How To Reheat Churros – The Best Way

Though churros are ideally eaten the same day that they are made, sometimes our eyes are just too big for our stomach, meaning we’ll have to save and reheat them.

After all, any churro is a good churro, especially if you reheat it using the proper method.

What is the best way to reheat churros? There are plenty of options when it comes to reheating churros, but the best way is undoubtedly in the oven. Other options include in the microwave, air fryer, deep fryer, stovetop, and toaster oven, but reheating your churros in the oven will ensure that they remain as crispy as possible. 

If you read on, you’ll find out how to reheat churros in a multitude of ways, along with our recommendation for the best way to reheat churros. We’ll also answer some common questions about churros, including how to store them, how to keep them crispy, and how long they are good for.

The Best Way To Reheat Churros

There are 6 methods you can choose from to reheat your churros. Here they are, listed from best to worst:

1. Oven
2. Toaster Oven
3. Air Fryer
4. Stovetop
5. Microwave
6. Deep Fryer

Below we’ll explore all the possible ways to reheat churros and share our definitive opinion on the best way. 

1. Oven

The best way to reheat churros (if for some reason you weren’t able to finish them all in one sitting!) is undoubtedly in the oven.

Reheating churros in the oven will keep them as crispy as possible, one of the most important considerations when reheating any fried food. 

To reheat churros in the oven, preheat to 375 degrees F. Spread your churros on a baking sheet and pop them in for 5-8 minutes until fully heated through.

Heating your churros in the oven is certainly your best option, as it warms them fully while maintaining their crispy texture.

However, if you are unable to use an oven, some of the options listed below are also good ways to reheat churros. 

2. Toaster Oven

Maybe you live in a tiny apartment without an oven. In that case, if you have a toaster oven, it will get the job done almost as well as a normal oven.

Just like the oven method, spread your churros out on a baking sheet before reheating, and leave them in for 5-8 minutes. 

375 degrees F is a good temperature to reheat in the toaster oven as well, but keep in mind that because of their compact size, many toaster ovens run hotter than the temperature that they report.

Therefore, if you know that your toaster oven runs hot, turn the heat down a bit to avoid overheating your churros. 

3. Air Fryer

Another possible option that won’t soften your churros is reheating them in an air fryer. Because air fryers use dry heat, they won’t make your churros soggy.

To reheat churros in an air fryer, simply preheat the air fryer to 375 degrees F and spread your churros out, heating for 5-8 minutes.

It’s especially important to spread them apart. If they are touching, they are likely to trap moisture in and soften.

4. Stovetop

Reheating churros on the stove isn’t the ideal option, but if you don’t have any of the appliances listed above, it will do.

Simply heat up a frying pan over medium heat and, once it’s hot, place your churros in. Heat for 5-8 minutes, until fully heated.

The best way to ensure that your churros get heated all the way through is by covering your pan.

Be sure to turn them so that each side warms evenly. Don’t grease your pan before, as this will just cause them to get soggy. 

5. Microwave

Perhaps the quickest way to reheat churros is in the microwave.

You only want to put them in for a few seconds (10-15 seconds tops) at a time, because if you overheat them, they will get soggy.

Consider wrapping your churros in a paper towel, which will help them to keep their texture. 

6. Deep Fryer

Though churros are fried food, refrying them is probably the worst way to reheat them.

As with most fried foods, putting them back in oil will just make them soggy and moist, everything that a churro shouldn’t be.

Stick to dry reheating methods and leave the deep fryer to make your churros the first time around. 

Important: Keep Those Churros Crispy!

 One of the best parts about well-made churros, though they have many strong points, is their crispy, crunchy texture.

When making churros, it’s important to fry them at very high heat, making sure not to overcook them, which will cause them to get soggy.

If you’re making a large batch of churros, keep them under a heat lamp or in the oven so that they don’t get cold.

If you do have to reheat churros, the best method is in the oven. That’s because the dry heat will help to keep the churros crispy.

The most important thing to remember is to not add more oil when reheating, as this will soak into the churros and make them soggy. 

How to Properly Store Cooked Churros

The ideal situation is to eat churros 1 or 2 days after making them, but if you aren’t able to eat all of your churros in one sitting, there are various methods for storing them.

If you plan on eating them within a few days, store in an airtight container on the counter.

On the counter, churros will last a few days, but just remember that the longer they sit, the softer they’ll get.

Don’t store them in the fridge, which will soften them and take away their crunchiness. 

For longer-term storage, you can freeze churros. Churros will last up to a month in the freezer. 

To freeze, spread them out onto a baking sheet and place them in the freezer. Once completely frozen, put them in a resealable bag, ensuring to remove as much air as possible before closing. 

If you’re making churros from scratch, another option is to freeze the churro dough before making them. This will ensure that your churros are fresh and crispy in the future.

Simply freeze the dough or form the churros first and follow the same steps as above. Churro dough will also last up to a month in the freezer. 

If you want to make churros from scratch, but you’re not sure how to do it, I highly recommend The Cooking Foodie’s tutorial on YouTube. It’s peaceful to watch!

Related Questions

Are churros good cold?

One of the best qualities of churros is their crispness, and they are most crispy right when cooked or reheated.

Once they cool down, they will get softer and spongier. Cold churros will likely be much chewier than warm ones, but I guess cold churros are better than no churros. 

Who invented churros?

The origin of churros is contested. Some claim that they were invented by nomadic Spanish shepherds that lived in the mountains, while others claim that Portuguese sailors found a similar food on their travels to China and later introduced them to the Spanish.

One thing’s for certain: the conquistadors were the ones who introduced them to Latin America.

Many people mistakenly believe that churros are native to Latin America, associating the cinnamon sugar treat with Mexican cuisine.

While they remain popular in countries like Mexico and Chile, churros are an essential pillar of Spanish cuisine, where they are sold at churrerías throughout the country. 

What is the best way to eat churros?

When it comes to choosing how to eat your churros, the options are endless.

The traditional Spanish method is to dip them in a thick chocolate sauce, while the Mexican version is characterized by its cinnamon-sugar coating. 

However, you can also get creative when it comes to churro toppings or dipping sauces.

Consider dipping in Nutella instead of chocolate sauce or sprinkling with powdered sugar and lemon zest.

What else could I do with churro dough?

Traditional churros are shaped, usually with a piping bag, into a long, cylindrical shape.

However, you can get creative when shaping your churro dough, creating unique churro desserts with a distinctive look and flavor. 

Consider frying the churro dough into bite-size pieces or baking in cookie form. Put two churro cookies together with vanilla ice cream to make an ice cream sandwich!

You can also form balls with the dough before frying to make cake pops, sprinkling with cinnamon and sugar and drizzling with chocolate to create an impressive and unique treat. 

What are some of the most creative churro ideas?

If you’re entertaining, consider making a churro bar!

Prepare the churros in the traditional way (in a long cylindrical shape) or heat up pre-bought churros, but offer varied and creative topping options.

Be sure to include the classic chocolate dipping sauce, but also include some creative alternatives.

An orange, pistachio lime, or birthday cake glaze are fun and creative alternatives to churro toppings. 

Last but not least, consider making stuffed churros! This will involve making your churros using the traditional method then carving the center out with a skewer.

Stuff with Nutella, dulce de leche, cream cheese frosting, or anything your heart desires.