Few drinks are as festive as a winter warming glass of mulled wine as the nights draw in! And if you’ve made a batch of mulled wine at home, you might be wondering how best to store and use it without it going bad.
With this in mind, is it safe to store and reheat mulled wine?
To reheat mulled wine, bring it to room temperate then add it to a large pot. Warm it up over the lowest heat possible without boiling it for around 6 minutes then enjoy.
How to Reheat Mulled Wine
Technically, there are several ways to reheat mulled wine, but we’re only going to explain how to reheat mulled wine on the stovetop. The reason for this is that reheating mulled wine on the stovetop yields the best results.
If you were to reheat mulled wine in the microwave, for instance, it would reheat unevenly and would likely compromise the unique taste of this delicious festive drink.
You need to ensure that you employ a low-and-slow strategy when reheating mulled wine, so don’t try and rush it by firing up the stovetop and reheating on full blast!
To ensure your reheated mulled wine tastes as delicious as you would expect, we’ve introduced the reheating process in detail below:
How to Reheat Mulled Wine on the Stovetop
Although reheating mulled wine is pretty straightforward, you must be careful not to ruin its taste by overheating it.
Here’s how to expertly reheat mulled wine without compromising its taste:
- Allow to Sit
Firstly, remove your mulled wine from the fridge and allow it to sit at room temperature for around 30 minutes. If you reheat mulled wine that is still chilled, the sudden temperature change will affect its taste and texture. - Pour in a Pan
Choose a thick-bottomed pan and pour in your mulled wine. You need to leave an inch or so in space from the top of the pan so your wine doesn’t spill over during the reheating process. - Add Aromatics
Adding a few slices of orange, a couple of star anise, a cinnamon stick and a few cloves can help enhance the flavour that may have been lost while it was stored. - Reheat
Switch on your stovetop and place the pan over the lowest heat possible. You can then reheat your mulled wine for 5 to 7 minutes, stirring it consistently. It’s so vital that you don’t heat it over high heat, as it will splash and boil and will taste burnt. - Serve and Enjoy
You’re now all set and ready to serve your mulled wine. Whether you add it to a flask to serve up throughout the evening or transfer it straight to glasses, make sure you serve it alongside some delicious festive snacks to enjoy the unique spicy flavours of this Christmas favourite!
How to Reheat Mulled Wine Successfully
If you want to have complete success when reheating mulled wine, then read over these 3 tips:
- Low and Slow is the Best Method – The golden rule when reheating mulled wine is that low and slow is best. It’s okay if it takes up to 10 minutes to reheat your mulled wine over low heat. You should avoid the temptation of increasing the heat to speed things up, as you will almost certainly ruin the complex flavours.
- Don’t Bring it to the Boil – You need to pay attention when reheating your mulled wine on the stovetop. When it starts to simmer, it’s ready to remove from the heat. If it starts boiling, you have reheated it for too long and need to remove it from the heat immediately!
- Refrigerate for 3-4 Days – One of the downsides of mulled wine is that it doesn’t last for so long in the fridge after it has been prepared. You should aim to use it within 3-4 days to ensure you get the most out of its unique flavours. If you leave it for any longer than this, it’s likely to deteriorate in quality and won’t be as delicious as you expect.
Is It Safe to Reheat Mulled Wine?
While freshly brewed mulled wine is undoubtedly best, there’s nothing wrong with reheating mulled wine that you have stored in the fridge.
While the flavours might not be as potent, you will still have a delicious winter warming drink to serve up to your friends and family.
The only thing to bear in mind from a safety perspective is that mulled wine that has been stored in the fridge for too long is likely to spoil, so try and use it up within 3-4 days for the best results.
Reheating Mulled Wine FAQs
Here are some FAQs related to reheating mulled wine that you may find useful:
Yes, mulled cider can be reheated over a low heat. It will take between 5 and 10 minutes to warm up thoroughly. Once it begins to simmer, leave it for 60 seconds, then serve it up.
Yes, adding a few star anise, cinnamon sticks, cloves and orange slices when reheating mulled wine is a great way to reinvigorate that iconic festive scent.
Ross is a freelance writer with a passion for delicious food and drinks, having worked in the hospitality industry in the past. He began working with Let’s Foodie when it first launched to provide information on how to reheat, freeze and microwave different foods.
