Who doesn’t love a juicy, crispy, tender lamb chop? Lamb chops are favored worldwide as one of the first-choice proteins for dinner or at a backyard BBQ.
Simple to cook, lamb chops don’t need much more than a medium to hot heat and a few minutes either side before they are ready to be devoured.
If you happen to have leftover chops (this is a rarity), you will be happy to know that reheating lamb chops couldn’t be more straightforward.
With the below information, you will be enjoying your reheated leftover lamb chops in no time.
How to Reheat Lamb Chops in the Air Fryer
Using the air fryer to reheat any food is relatively straightforward, and it couldn’t be easier to reheat your lamb chops with it. Preset the Air fryer to 300°F/180°C and allow it to reach temperature.
Place the lamb chops evenly spread out on the air fryer tray. Allow them to reheat for about 5-8 minutes.
The most important thing to look out for is that the fatty parts are excellent and warmed through; there is nothing worse than cold fat.
Once the fattier details are warm through, the rest of the chop should be hot. It is important to note not too warm for too long as the chops will dry out terribly
How to Reheat Lamb Chops in the Oven
The oven is probably the method that demands the least amount of attention, allowing you to focus on something else while the lamb chops reheat. Set your oven to 320°F/180°C and allow it to warm up.
If your oven has a fan and grill combination setting, this is the best mode, but don’t stress if you don’t have this setting; use the standard fan setting instead.
Place the lamb chops on an oven tray lined with tin foil or use one of those gel mats. Make sure there is enough space in between the chops on the tray. It’s best to cove the tray with foil so that the lamb won’t burn.
Place them in the oven for about 8 minutes, or until they are sizzling and warmed through. Be careful not to overheat the chops as they will turn out dry and chewy.
How to Reheat Lamb Chops in the Microwave
The microwave is a quick and easy method to reheat your lamb chops. The only thing to watch is not to let them dry out. This can happen quite quickly when using a microwave.
Make sure the chops are in a microwave-friendly container, set the microwave to a high power 800W or something similar, and war for 2 minutes.
The container should be covered as the lamb fat will start to pop and shoots as it warms. Check after 2 minutes and remove to eat or warm for a further 1 minute.
How to Reheat Lamb Chops on the Grill / BBQ
Using the grill for both cooking and reheating lamb chops is the first choice for many lamb enthusiasts. There is something uniquely tasteful about cooking and reheating lamb on a grill or BBQ.
This is only really an option if you have a quick gas grill or are out camping and have a fire going to use. If using the gas, light the grill and allow it to warm up nicely. Place the lamb chops on the grid, fat side down, and enable the fat to warm and crisp up.
Flip the chops onto either side, warming through each side. The exact process will apply when reheating on the fire. Scrape some coals to the side and place your grid over them. Feel the heat to make sure it isn’t too hot. Place the chops fat side down and start crisping up the fat.
Once the lamb chops are hot and the fat is crispy, give the chops a good squeeze of lemon and remove it from the heat.
How to Reheat Lamb Chops on the Stove
The stove method is an excellent method and refers to using the stovetop or plates as they are also known.
A thick-based pan or skillet can be used to reheat the lamb chops. Both choices require the hot plate or gas element to be put onto its highest setting, whether electric or gas. Place the heavy-based pan or skillet over the heat and allow it to warm up to medium heat.
Start by lightly drizzling some olive oil over the lamb chops, continue by placing the lamb chops fat side down and allow the fat to start to render and crisp.
Once the fat has begun to warm and render, lay the chops on each side for about 2 minutes per side and let them warm through, but make sure not to overcook the chops.
When using the skillet, make sure you don’t let it get too hot as the fat will start to burn and may catch alight if you are using a gas hob.
The flames aren’t ideal but just turn the heat down to control the fire and heat.
Tips and Tricks When Reheating Lamb Chops
- It is essential to use the correct trays when using the air fryer or oven to reheat the chops.
- Always line the trays with tin foil or use a gel mat; this will help tremendously at the end when you need to clean up.
- When using the microwave, make sure the microwave-safe container has a lid on it, or else the fat will start to spit and shoot all over as it warms up. It is also advisable to add some moisture to the container. This will help the chops not to dry out. A little splash of water would be perfect.
- Start with the fat side down when using the direct reheating methods. Grill or stovetop. This will allow the lamb fat to render and reheat up faster, ensuring the fat is thoroughly warmed through once the lamb chop is hot.
- When using the skillet on a gas stove or HOB, try not to create any flames as this will cause the fat to burn and get a horrible bitter taste, and this could be a fire hazard if the heat is too high. Lamb fat does tend to catch alight quickly.
- It’s important to remember that any prolonged reheating will result in the lamb chops being very dry and chewy. So, keep to your timelines and don’t take your eyes off the chops, especially if you use one of the direct reheating methods.
- A note for when you are buying your lamb chops, look for the thickest cut ones. The thicker the chops, the better suited they will be for reheating. They won’t dry out when you reheat them. The thin lamb chops tend to dry out very quickly when you reheat them.
How to Store Properly
When it comes to storage, lamb chops store and keep very well. The most important thing to remember is to allow the chops to cool down completely before putting them in the fridge for later use.
Once cooked, allow the lamb chops to come to room temperature before covering and storing them in the refrigerator. The lamb chops can last for a few days in the fridge, and if you wish to keep them for longer, they freeze very well, as well.
To freeze, simply layer the cooked, cooled lamb chops in-between grease-proof paper with a bit of oil over each layer to prevent them from sticking together during freezing. The chops will last in the freezer for up to a month.
When it comes time to eat them, simply defrost the lamb chops in the fridge overnight and then follow your preferred method of reheating from the above choices.
To Sum Up
To sum it all up, we know that lamb chops are delicious on the day and can be enjoyed as leftovers over the following days as well. They reheat well and if reheated correctly.
The lamb chops will be just as juicy and tasty as when you first cooked them. The quickest way would be to use the microwave to reheat the lamb chops, but as mentioned, be careful as they dry out much faster with this method.
The most popular way to reheat the lamb chops would bet use the oven.
This allows you time to prepare other parts of your dinner or enables you to do something else. The oven method doesn’t require your undivided attention, which is excellent, especially with our fast-paced, multitasked lives.
Whichever method works best for you and whichever one you choose to use going forward, always remember not to overcook the lamb chops when reheating them.