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The best way to reheat a McDonald’s Cheeseburger
The best way to reheat a McDonald’s Cheeseburger is to microwave it for 30 seconds. It’s so simple. All of the Cheeseburger toppings can be reheated, so you don’t even have to dismantle the burger. You don’t even have to remove it from its wrapper!
- Add the Cheeseburger to the microwave in its wrapper
- Microwave for 30 seconds*
- Microwave for further 10-second bursts until steaming hot
*Based on 1000w microwave
Read on for more details, tips and alternative methods…
Do you have a leftover cheeseburger or two from your recent McDonald’s order? A nice bonus for the next day when you want a quick and easy lunch, but reheating it with quality results can be a little hit or miss. I have put together this short guide to talk you through reheating your McDonald’s hamburger without hiccups.
Can you reheat a McDonald’s Cheeseburger?
You can reheat a McDonald’s Cheeseburger to make the burger patty steaming hot whilst keeping the burger buns soft and the cheese melted again.
You can heat up your Cheeseburger in the microwave, the oven, the air fryer or on the hob.
Read on to find out the tricks and timings you can use to warm up your burger and get the best results from each method.
Can you reheat a McDonald’s Cheeseburger in the microwave?
Using my tips, you can reheat a McDonald’s Cheeseburger in the microwave without the bread going soggy or the patty going chewy. It’s not quite the best method for quality, but it’s the best method if you’re in a rush.
Remove the Cheeseburger from its packaging. Wrap in kitchen paper (to stop the burger from going too soggy or too dry) and place on a microwaveable plate. Microwave on full for 30 seconds.
In a 1000W microwave, it should be ready. If your microwave is under 1000w and/or the Cheeseburger has not reached 75°C (165°F), microwave for further 10-second second bursts until steaming hot.
Instructions for reheating a Cheeseburger in the microwave
- Add the Cheeseburger to the microwave in its wrapper
- Microwave for 30 seconds*
- Microwave for further 10-second bursts until steaming hot
*Based on 1000w microwave
Microwave tip 1: If the Cheeseburger was in the fridge, wrap it in a damp kitchen roll instead of the McDonald’s wrapper to introduce steam and help make the stale bun soft again.
Microwave tip 2: Let the Cheeseburger cool down before you take a bite because they get incredibly hot very quickly in the microwave.
Can you reheat a McDonald’s Cheeseburger in the oven?
You can reheat a McDonald’s Cheeseburger in the oven, but it will dry out easily, so don’t skip any of the tips below.
Preheat your oven to 180°C. Remove the burger patty from the Cheeseburger’s bun, scrape the pickles, onions and sauces from the patty and bun, and save on a plate.
Sprinkle a few drops of water onto the patty and all parts of the bun and wrap them individually in foil loosely.
Add the patty to the preheated oven (cheese side up!), and after 5 mins, add the top and bottom of the bun to the oven and continue to reheat for another 5 mins or until steaming hot.
Remove the bun and patty from the oven, reconstruct the Cheeseburger, and put the pickles, onions and sauces back in it. Add fresh sauce and pickles for extra, erm… freshness!
TIP: I do not reheat the bread as it gets a bit dry. In my opinion, there is enough heat from the freshly reheated patty. So if you can handle a slightly cooler bun, Scrape the pickles, onions and sauces straight on the bun lid, reheat the patty, slide it back in, and eat immediately.
Instructions for reheating a Cheeseburger in the oven
- Preheat the oven to 180°C
- Remove pickles, onions and sauces and save for later
- Sprinkle all parts of the burger with water and wrap loosely in foil
- Add the patty to the oven
- After 5 mins, flip the patty and add the buns
- After another 5 mins, remove all parts from the oven
- Reconstruct the Cheeseburger and replace the toppings
Can you reheat a McDonald’s Cheeseburger in the air fryer?
You can reheat a McDonald’s Cheeseburger in the air fryer. The following tips will help you make it as close to fresh as possible.
First, deconstruct your Cheeseburger and save the pickles, onions and sauces for later. Add a few drops of water to the patty and both parts of the bun.
Next, add the patty to the air fryer (cheese side up!) at 180°C.
After 3 mins, add both parts of the bun to the air fryer and toast with the burger for 30-45 seconds.
Remove all parts of the Cheeseburger from the air fryer and rebuild and replace the pickles, onions and sauces.
TIP: As with the oven method, I do not personally reheat the bread in the air fryer as it can get a bit dry. In my opinion, there is enough heat from the freshly reheated patty. So if you prefer a softer bun, scrape the pickles, onions and sauces straight on the bun lid, reheat the patty, slide it back in, and eat immediately.
