How do you reheat chilli (chilli con carne)? It is a question we get asked all the time and when it comes to reheating chilli, it is a quick and easy process.
Below I will highlight the different options you available to you, some however are quicker than others.
The Microwave
For most people, the microwave would be the quick and effective method to use to reheat chilli con carne. The only thing you need to be aware of is that the dish is fully heated up, as often the outside sections are steaming hot, while the inner is still cold.
Steps
- Place the leftover chilli in a microwave safe container
- You could add a little bit of water if you find the chilli to be too thick
- Zap it on the medium-low setting for a couple of minutes (this will depend on the type of microwave you use)
- Stir the chili in intervals, to ensure the whole dish is reheated properly
- Remember to be careful, as it could be scalding hot and burn you
- Once you feel it is fully warmed hot, especially in the middle, take it out
- Let it cool before eating
The Skillet
If you are not a fan of the microwave like myself or just don’t have one, you can always reheat your chilli in the skillet. This is another quick method and in a couple of minutes, everything should be piping hot and ready to eat.
Steps
- Preheat frying pan/skillet over a medium flame
- Add the chili
- If you find it is too thick, add a little bit of water or red wine
- Cover and let it simmer, constantly stirring to ensure that the heat is even distributed
- After a couple of minutes, your dish should be steaming hot and ready to eat
- Allow to cool, take out and enjoy
What About the Slow Cooker to Reheat Chilli?
While a lot of you do your chilli in the slow cooker, foodsafety.gov does not recommend it for reheating. According to their website:
“We do NOT recommend reheating food or leftovers in a slow cooker. Instead, we advise callers to reheat cooked food to steaming on the stove top or in a microwave oven.”
Once you got it fully reheated, they suggest that “you can put it into a preheated slow cooker to keep it hot for serving. Use a food thermometer to be sure the food stays at 140 °F. or above.”
