By: Adam Lapetina
Food is (usually) great the first time around. Unfortunately, after you've decided you're full and have stored it in the refrigerator for later consumption, the level of satisfaction derived from eating it drops off by about 100%.
In fact, leftovers are so frequently a disappointing experience that it can occasionally be tempting to leave them in the fridge until enough time has passed that you are totally justified in just throwing them away. "Welp, I guess I can't eat these now," you'll inevitably say, cleaning out year-old egg rolls while you prepare to move to a new apartment.
BUT NO MORE! Because here, in this very article, we've -- with the help of our recipe guru Perry Santanachote and other great culinary minds -- clearly delineated the best ways to salvage the most common types of leftover foods, from pizza to rice dishes to a crafty new take on Thanksgiving repurposing. Read it, and know hope.
Credit: Drew Swantak/Thrillist
Rice
"Reheated rice can sometimes get crunchy or mushy," says Perry, who has previously written about how to make the perfect stove-top rice. "Avoid this by placing the rice in a microwave-safe bowl with an ice cube tucked into the middle. Cover with plastic wrap, poke a hole for steam, zap it for a minute and a half, and... voilà! Your rice is soft and fluffy again." PHEW.
Of course, if it's only a day old, you could always just turn it into fried rice instead.
Pad Thai or other stir-fried noodles
Like Aziz Ansari, you can treat your noodles as "long-ass rice," and just do the same to them as we explained above.
Credit: Matthew Albanese/Thrillist
Pizza
GET YOUR HAND AWAY FROM THAT PREHEAT BUTTON! The best way to reheat pizza actually involves a skillet, some water, and a whole lotta gumption. Actually, you don't need that much gumption, and we apologize if you already started mustering yours.
French fries
How many times have you tried baking old fries to revive them to their former glory? Dude, there's a reason they're not called "bakes." Perry recommends sautéing (aka FRYING) fries in a tiny bit of oil in a skillet on your stovetop. However, "like anything fried, those taters might not ever be the same," she warns.
Credit: Dan Gentile/Thrillist
BBQ
We polled pitmasters to put together a comprehensive guide on how to salvage BBQ. Yeah -- pulled pork, brisket, even beef ribs. And they delivered (not the actual BBQ itself, but... y'know. Results.).
Egg rolls
This oft-leftover appetizer requires a bit of finesse (and a whopping two heating methods) to get back on its feet. "Heat them on high in the microwave for 30 seconds, then transfer to the toaster oven (right on the rack) at 450 degrees for five minutes," Perry says. "If you don't have a toaster oven, transfer rolls to a nonstick pan coated with cooking oil. Cook over medium-high heat for just a couple minutes, turning them to get even crispness."
More from Thrillist:
Like Thrillist on Facebook: www.facebook.com/Thrillist