Yes — it is the best way to reheat anything that was crisp when it was made: pizza, fries, wings, fried chicken, egg rolls. Most need 3 to 10 minutes at 350 to 375 °F, and the center should reach 165 °F.
Why it beats the microwave
A microwave heats the water in food, which softens crusts. An air fryer moves hot air past the surface, which drives that moisture off — so anything that was crisp comes back crisp, faster than a full-size oven preheats.
Times and temperatures to start from
| Leftover | Temperature | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Pizza slice | 350 °F | 3–4 min |
| French fries | 375 °F | 3–5 min, shaken |
| Chicken wings | 375 °F | 4–6 min |
| Fried chicken pieces | 375 °F | 8–10 min |
| Egg rolls, spring rolls | 350 °F | 5–6 min |
| Roast vegetables | 350 °F | 4–6 min |
| Croissants, pastries | 320 °F | 2–3 min |
Single layer, and check a minute early. Machines differ, and already-cooked food goes from crisp to dry quickly.
How to do it well
Bring the food to room temperature for 10 minutes if you can — the middle heats before the outside overcooks.
A light spray of oil on fries and fried chicken restores the crunch.
No preheat needed for most leftovers, but a preheated basket crisps faster.
Lower and longer for thick pieces, so the center reaches 165 °F before the coating darkens.
What it does badly
Soups, sauces and stews — they dry out or spill. Plain rice and pasta — they harden. Anything leafy — it blows around. Use a microwave, a covered pot or a multi-cooker on Keep Warm; see can I use an air fryer to keep food warm.
Food safety
Reheat leftovers to 165 °F, eat them within three to four days of cooking, and reheat only once. See using a probe thermometer.
The toaster oven alternative
An air-fry toaster oven reheats a whole pizza on its flat tray, where a drawer basket takes a slice or two. The BLACK+DECKER 5-in-1 at $61.99 and the Hamilton Beach at $59.95 both take a 9-inch pizza. For a soggy batch, see why are my air fryer fries soggy.
Check your own manual before you follow anything here. Temperatures, fill limits and pressure ratings differ from model to model, and the manufacturer’s figures take precedence over anything written on this site. We report what makers publish — an oven’s range in degrees, a cooker’s maximum fill line, whether a part is declared dishwasher-safe — and we never turn those figures into food-safety guidance. Cooking temperatures and holding times for particular foods are set by manufacturers and by your national food safety authority, and this site points you to them rather than restating them.
Prices quoted in this text were read on 2026-10-18. The live price is at the top of the page.
What readers want to know
How long do I reheat pizza in an air fryer?
About 3 to 4 minutes at 350 °F for a thin slice, 5 to 6 for thick or deep-dish. The crust crisps again and the cheese melts without the sogginess a microwave gives. Lay a small rack or a piece of foil on top of a light slice if the toppings start to blow around.
What temperature should leftovers reach?
165 °F in the center, which is the USDA's guidance for reheated leftovers. Check thick pieces such as chicken with an instant-read thermometer: the outside of reheated food often crisps before the middle is hot.
What should I not reheat in an air fryer?
Soups, sauces and anything wet, which dry out or spill; rice and pasta on their own, which harden; and leafy greens, which blow around and burn. A microwave or a covered pot does those better. Food with a sauce works in a small oven-safe dish with foil over it.
Last reviewed 18 October 2026