Takoyaki is one of Japan’s most recently invented treats. The octopus-filled batter balls were first thought up by an Osakan street vendor in 1935 and are now enjoyed all over Japan as a beautiful savoury snack or side dish.
Japanese-inspired restaurants are likely to serve Takoyaki in western countries. However, they can be hard to come across. The next time you find Takoyaki, order extra to reheat later for a delicious snack.
To reheat Takoyaki, you can pop them into a hot frying pan for around 4 to 5 minutes. You can also reheat Takoyaki in the microwave or the oven.
How to Reheat Takoyaki
Takoyaki is shaped and cooked traditionally in a specific cast iron pan, which gives the balls a crisp outside and gooey middle.
The best reheating methods for Takoyaki can replicate this crispy method. Though a microwave can work, too:
How to Reheat Takoyaki in a Frying Pan
Since Takoyaki is usually cooked in a specially shaped cast iron pan, the best method for reheating Takoyaki is to use another frying pan.
Here is the best way to reheat Takoyaki in a pan:
- Heat And Oil The Pan
The last thing you want to do is allow the Takoyaki to stick to your pan when you are trying to reheat them. Oil the pan with a thin layer of neutral oil and set the pan to medium-high heat. - Fry Them Up
Once the oil is hot enough, carefully arrange a couple of your Takoyaki balls in the pan. Do not let them touch each other. - Reheat
Allow the balls to fry for 2-3 minutes or until the underside has started to crisp. - Turn Over
Use a pair of tongs or a spatula to flip the Takoyaki over for an even reheat. Then reheat that side for a further 2 minutes. - Serve
As soon as the Takoyaki are hot enough, serve them immediately.
How to Reheat Takoyaki in the Oven
Your trusted oven will produce the best results for the crispiest reheated Takoyaki.
The key here isn’t to completely re-cook the Takoyaki, as this will turn the gooey insides dense and gross. Instead, you want to reheat the balls just enough to make the outside crunchy.
Here is how:
- Preheat The Oven
Before you start, preheat your oven to 190 C. Allow at least 5-10 minutes for your oven to get hot if you want that perfect crisp. - Line A Baking Tray
Line a decently sized baking tray with parchment paper to prevent the Takoyaki from sticking to the tray and baking unevenly. - Organize The Takoyaki
Evenly space out your Takoyaki on the baking tray. Do not layer the Takoyaki and leave plenty of room between each ball for airflow. - Reheat
All that is left to do is place the baking tray in the middle of your heated oven and reheat for 5 minutes or 15 minutes for frozen Takoyaki. - Reheat The Sauce
If you have any leftover sauce you want to serve alongside your Takoyaki, reheat it in the microwave for a few minutes while your Takoyaki balls also reheat.
How to Reheat Takoyaki in the Microwave
Admittedly, it seems a little odd to be telling you to reheat a batter-based snack in the microwave. Usually, the quick heat of the microwave would turn the batter into a moist mess that falls apart.
However, Takoyaki is already supposed to be soft and gooey on the inside. So there is not too much risk of completely ruining your Takoyaki when following these steps:
- Arrange On A Plate
Use a large microwaveable plate and lay your Takoyaki on the plate in a single layer. Try and leave some room between each ball if possible. - Place In Microwave
You don’t need to cover the Takoyaki as they will be reheated on very low heat. So just go ahead and set the Takoyaki in the microwave. - Set The Microwave
Set your microwave to a very low setting, preferably the lowest it will go. - Reheat
Reheat the Takoyaki for around 3 minutes, pausing the microwave halfway to prevent the balls from sticking to the plate too much. - Check
After the 3 minutes are up, use a knife to check that the inside of the Takoyaki is hot. If not, reheat for a further 2 minutes. Otherwise, serve immediately.
How to Reheat Takoyaki Successfully
As simple as they may seem, Takoyaki has the oddity of being crispy but also gooey. Trying to capture this texture when reheating Takoyaki can be difficult.
Follow these tips for the best Takoyaki reheating results:
- Serve Immediately – Because Takoyaki is made from a batter, leaving the Takoyaki balls to sit on your counter after reheating will make the batter damp and soggy. Do not hesitate to serve the Takoyaki as soon as they have been reheated.
- Reheating Big Batches in the Oven – If you have a lot of Takoyaki to reheat, we recommend using the oven method listed above. But if you want the best Takoyaki, follow the pan method. You will need to reheat the balls in smaller batches, but you can keep them warm in a low-heated oven until you are ready to serve all the Takoyaki.
- Know Your Filling – Traditionally, Takoyaki is filled with octopus which is acceptable to reheat without worrying about food poisoning (so long as the Takoyaki has been refrigerated). However, some modern Takoyaki uses meat as a filling. You must reheat all meat-filled Takoyaki until they are piping hot.
Is It Safe to Reheat Takoyaki?
Takoyaki is a traditional octopus-filled batter. Octopus is safe to reheat if it has been refrigerated for up to 2 days or frozen for 1 month.
Meat-filled Takoyaki can also be reheated if stored correctly. However, you must ensure that the meat is piping hot before serving.
Reheating Takoyaki FAQs
Do you still have questions about reheating Takoyaki? Then these FAQs might help you out:
Yes, Takoyaki can be reheated in the air fryer. They will take between 5 and 10 minutes to warm through depending on their size, the quantity and the temperature of the fryer.
Providing that they have been stored in the fridge once cooled, you can eat Takoyaki both hot and cold.
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.
