Also known as Greek spinach pie, spanakopita is a classic Mediterranean dish. Some of the dish’s main ingredients are spinach and feta cheese, which are a classic combination in any dish. However, the use of phyllo dough adds a unique twist to an otherwise average dish.
Spanakopita is a whole meal in its own right. But it can also be served alongside other Mediterranean meals and hearty holiday feasts. Spanakopita is one of those dishes best enjoyed right out of the oven. Though when you find yourself with some leftover pie, you can reheat it and enjoy it the next day.
To reheat spanakopita, place it on a lined baking sheet and then pop it into an oven at 180C for around 15 minutes, flipping it over midway through to ensure the heat penetrates evenly.
How to Reheat Spanakopita
Spanakopita is such a delicacy not only because it is so delicious but also because it can take a lot of skill to master. The various ingredients it uses can be overcooked or undercooked and ruin the dish.
When you are reheating spanakopita, you must walk the same fine line you would when cooking a spanakopita from fresh. But that does not mean that reheating spanakopita is impossible, so long as you follow either of the methods below:
How to Reheat Spanakopita in the Oven
Given how delicate spanakopita is, your best bet when reheating leftover spanakopita is to use the same heating method you used to cook the dish in the first place – the oven.
Your oven is one of the only kitchen appliances that can reliably provide a constant dry heat when reheating your spanakopita. This is the key to great tasting, perfectly textured, reheated spanakopita.
Follow this oven method for the best reheated spanakopita:
- Warm The Oven
Allow your oven to preheat at 180C for 10 minutes before reheating your spanakopita. - Prep A Baking Tray
Cover a sizable baking tray with parchment paper to prevent the phyllo dough from sticking to the tray. Try using a tray that won’t squash your spanakopita and ruin its shape. - Unwrap The Spanakopita
You want to expose your spanakopita to the heat of the oven entirely. Remove any plastic wrap or foil from the spanakopita and transfer it directly onto the baking tray. - Reheat
Place the spanakopita in the middle of your oven and allow it to cook for around 10 minutes or until the middle is hot. - Flip
Use a spatula to flip your spanakopita over gently. Then place it back in the oven for a further 3-5 minutes. - Serve Immediately
As soon as the spanakopita’s phyllo dough has reached a golden-brown colour, plate it up and serve it.
How to Reheat Spanakopita in the Air Fryer
An air fryer’s dry and steady heat may not be exactly the same as an oven, but it can be used similarly.
It can be challenging to tell when your spanakopita has finished reheating in an air fryer, so only use this method if you can keep a close watch on the spanakopita as it reheats:
- Warm The Air Fryer
Set your air fryer to 180 C and allow it to warm up for around 5 minutes. This will vary depending on your air fryer. - Unwrap The Spanakopita
Remove any protective plastic wrap or foil used to cover the spanakopita. - Reheat
Place the spanakopita directly into the air fryer and reheat it for 5 minutes. - Check
After 5 minutes, open up the air fryer and check to see how brown the top of the spanakopita has got. If there is no colour, your spanakopita will need to keep cooking. If it has begun to brown, serve immediately.
You should avoid reheating spanakopita in the microwave. The Phyllo will become soggy, which is the opposite of what you want from crispy phyllo pastry.
How to Reheat Spanakopita Successfully
Reheating spanakopita may seem like a disaster waiting to happen, but the issues you may experience when doing so are easy to avoid. Especially if you follow the method above closely and remember these tips:
- Focus On The Crisp – Though you want your spanakopita to be thoroughly reheated, the delicate phyllo dough is the most likely to reheat wrong. You want the dough to remain crispy, which requires consistent dry heat. Do not focus on how long the spanakopita takes to reheat but rather on how crispy the phyllo dough becomes.
- Avoid The Microwave – Like any phyllo dough-based food, using only a microwave to reheat your spanakopita will only end in disaster. There will be nowhere for the moisture to escape in the microwave as the spinach reheats, making the phyllo too soggy. You can use a microwave to start the reheating process but finish it off in the oven or air fryer.
- Air Fryer Is Best For Frozen Spanakopita – Though you can use an air fryer to reheat refrigerated spanakopita, it is the best method for reheating frozen spanakopita. Place the frozen spanakopita directly into the air fryer, cook it using the method above and then leave the spanakopita to sit for a moment in the closed air fryer before eating.
- Times Will Vary – Keep in mind that the smaller your spanakopita, the less time it will need to reheat. Judge how much longer your spanakopita needs to reheat based on how crispy the outer phyllo dough is and the temperature of the spinach centre.
Is It Safe to Reheat Spanakopita?
You could eat spanakopita cold if you so wish, and it would still be edible if kept in your fridge for up to 2 days. When reheating spanakopita, it is generally safe to reheat for up to 2 days.
Spanakopita may become a safety issue depending on what additional ingredients you use in the pie. Meat will need to be reheated until it is piping hot to kill any lingering bacteria. Other additional ingredients like eggs will also need to be reheated to a safe enough temperature.
Reheating Spanakopita FAQs
If you still have questions about reheating spanakopita then these might help you out:
The internal temperature of spanakopita should be around 75c to ensure it is fully cooked through and there is no risk of bacteria forming.
Yes, spanakopita of any shape and size can be reheated. Spanakopita triangles should be placed on a lined baking sheet and then popped into a hot oven for around 15 minutes, flipping them midway through.
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.
