How To Reheat Cornbread

If you like home-style cooking, you most likely have had cornbread or maybe even enjoy it regularly with specific meals. It’s a classic favorite for things like soups, chili, ham and beans, and so many other dishes.

The beauty of cornbread is that you can eat it whenever you want because it pairs with just about anything. Plus, everyone has their own cornbread preferences.

Whether you use a mix or make yours from scratch, you probably already know that a little bit will go a long way. Cornbread can be pretty filling so it’s likely you will have leftovers to contend with. 

How do you reheat cornbread? For the best results, we recommend reheating cornbread in the oven. This method maintains the flavor and prevents the texture from becoming crumbly. If you’re short on time, the microwave is another suitable option so long as the steps are carefully followed. Otherwise, the texture could change.

In this guide, we will walk you through all of the steps for how to reheat cornbread. It’s a pretty easy process if you know just what you need to do.

You can reheat it in approximately 15 minutes in the oven and less than a minute if you use the microwave. 

Keep reading to learn the ins and outs for reheating cornbread that tastes as delicious as the first time it was served. 

Reheating Cornbread: The Full Guide

The oven is our top choice for reheating cornbread. You can also use the microwave and you can even use an air fryer if you have one on hand.

Whichever method you choose, following some tips and tricks will make a big difference in the taste and texture of your end result. 

If you aren’t careful, you could end up with cornbread that is dry, or soggy, or perhaps even crumbly and burnt.

But don’t worry! We won’t allow you to fall victim to poorly reheated cornbread. That’s why we’re here after all! 

Let’s walk through the instructions for reheating cornbread using each of these methods. 

Reheating Cornbread In The Oven

The oven is our reheating method of choice for cornbread. It just tends to have the best and most reliable results.

Obviously, it will require a little bit of time since you will need to pre-heat your oven and then plan on 10-15 minutes of reheating time as well. 

Here are our recommended steps for reheating cornbread in the oven. 

1. Preheat your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. 
2. Place your cornbread in an oven-safe baking pan if it is not already in one. 
3. Cover the pan you are using with aluminum foil. If you place your cornbread on a baking sheet instead of in a pan, you can just wrap your cornbread in foil instead. This helps keep it from drying out while it reheats. 
4. Bake the cornbread in the oven for about 15 minutes. Start checking it at the 5-minute mark and then check it again at 10 minutes. Checking it just helps to prevent burning or drying out as every oven is slightly different. 
5. Every time that you check your bread, rotate the pan the other direction to ensure even heating. 

Once your bread is sufficiently warmed to your liking, go ahead and pull it out of the oven, remove the foil, and then simply enjoy your heated cornbread with no issues!

You can add butter or honey or anything else and pair it up just like you normally might. 

Reheating Cornbread In The Microwave

If you don’t have an oven at your disposal, you can use a microwave instead.

The microwave will also work if you simply need to reheat quickly and don’t have time for the oven as well. This option is quick and easy and it’s pretty effective if you know the tips. 

Follow these steps to reheat cornbread in the microwave. 

1. Place your cornbread in a microwave-safe dish. We recommend using a dish with a lid but you can use a plate if you prefer. 
2. Before you microwave, change your microwave to the reheat setting if at all possible. 
3. You need to cover your cornbread. If you use a dish with a lid, simply put the lid on the dish. You could also use plastic wrap on a dish as long as it is not touching the bread. If you need to, just go ahead and wrap the cornbread with a paper towel instead. 
4. Place the dish and the cornbread in the microwave. 
5. Microwave the cornbread for approximately 20-30 seconds. 

This should get your cornbread plenty warm but you can add a few seconds if needed until it is sufficiently warmed to your liking.

The key in the microwave is to avoid leaving the cornbread uncovered as this could cause the cornbread to dry out or get soggy, neither of which is what you want to experience. 

Reheating Cornbread In An Air Fryer

The air fryer is becoming more and more popular as people realize just how reliable and convenient it can be.

It doesn’t take up a ton of space and it can be a great option if you don’t have an oven or maybe don’t want to heat up the house. 

The air fryer uses air to heat and cook and the results are typically similar to an oven but it adds a bit of a crisping effect in the process.

You can most definitely reheat cornbread in the air fryer and it’s quick, easy, and delicious when you do so! 

We will mention that the air fryer is best when no liquid topping has been added to the cornbread. If you drizzled honey or something on it, the air fryer may not be ideal. 

Here are our recommended steps for reheating cornbread in the air fryer. 

1. Preheat your air fryer to about 320 degrees for the reheating process. 
2. Place the cornbread into the air fryer. 
3. Cook in the air fryer at this temperature for about 3-5 minutes. 
4. You just want the cornbread to be warmed and maybe slightly crisped around the edges. 

This is a really fast and really easy way to reheat your cornbread.

It’s more reliable for the quality of the cornbread than using the microwave and will definitely keep your cornbread from getting soggy during the cooking process. 

Reheating Cornbread On The Stovetop 

Some people make their cornbread using a cast iron skillet. They start it on the stovetop and may finish it in the oven.

You can also use the stovetop for reheating purposes if you would like, particularly if you have a cast iron pan. 

We recommend a cast iron pan for reheating on the stovetop but you could improvise if needed. Your challenge here will be the cornbread getting dry so just be mindful of that possibility. 

Follow these instructions to help with reheating cornbread on the stovetop. 

1. Prepare your cast iron pan with a little bit of oil or butter. This will also help to keep moisture in the cornbread so it doesn’t get dry and crumbly. Just grease the pan, you don’t need a thick layer or excess in the pan. 
2. Heat your pan on medium heat before putting the cornbread in it. 
3. Add the cornbread when the pan is hot. 
4. Place the cornbread in the pan and heat it until it reaches a suitable temperature for you. 

On the stovetop, you will want to be careful not to burn your cornbread. It should only take a couple of minutes to get it heated through.

Remember that you are not cooking it from scratch; you’re just warming it back up! 

Related Questions

We hope this guide to reheating cornbread has detailed easy to follow methods for the best ways to reheat this savory side. Whatever tools and amount of time you have to work with, one option is sure to work for you.

We invite you to take a look at the following question and answer section for some additional details that could be helpful. 

What If My Cornbread Turns Dry? 

A great way to add a little moisture to your cornbread is to top it with a bit of butter immediately after reheating.

It should be warm enough to melt the butter still and it will pull the butter into the bread to moisten it. 

Do You Refrigerate Leftover Cornbread? 

You can store leftover cornbread at room temperature, in the fridge, or even in the freezer.

You can store it in the refrigerator for about a week and it will stay fresh. If you store it at room temperature, it will most likely only stay fresh for a couple of days.

Can You Serve Cornbread Cold? 

As long as your cornbread was cooked initially, you can serve it cold instead of reheating it.

Most people prefer for it to be warm or hot, but it can be really tasty cold or at room temperature. In this instance, it is totally up to you and your preferences. 

Can You Put Cornbread Back In The Oven? 

We know now that the oven is our top-tier choice for the best results when it comes to reheating cornbread.

So, it probably comes as no surprise that if your cornbread isn’t quite done, you can toss it back in the oven.

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