The Best Way To Reheat Leftover Beef Wellington
Probably named after the First Duke of Wellington, Beef Wellington is a delicacy for many. But it can be tricky to get right when cooking, much less reheating. The trick to the perfect classic Beef Wellington is getting the puff pastry exterior crispy while ensuring the beef inside is tender and juicy. Since having that signature crunch to your pastry is essential, it makes reheating your leftovers harder than other dishes. Unfortunately, there's no way to cut corners for convenience while ensuring the quality of the dish. For this reason, you probably shouldn't just toss your Beef Wellington in the microwave, which we will get to in a minute.
The best way to reheat your Beef Wellington is in the oven. You should reheat your leftovers on a medium-low heat between 250 to 300 degrees Fahrenheit. This will ensure that it doesn't end up overcooking. