Can You Reheat a Chipotle Bowl in A Microwave Oven

Chipotle bowls are fantastic meals when you go out. They contain all the great flavors of classic Mexican food without all the mess. The only problem with Chipotle bowls is they hold a lot of food. As a result, it is challenging to finish it all in one sitting. Sometimes I can finish it, but most of the time, I cannot. As a result, I need to know how to reheat a Chipotle bowl.

You might consider a few methods when you need to figure out how to reheat a Chipotle bowl. Here I will take you through the best options so that you can have the best leftovers possible.

Can You Microwave a Chipotle Bowl?

On the surface, reheating a Chipotle bowl is not challenging. However, there are many elements in a Chipotle bowl, so you want to maintain the texture and flavors. For instance, nobody likes microwaved lettuce!

Fortunately, you can use a microwave to reheat a Chipotle bowl without difficulty. However, you should do a few things before throwing the bowl in the microwave. Taking the time to do these things will improve your meal.

Are Chipotle Bowls Microwaves Safe?

I know I said I was going to talk about the process of microwaving a Chipotle bowl, and I will, but first, I want to cover safety. The first thing you need to know is you should not reheat your Chipotle bowl in the original bowl. Instead, you should take the contents from the bowl and move them to a plate or bowl. 

While Chipotle bowls are made of compostable materials, they can melt in the microwave. Even if they don’t visibly melt, they can leech toxic chemicals into your food, which can cause you to get sick. Sometimes it can be fine to reheat the bowl, such as only popping it in the microwave for a few seconds, but it is better to be safe than sorry. 

You may get a takeout Chipotle Bowl served in an aluminum foil container. Microwaving this material is safe, but you will need to follow specific guidelines from USDA Food Safety Agency, read Are Aluminum Takeout Containers Microwave Safe?

Reheating a Chipotle Bowl in the Microwave

When you go to reheat your Chipotle bowl, you must be careful about throwing in the whole thing. Anyone who has had a Chipotle bowl knows there are cold elements in it, like sour cream or lettuce. 

You should not microwave the cold ingredients. Instead, you should remove cold elements that will not hold up well under the microwave’s heat, such as sour cream, guacamole, and salsa. You should try only to have meat, rice, queso, grilled vegetables, and beans in the bowl when you reheat.

You can move the rest of your Chipotle bowl to a microwave-safe bowl or container. It would be convenient to throw the original bowl in the microwave, but as mentioned above, it is not safe. 

Once everything is in a microwave-safe container, you can put it in the microwave. Start by heating it for 20 seconds. Then, take the bowl out of the microwave, stir the ingredients, and return it to the microwave. The goal of stirring is to ensure everything is heated evenly. You can then microwave it for another 20 seconds.

After the second 20-second interval, you can test the food to see if it is warm enough. The desired heat will differ from person to person, so judge that yourself. Additionally, the higher volume of leftovers you have, the longer it will take to heat.

If you want it warmer, you can stir it again and heat it for another 20 seconds. Repeat this process until it is hot enough for you. You can add the toppings you removed before heating and enjoy the rest of your Chipotle bowl.

Reheating a Chipotle Bowl Without a Microwave

If you do not own a microwave or do not want to use a microwave, there are plenty of other options. You can learn how to reheat a Chipotle bowl in an oven, air fryer, or skillet on the stovetop. I will take you through the process for each device.

Reheat a Chipotle Bowl in an Oven

The most logical alternative is an oven if you do not want to use a microwave to reheat your Chipotle bowl. Ovens are great for reheating food, but they take longer than microwaves because they take time to heat up.

Like when I described the microwaving process, you should remove items like lettuce, guacamole, and salsa so they do not get mushy in the oven. You should transfer the materials you want to heat up to an oven-safe container.

However, before you start anything, you can preheat your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. It will take around 10 minutes to heat up, so you can do this before you remove cold materials from your Chipotle bowl.

Once you have transferred everything you want to heat up to an oven-safe container, you should cover it in aluminum foil. Doing so will ensure it heats up quicker. 

When your oven finishes heating up, you can place your Chipotle bowl in it for 10 to 15 minutes. The time will vary based on how hot you like your food and how much is leftover.

When it is warm, remove the container from the oven and move it to a plate. If it is a little hot, give it time to cool. You can then eat the rest of your meal.

Reheat a Chipotle Bowl with an Air Fryer

An air fryer is another alternative source for reheating your Chipotle bowl. Start by preheating the air fryer to 325 degrees Fahrenheit. Next, you can remove all materials you do not want to heat up.

When the air fryer heats up, you can place the remaining contents into the fryer. Let it air fry for five minutes before stirring it. Cook it for an additional two minutes before removing it. You can then remove your Chipotle bowl from the air fryer, add back the materials you removed earlier, and enjoy your meal.

Reheat a Chipotle Bowl in a Skillet On the Stovetop

The final method I want to go over is reheating your Chipotle bowl in a skillet on the stovetop. I want to reiterate the importance of removing all fresh toppings. 

Start the process by heating your skillet on medium heat on your stove. Once it is hot, add a small amount of butter, oil, or cooking spray. Add the remaining contents of your Chipotle bowl to the skillet.

While the ingredients are in the skillet, stir them constantly. Remember, you are not cooking the materials; you only want to heat them. As a result, you do not want anything sitting in one place for a long time.

Leave the ingredients in the skillet for two to four minutes. The time you need to leave them in the skillet depends on the temperature you want and the number of leftovers.

When everything is reheated, you can transfer the ingredients to a serving dish. Add the fresh ingredients back to the heated ones and enjoy your meal.

Best Way To Reheat a Chipotle Bowl

All four heating methods are effective, but some are better than others. 

Ovens and microwaves are equally effective at heating food. However, I prefer to use a microwave because it is quicker. If you did not need to preheat the oven, I might choose an oven, but since you do, I prefer to use a microwave.

Using an air fryer is the worst option because it has the highest chance of burning your food. A skillet is next on my list because it leaves a little bit of cleaning work for no reason.

Verdict: Reheat a Chipotle Bowl in A Microwave Oven

Chipotle bowls are delicious, and you can have them two days in a row because they come with so much food. However, you must ensure you reheat a Chipotle bowl. The disposable bowls contain plastic that can leech into your food if you microwave it for too long. 

In my opinion, you are best off using a microwave to reheat the rice, beans, meat, and vegetables. After these elements are warm, top them with the leftover sour cream, lettuce, salsa, and guacamole, and enjoy your Chipotle bowl! 

FAQs Reheating a Chipotle Bowl