How To Reheat Crab Rangoon – The Best Ways
Crab rangoons have to be one of our favorite hot buffet snacks! These light and crispy wontons, filled with a delectable blend of crab and cream cheese, are so delicious that it is highly unlikely you’ll have any leftovers.
But what if your crab rangoon has gone cold or you want to cook some in advance for a party; can you reheat this gourmet delight?
So, what’s the best way to reheat crab rangoon? The best way to reheat crab rangoon is in an air fryer. To start, heat the device to 300°F. Place the rangoons in a single layer in the air fryer basket. Pop the basket in the air fryer, set the timer for 5 minutes, and then remove once fully cooked.
We’ve got all the information you need about reheating crab rangoon, including our top tips and mistakes to avoid. Keep reading to find out more!
What Is Crab Rangoon?
Of the many miraculous things to come out of the craze for Chinese cookery techniques, crab rangoon has to come near the top of our list!
These versatile little bite-sized delicacies are perfect as a party appetizer, buffet snack, or as part of a delicious Chinese dinner party menu.
A crab rangoon, also known as a crab puff or wonton, consists of a wonton wrapper filled with a blend of crab meat, finely chopped scallions, garlic, and cream cheese.
Sometimes imitation crab meat is used as a low-budget alternative. As with most recipes, there are many tweaks and variations available.
The wonton wrapper is wrapped around the filling and folded into place. This can be a triangle, four-pointed star, flower, or traditional twisted wonton shape.
Crab rangoon is cooked by either deep-frying in oil, or baked in the oven. They can be eaten hot or cold and are normally served with a dipping sauce such as soy sauce or sweet chili sauce.
How Long Are Leftover Crab Rangoons Good For?
Because crab rangoons contain seafood, it is vital to follow good food hygiene methods when storing leftovers.
Once cooked, they should remain at room temperature for no more than two hours before being either chilled or reheated.
After this time, they must either be chilled or frozen to keep them at their best and safe to eat.
This means that these snacks are not suitable for a buffet which will be left out in a warm room for several hours.
If you want a continuous supply of crab rangoon for a buffet table, it is easiest to serve the crab rangoons cold. This means you can store them in the refrigerator and top up the buffet table supply whenever they run out.
Alternatively, you can reheat pre-cooked crab wonton on the day of your party, or even when you fancy a decadent snack! Let’s take a look at the best ways to reheat crab rangoons.
The Best Ways To Reheat Crab Rangoon
We find it hard to believe that you’d have leftover crab rangoons, but it is possible! Or maybe you want to cook a batch in advance and reheat them for a party or gathering?
To enjoy your crab rangoons at their best you will want to reheat them, but what is the best way to do this?
Firstly, you will need to store them correctly before reheating. The perfect crab puff has a soft, juicy filling encased in a light and crispy wrapper. However, this can quickly turn into a soggy and unappetizing mess!
To store your crab rangoon before reheating, these are the most important things to remember:
- Allow your crab rangoons to cool down completely before packing them up for storage. Once they have cooled to room temperature, they can then be chilled or frozen.
- Air and moisture are the reasons for a soggy wonton! Once your crab rangoons are cool, pop them in a single layer in an airtight container. A layer of paper kitchen towel will help to absorb any excess moisture.
The best way to reheat crab rangoon is a method that uses hot air circulated around the dish. This will help to keep the wonton wrapper as crisp as possible, reducing the risk of your reheated snack turning soggy and inedible.
Another way to reheat crab rangoon which can work well is over a direct heat source, such as a skillet or griddle.
Let’s take a look at how each of these methods compares when reheating crab rangoon.
In The Oven
Using the correct method to reheat crab rangoon in the oven gives you the best chance that they will come out as crispy as the first time around.
Preheat your oven to 370°F, and place the rangoons in a single layer on an oven-proof baking tray. Cover the rangoons tightly with baking foil.
Place the tray in the oven for 6 minutes, then remove the foil. Bake for a further 3 minutes to restore the perfect crispy finish to your crab puffs.
On The Stove Top
Using a frying pan on the stovetop is a quick and easy way to reheat crab rangoons, and you will get surprisingly good results using this method.
Take a large, clean fry pan and add a splash of vegetable oil to prevent sticking. Place the pan on medium heat and add the rangoons in a single layer. Cook the rangoons for 4 minutes, turning them halfway through.
This is a great method for keeping your wontons crisp and fresh. However, you are adding extra oil, so this is not the healthiest way to reheat crab rangoon.
Use a piece of kitchen towel to soak up excess oil before serving your reheated crab puffs.
In An Air Fryer
An air fryer is one of the best methods to bring your leftover crab rangoons back to life, keeping the wonton wrapper crisp and light whilst heating the crab and cheese filling to perfection.
The best thing about using the air fryer is it is so simple—just load them up, set the time, and come back to perfect wontons!
To reheat crab rangoons in an air fryer, heat the device to 300°F. Place the rangoons in a single layer in the air fryer basket. Pop the basket in the air fryer, set the timer for 5 minutes, and leave them to it!
If your air fryer does not shake or turn the food, you may want to do this manually halfway through reheating.
You might also like to give your wontons a spray of cooking oil, although if they were deep-fried originally this should not be necessary.
In A Microwave
The microwave is not the ideal way to reheat crab rangoon, as it will most likely result in a soggy wonton.
However, it is a very quick way and easy if you want a snack in a hurry! The flavor of the crab puff will be the same, it is just the texture that will change in the microwave.
Place your crab rangoons on a microwave-safe plate, with a piece of paper kitchen towel on top to absorb excess moisture.
Microwave for one minute at full power, then check to see if they are heated through. If not, microwave for a further 30 seconds at a time.
Take care when reheating crab rangoons in the microwave, as they may explode if too hot!
Related Questions
Now that we’ve gone over the best ways to reheat crab rangoon, let’s take a look at a few related questions on the subject!
What is the best way to store leftover crab rangoon?
If you have crab rangoon leftover from a party or family gathering, it is essential to store them properly to keep them in the best possible condition. There is no way you can let a delicious snack as good as this go to waste!
Because crab rangoon contains seafood, you must store them correctly to avoid bacterial contamination.
Once cooked, they should not be left at room temperature for more than two hours. After this, they will need to be chilled or frozen to keep them safe to eat.
Cooked crab rangoons should be placed in a single layer in an airtight container. They can then be kept refrigerated for up to two days, or frozen for up to three months.
Can crab rangoon be reheated from frozen?
It is not advisable to reheat crab rangoon from frozen. This is because the filling will take longer to defrost than the center, and your rangoons may be burnt on the outside and frozen in the middle!
This greatly increases the risk of food poisoning, particularly in the case of a seafood-filled wonton.
Luckily, frozen crab rangoon does not take long to defrost at room temperature. If you want to speed things up a bit, you can defrost them in the microwave, but if they become even slightly warm they will need reheating straight away.
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