How To Reheat Seafood Boil So It Always Tastes Fresh?

Quick Answer: How To Reheat Seafood Boil?

Contents show

A seafood boil lends itself easily to being reheated on the stove or in the oven. It is also possible to reheat seafood boils in a microwave, although this is the least desirable method of the three.

With a few little quick tips you can effortlessly reheat that delicious seafood boil to enjoy again.

In this article you will also get info about shrimp boils, and other ways to use your leftover seafood boil, so you can continue to enjoy those incredible flavors in other imaginative, and tasty ways.

The seafood boil has an interesting history and can be found in many variations across different states.

The well-loved cajun seafood boil has its roots in the Acadians who were expelled from Nova Scotia and New Brunswick in the 1700s for refusing to swear an oath of allegiance to the British monarchy.

Many Acadians fled south and settled in the state of Louisiana. They brought their French roots, their French language and cooking practices.

Mixing with culinary practices from peoples of other countries who had also settled in Louisiana, cajun food was born.

Cajun food is known for its spiciness. The seafood boil characteristic of Louisiana is an excellent example of cajun cooking, and the ready source of seafood available in the region.

Growing up, I would always hear about fabulous seafood boils from an aunt of mine who lived in the Southern United States.

My mouth would water just listening to her talk about the mix of wonderful flavors that came together in an enormous pot, and were enjoyed by all of the neighbors on her street, or her church group.

I longed to have a big bowl of it myself.

When I got older, it was my goal to travel to the Southern United States, and try a seafood boil for myself; to experience once and for all, just what my aunt had raved about for so long.

I discovered that my aunt had not been exaggerating. All of her stories were right on the money, but they certainly couldn’t have captured the true deliciousness of this dish. I was in love.

Having tasted a seafood boil for myself (more than one, actually) my next goal became creating a seafood boil.

This was a little daunting, I have to admit, but I was very enthusiastic and determined to make a seafood boil myself that I could then cook up whenever I wanted.

This led to many pleasant hours of dedication to sourcing great seafood, reading and rereading numerous recipes for seafood boils, and then experimenting until I got one just the way I wanted it.

One thing about a seafood boil is that it makes a very large quantity. My friends and family were invited for a number of sampling dinners.

There would always be leftovers, and I soon became an expert at reheating my seafood boil, or using some of the leftovers in different and creative ways to enjoy again.

How To Reheat Seafood Boil On The Stove?

My favorite way of reheating seafood boils is on the stove. I can stir it and enjoy the scent as it wafts into the air, I can add wine or broth for extra flavor, and I know it’s not going to be dry or rubbery.

Reheating seafood boils on the stove follows a simple method.

RELATED: What Are Shrimp? (Fish, Seafood, Or Shellfish?)

How To Reheat Seafood Boil On The Stove?

What You Will Need

A pot, with a lid, the size required for the amount of seafood boil you are reheating.
A large spoon for stirring your delicious leftovers.
Water, broth or wine to ensure the leftovers stay moist.

What You Do

Into the pot, place the amount of seafood boil you wish to reheat.
Put the lid on.
Add some water, broth or wine depending on what flavor you want to add to the boil.
Turn the stove on low to medium-low.
Stir the contents of the pot.
When the boil is as hot as you wish, remove it from the heat, and ladle it into serving dishes.

It’s important to use a lid to cover the leftovers while they are heating as this will help the boil to stay juicy. You also don’t want any of those great flavors to escape.

Keep the heat fairly low. You aren’t cooking the boil, just reheating it.

If the heat is too high and you end up re-cooking the ingredients, you will cook away some of the flavor and run the risk of the liquid boiling dry, causing the boil to be dry and rubbery.

Give the contents a stir from time to time. This will keep the flavors mixing throughout. Always remember to replace the lid on the pot after you have given your seafood boil a stir.

Using a large soup ladle to transfer the food from the pot to the serving dishes gives you more control than pouring it out of the pot.

You are less likely to splash the contents which will be hot and could burn you, and you’ll be more likely to get all of the ingredients into the bowl and not on the floor or counter.

How To Reheat Seafood Boil On The Stove In A Bag?

What You Will Need

A pot the size required for the amount of seafood boil you are reheating.
Leftover seafood boil that has been refrigerated in a boil-proof plastic bag.
Water.

What You Do

Fill the pot with water, leaving room for it to rise when the bag of leftovers is placed in the pot.
Turn on the stove element to high, and heat the water to almost boiling.
When the water is almost boiling, gently set the bag of seafood to boil in the water.
Reduce the heat to low, and steam the contents of the bag for 10 minutes.
Remove the pot from the heat, and drain off the water.
Remove the bag from the pot and empty the contents into a serving dish.

There is no need to use a lid when you are reheating the leftovers in a bag. This is because the bag does the work of a lid. The bag provides the enclosed space for the steam.

Make sure that the bag is tightly sealed before putting it into the pot of boiling water. If the bag is not sealed, the contents will gradually come out of the bag, into the water, and will be ruined.

Remember that the water is very hot. When you are placing the bag into the water, do so with heat-proof gloves – ones made of silicone that are non-slip are ideal. (There are many excellent brands that are readily available.)

You do not want to burn yourself. Gloves rather than oven mitts, allow you to get a good grip on the bag. The same is true when you remove the bag from the pot.