Instructions for reheating a Cheeseburger in the air fryer
- Remove pickles, onions and sauces from the Cheeseburger and save it for later
- Separate the patty from the buns
- Sprinkle the patty and both parts of the bun with water
- Add the patty to the air fryer at 180°C
- After 3 mins, add the bun to the air fryer
- After a further 30-45 seconds, remove all parts
- Rebuild the Cheeseburger and replace the toppings.
Can you reheat a McDonald’s Cheeseburger in a frying pan?
The frying pan is a very reliable method for reheating a McDonald’s Cheeseburger. Below are my tips for achieving the best results in the fastest time, based on my experience reheating all kinds of burgers over the years.
First, you need to disassemble your Cheeseburger making sure you remove all of the pickles, onions and sauces and save them on a plate for later.
Next, add the patty to a medium/high preheated and lightly oiled frying pan and fry (cheese side up!).
After 2 mins, if you want to soften and warm the buns, add the buns to the pan with a couple of tablespoons of water, then cover the pan with a lid (or splatter screen, plate – whatever you have!). Let the buns steam for around a minute.
Rebuild your Cheeseburger and enjoy!
Instructions for reheating a Cheeseburger in a frying pan
- Remove pickles, onions and sauces from the Cheeseburger and save it for later
- Separate the patty from the buns
- Preheat the frying pan over a medium-high heat
- Lightly oil the pan and add the patty
- After 2 mins, add the bun and two tablespoons of water
- After a further 60 seconds, remove all parts
- Rebuild the Cheeseburger and replace the pickles, onions and sauces
Hopefully, you found these reheating methods quick and easy, and you are currently enjoying a hot, tasty cheeseburger that tastes just as good as yesterday.
FAQ
Is it safe to reheat a McDonald’s Cheeseburger?
It is safe to reheat a Cheeseburger if you don’t leave it out for over two hours, as heat-resistant harmful bacteria can start to grow. To ensure you destroy all bacteria, you must reheat the meat to an internal temperature of 75°C (165°F). Eating a Cheeseburger that’s been properly reheated is safer than eating it cold.
How long can a McDonald’s Cheeseburger sit out?
A Cheeseburger can sit out for up to two hours from the point it reaches room temperature. After that, it must be transferred to the fridge/freezer or thrown away as harmful bacteria will start to grow on it.
Can you eat a McDonald’s Cheeseburger the next day?
You can eat a Cheeseburger the next day if you store it in the fridge within two hours of it reaching room temperature. Otherwise, heat-resistant bacteria may have grown on it.
Can you reheat a McDonald’s Cheeseburger the next day?
You can reheat a Cheeseburger the next day if you store it in the fridge within two hours of it reaching room temperature. Otherwise, heat-resistant bacteria may have grown on it. You must reheat the burger to an internal temperature of 75°C (165°F) to destroy all the bacteria.
Can you reheat a McDonald’s Cheeseburger after 2 days?
You can reheat a Cheeseburger after two days if you store it in the fridge within two hours of it reaching room temperature. Otherwise, heat-resistant bacteria may have grown on it. You must reheat the burger to an internal temperature of 75°C (165°F) to destroy all the bacteria.
How to store a McDonald’s Cheeseburger in the fridge?
To store your Cheeseburger in the fridge, remove pickles, onions and sauces from the burger and place the sandwich inside an airtight container.
Can you eat a McDonald’s Cheeseburger cold?
Eating a Cheeseburger cold is OK as long as it hasn’t been out for over two hours. After two hours of going cold, the burger should be stored in the fridge to prevent harmful bacteria from growing on it. Personally, I don’t know why you’d want to eat your Cheeseburger cold when reheating it is so simple!
How long does McDonald’s Cheeseburger last in the fridge?
Your Cheeseburger will last 2-3 days in the fridge if you put it in the refrigerator in an airtight container within 2 hours of it reaching room temperature.
Can you freeze a McDonald’s Cheeseburger?
You can freeze a Cheeseburger. Within 2 hours of it reaching room temperature, remove the pickles, onions and sauces, then put the burger back together. Wrap the burger in plenty of kitchen roll and put it inside a freezer-safe bag or box. Defrost in the fridge overnight before reheating.
How long does a McDonald’s Cheeseburger last in the freezer?
A frozen Cheeseburger will be safe to consume for up to 3 months from the date of freezing.
