Can You Microwave Hummus? (And How to Do It)
Hummus is a fantastic spread or dip that is universally enjoyed throughout the world. It’s very customizable, has an amazing texture, and goes well with so many different things.
Some people can’t go a day without eating some hummus. The best thing is that it’s very healthy!
Can you microwave hummus? You can, but you could also heat it on the stove in a saucepan – both are a simple process. However, if you want to achieve the best consistency and taste, there are more details to those methods than you might think.
If you love hummus as much as we do, you definitely want it to preserve its amazing taste. You don’t have to prepare a new batch each and every time. You can always reheat your hummus, and we are here to show you how!
Essential Guide to Microwaving & Reheating Hummus
Hummus is one of those things that everyone enjoys in their own way. Some people like to serve it lukewarm, others prefer warm or even hot.
Not many people opt for cold hummus right out of the fridge. This is where reheating comes in.
When we say that not many people opt to eat hummus cold, we actually mean something close to almost none.
In fact, many people would call it a culinary crime. Eating cold hummus robs you of the amazing taste and texture that can be felt when it’s at least lukewarm.
If you’re not a fan of warmed-up hummus, you can always eat it at room temperature – simply take it out of the fridge ahead of time. However, many people swear by reheating their hummus at least a little bit.
Reheating allows your hummus to become perfectly soft and easy to spread without losing any of the delicious taste. It also lets you pair hummus with more dishes.
If you’re adding hummus as a side to a warm meal, in many cases, you will want the hummus to be at a similar temperature to the rest of the dish.
If you’ve decided to warm up your hummus, you will need to consider a few factors before you begin:
- What are you planning to eat it with? Depending on this, you may choose different heating methods or even just let your hummus sit outside the fridge for a bit.
- How soon do you need it to be warm?
- What kind of texture are you aiming for?
The texture of your hummus is something you may not think of when you put it in the fridge, but you probably should. When you attempt to reheat it, hummus may not have the same type of texture that it did prior to being put in the fridge.
The way to remedy that is to add a little bit of hot water prior to beginning the reheating process. Instead of chunky, your hummus will turn out soft and smooth.
All that said, how do you reheat hummus the right way? We don’t recommend using the oven, not unless hummus is an essential part of another dish.
The two best ways to warm up hummus are:
- Using the microwave: Add a teaspoon or two of water and reheat in 10-second intervals until you’re happy with the texture and warmth.
- Using the stovetop: Reheat in a saucepan or a saute pan. Add a bit of water and keep stirring until you reach the right consistency.
While this covers the basics, we want to be sure that you’re fully prepared to warm up the best hummus you’ve ever had. For that reason, we have prepared a step-by-step guide with tips that will guide you through the process.
An example of other things to learn is how to deal with hummus that has been frozen. Can you just throw it into the microwave? We explain that in our guide!
Read on below to prepare your perfect hummus.
Step-By-Step Guide to Reheating Hummus
You know the basics and you may have already chosen your favorite method of warming up hummus, but there is more to it than first meets the eye. As such, we will discuss the different methods in greater detail.
We will also talk about frozen hummus. You may not know this, but if you’ve kept your hummus in the freezer, it will require a different set of steps in order to be reheated back to perfection.
Read on below to find out how to reheat your hummus.
How to Microwave Hummus
Microwaving hummus is one of the two ways to heat it up. While heating on the stovetop may bring a slightly better taste and consistency, the microwave will work fine. Just remember to be careful not to overheat!
- Place your hummus in a microwave-safe dish like this one.
- Add one or two teaspoons of lukewarm or warm water.
- Stir it in.
- Put the hummus in the microwave.
- Microwave on medium for 15 seconds, then take it out.
- Stir it, and put it back in for another 15 seconds.
- Repeat until you are happy with the consistency and warmth. Make sure that the center of the dish is as warm as the outside.
How to Warm Hummus on the Stove
Using the stove to heat or reheat your hummus may be slightly superior for one reason – the texture. As you are able to constantly keep stirring, the hummus may turn out to be a little more smooth than when you microwave it.
- Transfer all your hummus into a small saucepan or saute pan.
- Add a bit of warm or hot water.
- Stir it in slightly.
- Warm the hummus on medium heat.
- Stir it constantly to achieve the best texture.
- Add some more water if needed.
- When you’re happy with the texture, you’re done!
How to Warm Frozen Hummus
Although you can just place your frozen hummus in the microwave, by doing so you compromise the texture of your dip.
Some parts may warm up during the thawing process, so the texture will vary throughout the spread. As such, we recommend a different approach.
- The day before you want to eat your hummus, move it from the freezer to the refrigerator.
- It’s going to take at least a few hours for it to be ready to eat. If you kept it in the freezer for a long time, it may take a full day.
- Once it has thawed, stir it before heating up and add a little bit of water.
- Reheat using your preferred method or leave it to sit outside of the fridge for an hour or two to achieve a lukewarm temperature.
These are the main methods of reheating hummus. You may be wondering whether you could possibly reheat hummus in the oven or in a frying pan, and the answer is – not really.
While we’re sure you could achieve a degree of warmth, the consistency will not be great. You could even accidentally burn your hummus, making it completely inedible.
As such, we recommend using the stovetop, or if you’re in a big hurry – the microwave.
Now that you know how to reheat your hummus, you may be tempted to make a large batch and freeze it for later. But do you know how to freeze it well?
How to Freeze Hummus
If frozen properly, you can keep your hummus for up to 4 months. This is a great alternative for those that don’t want to make hummus too often.
Many of us spend some time on the weekends on preparing meals for the week. There is no reason why you shouldn’t do that with hummus too.
- Place all your extra hummus in a freezer-safe container. It has to be airtight.
- Leave a little room at the top; don’t pack the container full of hummus. Hummus will expand as it freezes, so it needs some extra space.
- We recommend freezing small batches at a time. For example, freeze five small containers as opposed to one large.
- Pour a little bit of olive oil all over the top of your hummus. This will keep it from losing moisture.
- Once the container is sealed, you can freeze hummus for up to 4 months – but for optimal taste, we recommend less.
Related Questions
We hope that you know all about heating and freezing hummus now, but in this section, we will address any remaining questions.
Can You Thaw Frozen Hummus in the Microwave?
You can, but it’s not the most optimal method. You can do this by setting your microwave to thawing and checking in on the hummus every 10-20 seconds to make sure the consistency is as it should be.
Can You Thaw Frozen Hummus on the Stove?
Theoretically, you could thaw your hummus on the stove by placing it in hot water, but we do not recommend doing that. You run the risk of water destroying the consistency of your hummus.
On the other hand, if you don’t use water, the spread will become chunky and taste much worse than it would if you thaw it properly. We recommend thawing it by moving it from the freezer to the refrigerator ahead of time.
Up Next: The Best Crackers For Hummus
