually means two things: a party at which a dish with plenty of seafood will be served and a seafood dish itself.
Of course, in today’s article, I am not going to talk about the party with the bunch of seafood, but rather about the culinary masterpiece made from various types of seafood.
So, if this is the first time that you are hearing about this incredible dish, I am going to say a few words about it, so you will know what you are dealing with. Well, seafood boil is a delicious and healthy type of seafood dish.
Although there are many seafood boil recipes, the main ingredients include various shellfish, crawfish, crabs, crab legs, oysters, shrimp, clams, prawns, lobsters, and mussels, alongside some corn on the cob, sausage, and potatoes, as well as broth, typically with Cajun seasoning.
As you can see, there are many ingredients incorporated into seafood boil, so there is a big chance that you end up with leftover seafood boil that you need to store and reheat later on. So, the question arises of how to reheat seafood boil.
Well, there are three main reheating methods for seafood boil and I will explain them below. I will also mention some other less-known ways to reheat seafood boil, so it is best to continue reading in order to find out.
How To Reheat Seafood?
Ending up with a lot of seafood boil leftovers is really not an uncommon thing because there are many ingredients in this dish and people typically make a huge amount of seafood boil when cooking seafood boil. Because of that, they can’t finish the entire dish.
Fortunately, there are a few great ways to reheat fish, and the rest of the leftover seafood boil without ending up with a rubbery texture. The two best methods include using the oven and the stovetop.
You can also reheat it in the microwave. However, I am not a fan of the microwave because it is not an ideal reheating method for any type of food, especially seafood.
You also have to know what method you will use to reheat the seafood boil bag and what method you will use to reheat seafood boil without it. All that is answered below, so it is best that you stay tuned.
NOTE: According to the USDA, “foods should be reheated thoroughly to an internal temperature of 165 °F or until hot and steaming.”
What Is The Best Way To Reheat Seafood Boil?
Without any doubt, using the oven is the best option when it comes to reheating seafood boil. Reheating it on the stovetop is not a bad idea either.
And, finally, the microwave is a popular method, but I would never recommend it. However, if you really want to use the microwave, you’ll have the explanation below.
1. The Oven
Using the oven to reheat your seafood boil at low temperature is, by no doubt, the best method. However, you must know how to go through the process properly, so I will present you with the steps that you need to take.
STEP 1: First, you must preheat the oven to 275 degrees F. Never use high temperatures when heating any type of seafood, i.e. avoid high heat.
STEP 2: Then, you must transfer your seafood and other ingredients to the casserole dish. You can also use baking sheets, but I always prefer a casserole dish. Put the seafood on the bottom of the dish and add the boiled eggs and veggies on the top. Spread all the ingredients evenly.
STEP 3: After that, you will use aluminum foil to cover the dish, but before covering, you will spray it with nonstick cooking spray.
STEP 4: Once you cover the dish with foil, you can put it in the oven and let it heat for about 15 minutes. After those 15 minutes, you can check the internal temperature of the food by using a food thermometer. 125-130 degrees Fahrenheit is a sign of doneness.
2. Stovetop
If you want to spend less time doing this, then the stovetop might be a great option. So, let’s take a look at the guidelines.
STEP 1: You first need to fill a large pot of water and heat it until you achieve boiling water.
STEP 2: If your seafood boil was stored in an airtight container, you will have to transfer it to a boil bag.
STEP 3: Put it in the pot of boiling water and let it heat for about 10 minutes.
STEP 4: After those 10 minutes, transfer the bag from the pot to the cooling rack and let it “rest” there for about 5-10 minutes.
STEP 5: After that, you are free to serve it on the serving plate and you can pour the juice from the bag onto that seafood boil. Enjoy this popular dish to the fullest.
3. The Microwave
One cooking method that I definitely wouldn’t recommend is the microwave method. However, since it is the fastest method, people like it and many of them ask how to reheat seafood boil in the microwave properly. So, I had no choice but to tell you how.
STEP 1: First, you need to pour a little water into a microwave-safe container. That bit of water will help the dish retain the needed moisture. You can also add seasonings like old bay, salt, or pepper to make it more flavorful because they can marinade in the butter and seafood juices.
STEP 2: After that, you can transfer the bag inside it.
