Panini is less a specific dish and more a type of toasted sandwich. True paninis are made using Italian bread, but paninis can be made with a range of bread and completed with various sandwich fillings.
The best kind of panini is one that is filled to bursting with the freshest, most delicious ingredients. But, when you find half of your panini left over from lunch, can you reheat it the next day? Yes, you can!
To reheat a panini, heat a pan with a drop of oil, pop a panini into the pan and fry for 40 seconds, flip, reheat and repeat for around 4 minutes. This should be plenty of time to warm it through. A panini can also be reheated in the oven.
How to Reheat a Panini
The key to reheating a panini is to restore the crunchy toasted outside bread while ensuring that all the sandwich’s insides are piping hot.
However, not every way will keep your panini at the perfect crispy temperature – especially if you have used jam or other wetter ingredients in the panini.
We have detailed the kind of reheating methods you should follow below:
How to Reheat a Panini on the Stove
Without a doubt, the best way to reheat a panini is on the stove. You can use either a frying pan or a cast iron skillet.
You shouldn’t use a panini press to reheat your panini as that would just burn the sandwich and ruin its structure. But using a pan to imitate the heating method of a panini press will provide the best results:
- Prepare The Pan
Place your pan of choice on medium-low heat and spray the pan with a little naturally flavoured cooking oil. Alternatively, use a dab of oil to coat the pan, but no more. - Reheat
When the pan is hot enough (the oil will start to sizzle), place the panini in the centre of the pan and reheat for around 40 seconds. - Flip and Heat
After 40 seconds, flip the panini over using a spatula and heat that side for another 40 seconds. - Repeat
Continue to flip and heat the panini until the outer and centre of the sandwich are hot. This will take between 3 – 5 minutes. - Serve
When your panini is hot enough, plate it up and enjoy!
How to Reheat a Panini in the Oven
Using a pan to reheat your panini will cause extra dishes, which is both annoying and inconvenient.
For a dish-less, easy alternative, you can use your regular oven to reheat your panini:
- Warm The Oven
Before you are ready to reheat the panini, preheat your oven to 180C. Give it 10 or so minutes to warm up. - Line A Baking Tray
You can line a small baking tray with some parchment paper to save on dishes. Otherwise, just place the panini directly into the baking tray. - Reheat
Set a timer for 5 minutes and place the panini into the middle of the oven to reheat. - Flip
For the most even reheat, flip your panini after 5 minutes and reheat the other side for a further 5 minutes. - Check
Heat check the middle of the panini to ensure that it has been reheated all the way to the middle of the sandwich. - Serve
Once hot enough, plate up the panini and serve immediately!
How to Reheat a Panini Successfully
A panini is one of those easy-to-make, easier-to-reheat lunches that hits a savoury craving on a cold day much better than any sandwich. Yet it can be easy to come away with a burnt or soggy panini when you try to reheat it.
Follow these tips for the most successful panini reheat possible:
- Butter It Up – For the perfectly golden, crispy panini, add some butter to each side of the sandwich before you reheat it. Be careful not to overdo it, as this could make the panini soggy.
- Temperature Check With A Knife – Instead of using a fancy kitchen thermometer to check that your panini has reheated all the way through, use a butter knife to piecer the sandwich to the centre. If the knife tip comes away cold, you need to reheat your panini more.
- Use A Toaster Oven – If you prefer an easier reheating option, use a toaster oven instead of your regular oven. Use the same method listed above but apply it to your toaster oven instead and keep a closer eye on the sandwich to prevent it from becoming too crispy.
- Avoid The Microwave – Using a microwave to reheat any leftovers is a quick solution that often works well enough to enjoy a meal. But if you try to reheat a panini in the microwave, your sandwich will dry and fall apart. Or worse yet, fall apart from how damp it becomes.
Is It Safe to Reheat a Panini?
How safe a panini is to reheat depends entirely on your filling of choice.
Most paninis consist of meat, garnish and a jam or preserve. Meat paninis must be only kept in your fridge for up to 2 days and are thoroughly reheated to kill any dangerous bacteria that may have grown.
Regular cheese and onion or even tuna paninis are the safest to reheat. However, it is still best to reheat it thoroughly, just in case.
Reheating a Panini FAQs
Got more questions about reheating a panini? Give these a read:
No, this is not a good idea. You’ll find that the bread element dries out and the contents of the panini fall apart. You’ll ruin your panini and be left with a soggy mess!
Yes, a panini can be reheated regardless of the filling. But, you must ensure that the centre of the panini is piping hot.
Acacia may be a freelance writer by day, but they are a food fanatic by night. They are always trying out new recipes or finding different ways to elevate classical dishes. But their biggest culinary aim is to educate others on the basics of the kitchen so that they too can enjoy delicious food.