When you drain the pot of water, the easiest way is to pour it through a large colander so that the bag will land there if it falls out of the pot.

How To Reheat Seafood Boil In The Oven?

What You Will Need

A baking sheet or casserole dish.
Non-stick cooking spray.
A little water.
Aluminum foil.
A meat thermometer.

What You Do

Preheat the oven to 275 Fahrenheit.
Spray a baking sheet or casserole dish with non-stick cooking spray.
Place your leftover seafood boil on the baking sheet or in the casserole dish.
Sprinkle the seafood boil with water.
Cover the baking sheet with aluminum foil, or put on the lid if you are using a casserole dish.
Place the baking sheet or casserole dish in the oven.
Heat the leftovers for 10-15 minutes, or until an internal temperature of 125-130 F is reached.
Remove the leftovers from the oven and place them in a serving dish.

A meat thermometer is a wonderful tool to have as it takes the guesswork out of knowing when meat is done. If you don’t have one, it is a great investment.

Do not forget to sprinkle water over the leftovers before covering them with foil. You do not need to douse them with water, but a sprinkle will keep the food from drying out.

It is important to reheat the leftovers at a low temperature, to ensure the food stays moist and flavorful. The great thing is, even at a low temperature, it does not take long to reheat the seafood boil to delicious, hot perfection!

How To Reheat Seafood Boil On The Stove In A Bag

RELATED: 25 Mexican Seafood Recipes With Balanced And Effortless Style!

How To Reheat Seafood Boil In The Microwave?

What You Will Need

A microwave-safe pan or bowl.
A little water.

What You Do

Place the seafood boil leftovers on a microwave-safe pan or bowl.
Sprinkle the food with a little water.
Microwave on low heat for 6 minutes.

Despite the fact that this method sounds super simple, using the microwave should really be your last choice for heating your seafood boil leftovers. The issue is that microwaves heat food quickly at very high temperatures.

The risk is that the boil will dry out and become rubbery. That’s because the high heat breaks down all of those good fatty acids in the seafood. It is also easy to get a burnt fishy smell.

If you have gone to all the effort of making a wonderful seafood boil, the last thing you want to do is ruin the leftovers by heating them in the microwave.

It’s better to leave them until you have time to pop them in the oven, which takes only 4 more minutes, or on the stove.

Frequently Asked Questions

How Do You Store Seafood Boil Leftovers?

Seafood boil leftovers may be kept in the fridge. What you put them in is partly determined by how you plan to reheat them. If you are going to opt for the oven, then putting your leftovers in airtight containers will be fine.

You can also use airtight containers if you will be heating up the leftovers in a pot on the stove.

Plastic bags that are boil-proof with a tight seal may be used to store leftovers regardless of the way you plan to reheat the seafood boil.

However, If you will be heating up the leftovers using the stove-top, plastic bag method, then you must put your leftovers in boil-proof bags.

Freezer bags are a good option as they have a tight, zipped seal. Be careful about your choice of plastic bag, and check that you may submerge it in boiling water without risk of breakage.

What Is The Definition Of A Seafood Boil?

Seafood Boils are popular in the southern states. The crawfish is the star. Other ingredients are crabs, sausages, potatoes and corn. Cajun seasoning is typically found in seafood boils in the Louisiana area.

What Is A Low Country Boil?

Different regions in the states have different variations of the seafood boil. Unlike the cajun boil of Louisiana, the Low Country Boil features shrimp and is widely available in South Carolina where you’ll often hear it referred to as Frogmore Stew.

As well as shrimp, a Low Country Boil will contain sausages, corn and potatoes.

How Do You Reheat A Shrimp Boil?

If you have shrimp boil leftovers, you can use the same methods that are outlined in the article for seafood boil leftovers.

The same rules apply, but be extra wary of using the microwave as shrimp will dry out even faster than other types of seafood.

Can Leftovers From A Seafood Boil Be Used In Different Ways?

Seafood boils typically make a lot and you could be looking at several meals’ worth of leftovers. Fortunately, there are many things you can do with the leftovers rather than eating the boil just as it is.

Seafood chowder is a wonderful option, as is a creamy, cheesy pasta seafood dish.

If you have leftover shrimp boil, you might want to consider making a rich-tasting gumbo, or the ever-popular shrimp cocktail – perfect for an evening when you’re entertaining.

Is A Clambake Similar To A Seafood Or Shrimp Boil?

Clambakes are popular in the New England states as well as Nova Scotia, Canada. A clambake can be viewed as a version of a seafood boil.

Lobster boils are also a well-loved variation that lobster lovers crave!

Author
Recent Posts

Jess Smith

Hi, my name is Jess Smith, and I love cooking in my spare time. Around three years ago, I decided to give up my day job as a teacher to pursue my passion for food. While I have enjoyed sharing tips and tricks on Social Media, I have decided to expand my horizons through this blog.

Through this blog I hope to help others learn the basics and more intricate details of cooking. I know from personal experience how frustrating it can be to cook a meal, only to realize you are missing one ingredient from your list. This is why I love to write articles chatting readers through some great substitutes that can be used in an emergency.

I hope you will find this blog useful, and that it will help you to develop your culinary skills, to help you cook up a storm!