Grits is a typical dish in southern cuisine and is similar to porridge. You can have it as a sweet or savory dish, as per your preference. You get the best of grits’ relish when you eat it warm or hot.
If you have leftovers, you should reheat them to rejuvenate their smack. However, you have to do it in the right way, lest you mess it up.
What’s the Right Way to Reheat Grits?
There are various considerations to make while reheating this cornmeal if you want great results. The method of reheating and appropriate meal additions are key considerations. The latter is crucial since it preserves the dish’s texture.
Grits become rough and dry as they cool. This is how some people enjoy it, particularly when it is served with yogurt, milk, or honey.
Relating to reheating, you do not want your grits to be very mushy or excessively coarse. The good news is that we will provide you with instructions on reheating this wonderful treat. The various warming techniques will consider the utilization of multiple kitchen gadgets.
Is it Safe to Reheat Grits?
When opting for any food preparation method, you should look at how safe it is. Reheating grits is safe and advisable. It helps give retain the taste of the dish and does away with disease-causing micro-organisms.
In case you want to use additives in reheating grits, ensure that they are also fresh, especially in the case of milk. If the leftovers had seafood, like the case of grits and shrimp, you have to be extra keen. Seafood gets bad fast; hence, you should store it in the right way.
Step by Step Process of Reheating Grits
The following are steps to follow when reheating grits using various available modes.
1. Reheating Grits on a Stovetop
We start by looking at how to reheat grits on the stove. It is an easy way of rejuvenating the maize meal, as you have total heat control.
- Put the grits on the saucepan and let it cook on moderate heat. A non-stick pan will work perfectly, as the cornmeal won’t stick and form lumps.
- Optionally, the broth will work. Stir for around a minute. When the food starts getting dry and coarse due to heat, add some milk or water. It all depends on your preference.
- Stir the mixture on low heat and cover. If possible, add other spices to the grits to give it a unique taste.
- Make a final stir and break existing lumps. Additionally, scrap pieces were stuck on the pan. You can add more milk or water, depending on the preferred consistency.
- The meal is now ready for serving.
2. Reheating Grits in Microwave
The other way to go about leftover grits is by using a microwave. This utility is very efficient as it will only take a short time for your grits to be ready.
Below are steps to follow when you opt for the microwave.
- Put the grits in a container suitable for microwaving. Add a preferred cooking fluid, like milk, broth, or water. Stir in the fluid until you get the desired consistency.
- Place the dish into the microwave and set to medium heat. Let the food cook for around thirty seconds.
- Remove the dish from the microwave once the time lapses.
- Add more of your preferred cooking fluid, stir and put back into the microwave. Let it heat up at medium heat for thirty seconds.
- Remove the grits and check on their consistency. If not as desired, you repeat the process. If ready, you can serve.
3. Reheating Grits in an Air Fryer
The air fryer is a popular cooking accessory, renowned for its speedy process. It comes in handy when reheating grits. Heed to the highlighted steps to make grits ready.
- Preheat the air fryer to around 390 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Transfer the grits into the air fryer’s container and add milk, broth, or cheese. A thing to know is that air frying is the go-to method for preparing cheese grits, a comfort food.
- Let the food cook for 3-5 minutes before removing it and serving.
4. Reheating Grits in the Oven
Using an oven is another excellent way of rejuvenating grits, but it is pretty delicate. The food can quickly dry up and be coarse if you are not keen enough.
You mainly use an oven when reheating grit casserole. Highlighted are steps of using it.
- Start by preheating the oven to 350 degrees. Meanwhile, put the food into a container suitable for the oven. You can add some milk, water, or broth, then stir. Cheese can also work well.
- When the oven is ready, put the leftover dish into the oven and let it cook for 2-3minutes. Remove and add some more cooking fluid and let it cook for the same time.
- If ready, you can serve. Ensure to be keen to prevent the food from totally drying up.
Other Ways of Reheating Grits
Pan-Fried Grit Cakes
You can get creative with your leftover grits and make pan-fried cakes. It is an easy process that requires you to:
- Put the grits in glasses and add some milk, honey, or yogurt.
- Stir the mixture until you have a smooth consistency.
- Put the glassed grits into the fridge for some time.
- Remove the grits from the glasses after refrigeration, and you have your grit cakes.
- Heat a pan and put butter. When the butter melts, introduce the cakes.
- Cook the grit cakes on each side until they are golden brown.
- You can serve it hot and fully browned.
Deep-Fried Grits
Keeping up with the southern cooking style, deep frying is another way of reheating grits. Here’s how to go about it:
- You will mix the leftover dish with milk or any other preferred fluid.
- Stir it to achieve a thick consistency.
- You then put the mixture in glasses or molds and refrigerate for an hour.
- When the cakes are solid, they are ready for deep frying. Heat some oil in the frying pan and when hot enough, introduce the cakes.
- Let them cook until they look golden brown. You may serve with a dash of honey or with bacon and eggs.
Related: Types of Pots for Deep Frying
How to Store Grits?
If you want to continue enjoying your prepared grits in the future, you have to store them well. The good thing is that storage is a straightforward affair. You can leave them on the countertop covered for up to a day before reheating.
Nevertheless, refrigeration is the best way if you want to retain the freshness of the grits. Place the grits in a dish and cover. Do not put them in the freezer, as it can affect their texture.
Related Questions
1. How Long Does it Take to Cook Grits?
The cooking time for grits depends on the type you have. If you are dealing with instant grits, the cooking time is roughly 10-minutes. Most people prefer this type due to its ease of preparation and short cooking time.
If you have the traditional grits, you may cook them for up to 45-minutes. You have to continually stir it until the desired thickness is reached.
2. How Do I Store Cooked Grits?
Grits is a versatile dish, an element that you will notice in several areas, such as storage. You can leave it on the countertop sealed. This method is ideal for short-term storage of up to a day.
Optionally, you can put it in the fridge. Using this method, you boost the grits’ table life to a week.
3. Can I Freeze Cooked Grits?
Refrigeration is an excellent way of preserving grits. However, do not put the leftover dish in the freezer. You might make it dry and coarse, which may not be suitable for you.
4. What are the Ways to Serve Grits?
You can prepare grits in various ways, both as a sweet or savory dish. When ready, you can serve it with milk, yogurt or honey, and fruits. This sweet dish is an excellent day starter or midday snack.
As a savory meal, you can prepare it with sausages, prawns, and different kinds of sauces. It is an excellent dish for lunch and dinner.
5. What are the Ways of Reheating Leftover Grits?
There are several ways of heating grits that are cold. You may use a stovetop, microwave, or air fryer. The other way is to reheat the leftover food using an oven. However, extra keenness is a must for this method as the food can get coarse and form lumps.
Final Remarks
Cold grit may have an off taste and may be coarse. You can save yourself from having a cold meal by reheating it. In this piece, we look at the various ways of reheating grits. Among the reliable options are microwaving, the use of a stovetop and oven.
Additionally, you can deep fry the grits or pan-fry them as cakes. Pick a preferable way to go about it and enjoy your plate of cornmeal.