STEP 3: In order to wrap the container, do not use foil but rather use microwave-safe plastic film instead.
STEP 4: Cook it for up to 5 minutes.
STEP 5: Then, you can check for cold spots. If you notice any, microwave for a couple of minutes more. If you don’t, you can freely transfer your seafood boil into the serving dish and enjoy it.
How To Reheat A Seafood Boil Bag?
When you are dealing with seafood boil, it is best to use boilable food-grade bags. Although some people think that any kind of plastic bag can be suitable in this case, that is really not true. These boil bags are specially designed for the boiling process, so only they are suitable in this case.
However, it is best to reheat it in a pot of boiling water on the stovetop. In order to do this, you just have to follow the steps explained above.
Although I don’t recommend using a microwave when reheating a boil, you can use this type of bag in the microwave as well. Do not reheat it in the oven if you are using the bag.
If you are reheating seafood boil in the oven, use a casserole dish covered with aluminum foil and just follow the steps explained above.
What Are The Alternative Ways To Reheat Seafood Boil?
Aside from these most popular reheating methods for your seafood boil, there are a few more that can also do the trick. Here, I will briefly explain two more methods that you can use to reheat your seafood dish.
Air Fryer
The process of reheating seafood boil in the air fryer is quite similar to the process of reheating it in the oven. The main difference is that, when you are using an air fryer, you do not have to preheat it. So, let’s take a look at a few simple steps.
• First, you must transfer the separated ingredients from your seafood boil onto the tray. You can also put it directly into the basket.
• Then you must cover it with aluminum foil, just like when reheating seafood in the oven.
• Cook your seafood boil in the air fryer at 250 degrees F for about 8-10 minutes.
• In that time frame, you can warm up the separated soup from the seafood boil in a pot.
• When both ingredients and the soup from the seafood boil are done, you can combine them and finally serve them and enjoy.
Pressure Cooker
This is a very decent option. However, it is not a good idea if you are planning to reheat your seafood boil in a bag. If you do not intend to do that, the steps that you need to follow are stated below.
• Transfer your seafood boil into the pressure cooker and set the Steam option to active.
• Add some liquid like water or stock to avoid a dry dish.
• Cook it for about 5 minutes.
• After that, you can let it rest for a few minutes and then you can serve it and enjoy it.
How To Reheat Shrimp Boil?
Shrimp boil is also known by the name low country boil. As the name suggests, the main ingredients of this dish are shrimp, as well as potatoes, corn, and sausages. However, there are many variations of this high-quality dish.
But, all the variations are quite similar to seafood boil when it comes to the reheating process. Just like is the case with seafood boil, the best way to reheat shrimp boil is to use the stovetop or the oven.
You can also reheat it in the microwave, but you must be careful because shrimps tend to dry out very quickly in the microwave. When reheating shrimp boil, just follow the same steps that are used for reheating seafood boil.
FAQs
Here are some frequently asked questions you might be interested in.
Can You Eat Seafood Boil Leftovers The Next Day?
Yes, you can eat seafood boil leftovers the next day if your seafood boil has been properly stored in the fridge and if it has been reheated the right way.
However, the two-hour rule suggests that if the food has been at room temperature for longer than 2 hours, then you shouldn’t consume it.
How Long Can I Keep Seafood Boil In The Fridge?
If you store your seafood boil in the fridge at the temperature of 40 degrees F, it can stay there for up to 2-3 days.
When storing seafood boil in the refrigerator, you should put it deep in the fridge because the temperature is more stable there.
To Sum It Up
Everything that comes from the underwater world is full of nutrition making seafood good for you and your health. Since seafood boil is full of various types of seafood, it is quite a healthy dish as well. Aside from that, it is also delicious.
Because of these characteristics, many people tend to overdo this dish when making it. And they don’t want to throw the leftovers in the trash. Fortunately, seafood boil can be successfully stored and reheated.
But, how to reheat seafood boil properly? In this article, you could find that there are several ways to reheat seafood boil. The best way to reheat seafood boil is to reheat it in the oven. Although you can reheat it in the microwave as well, I wouldn’t recommend this method. Aside from those two methods, you can also reheat seafood boil on the stovetop, in the air fryer, and in the pressure cooker.
