reheat grits
| |

How to Reheat Grits (The Right Ways)

*This post may contain affiliate links. Please see my disclosure to learn more.

Quick Answer

To reheat grits effectively, follow these methods:

  1. Stovetop: Add a splash of water, milk, or broth to grits in a non-stick saucepan, cook on low, stirring constantly.
  2. Microwave: Place grits in a microwave-safe dish with liquid, heat in intervals, stirring between until warm.
  3. Oven: Use a covered, oven-safe dish with added liquid, heat at 350°F for a few minutes, checking and adding more liquid as needed.

Read on for more detail

Do you love grits as much as we do? Some people consider them a regional specialty, but the recipe has spread all over the world, which means that many people get to enjoy this amazing dish. If you love grits and want to learn to reheat it the right way, this article is a must-read

How to reheat grits? There are several answers, and we’re here to cover them all. It’s important that you don’t try to reheat them dry—this is a key step in achieving the best possible taste. Most commonly, you will reheat them on the stovetop—but there are other ways too.

Grits are a dish that doesn’t take long to reheat, but many people don’t get it quite right. It’s not a given that a reheated dish will inevitably taste worse than it did on the first day.

Everything lies in the technique. If you’re tired of eating grits that just don’t taste all that great, read on and benefit from all the methods we’ve tested for you.

The Right Way to Reheat Grits

Grits are amazing when done well, but can taste quite bland—or even just unpleasant—if the heating process is not exactly as it should be. They’re not really the type of dish you want to just pop into the microwave and hope for the best, at least not without preparation.

This dish is known to be super versatile. It originated in the South and is now enjoyed all over the country, both as a savory breakfast dish and an addition to dinners. It’s quick and easy to make and can be personalized in any way you want it to.

Grits are also excellent if you’re traveling, or even at work, and can successfully be pre-made. One of the best things about grits is that they can be reheated, which means you can make them in advance.

Not a lot of us have the luxury of having the time to cook full dinners every single day. Breakfasts are yet another story – how many of us skip it entirely, and how many just grab a bite of toast before rushing out? We all live our lives in a hurry, which is why leftovers are such an amazing thing.

reheat grits

If you want to make grits ahead of time and then enjoy them several times throughout the week, you can. If you happen to make too much and have leftovers for the next day, that’s not an issue either.

All that you need to do is reheat them the right way, and you will have yourself a dish that tastes every bit as good as it did right after you first prepared it.

Grits, if not heated carefully, may turn out extremely dry, or even burnt. You don’t want that. With just a few minutes of preparation, you can have grits as good as new. But how do you truly reheat them the right way?

If you’ve previously used to just pop them into the microwave for a minute or two, don’t worry. We’ve been there, and that less-than-ideal experience encouraged us to look further.

That is how we gathered the methods you will find below. Read on and enjoy grits that are better than ever – even on the second or third day!

The Best Ways to Reheat Grits

  1. Using the stovetop. All you have to do is place your grits in a non-stick saucepan, add some water, milk, or broth, and cook on low heat as you continuously stir. 
  2. Using the microwave. While the best taste can be achieved through the stovetop, you can use your microwave to efficiently reheat grits. It’s definitely the faster option. Add some water, milk or broth, and place your grits in a microwave-safe dish. Heat up at a medium setting for about 30 seconds to 1 minute and repeat as needed.
  3. If you insist, it is possible to reheat grits in an oven. Like above, stir in some water, broth or milk, and preheat your oven to (at the most) 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Heat in an oven-safe container with the lid on.

If you follow the steps above, you will already achieve great results. However, if you really want the best grits that will impress your friends and family, read on to our in-depth step-by-step guide.

Step-by-Step Guide to Reheating Grits

Simply tossing your grits into a pot and heating them up on the stove just won’t do. Sure, they will be warm eventually, but they will also be dry and, if you’re unlucky, slightly burnt at the bottom. To avoid that, we highly recommend that you read our in-depth guide on how to reheat grits in the right way.

Before we begin, here’s an important piece of info: grits become thick over time, and when they’re thick, they’re dry. If you enjoy that taste, more power to you, but if you prefer your grits to taste like they did right after you first prepared them, never skip this one step. 

You always have to stir in a little water, broth, or milk to your grits – regardless of the method you use to heat them up. If needed, you can add more as the heating-up process continues.

corn grits

Ultimately, it’s up to you how dry or soft you want your grits to be, so remember to add some moisture based on your own preference.

With the most important tip passed on, it’s now time to discuss the steps. Choose your favorite method! You’re just a few minutes away from a delicious meal.

2. How to Reheat Grits on the Stovetop

This is our favorite and most recommended method. Reheating on the stovetop doesn’t take long, makes it easy for you to stir in some extra liquid if needed, and offers the best burn control. 

  1. Place your grits in a non-stick saucepan. This one is my personal favorite! You can’t go wrong with Cuisinart.
  2. Stir in a little bit of milk, water, or broth.
  3. With the heat on low, start reheating. 
  4. Stir continuously.
  5. If the grits start getting too thick or lumpy, it means it’s time to add some extra water/milk/broth.
  6. Break up the chunks as you’re stirring, as you want a nice, even texture.
  7. Remember to also scrape the bottom to prevent the grits from sticking to it.
  8. After just a few minutes, your dish should be ready & good as new.

3. How to Reheat Grits in the Microwave

While this is not our ultimate favorite, it’s still a solid method that most people will be happy with. It’s quick and reliable – perfect if you’re in a hurry.

  1. Place your grits in a microwave-safe container.
  2. Add a little bit of water/milk/broth and stir it in.
  3. At a medium setting, reheat for about 30 seconds.
  4. Take your grits out and stir. 
  5. Add some extra liquid if needed.
  6. Heat for another 30 seconds to 1 minute.
  7. When you’re satisfied with the texture and the warmth, take them out.

4. How to Reheat Grits in the Oven

This should be treated as an optional method, as it’s definitely not the best out of the three. However, if you want to experiment or for some reason only have access to an oven, you can safely give it a shot.

  1. Transfer your grits to an oven-safe dish.
  2. Preheat your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
  3. Add water, milk, or broth to your grits. 
  4. Place the lid on the container.
  5. Heat up for 2-3 minutes, then add more liquid, and place back in the oven if needed.
  6. Be very careful in this method, as it will be easy for grits to become dry or thick.

No matter which method you choose, we’re sure that you will find your grits to be vastly improved. Long gone are the breakfasts or dinners when you had to eat something you didn’t fully enjoy. Now, with just a little bit of work, you’ll be eating a dish that will taste as good as it possibly can.

Related Questions

If you want to achieve true excellence in the art of preparing grits, we invite you to check out our FAQ section below.

How to Store Grits?

If you’re planning to finish your grits later on the same day, we recommend not letting them get cool in the first place. You can keep them lukewarm by storing them in a heavy ceramic or cast iron pot with a lid.

You can also use a slow cooker for this. Remember to occasionally stir and add small amounts of water, milk or broth. If you want to store your grits for a longer period of time, put them in an air-tight container and store for up to three days in the fridge.

Can You Freeze Cooked Grits?

You can! Especially the savory variants, such as cheesy grits or shrimp grits, are known to freeze quite well.

Grab a cooking pan, spray it with non-stick cooking spray, and spread the cooked grits into the pan, then top it with cheese. Cover your dish with foil and allow it to fully cool before freezing. You can store them for up to 1 month.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *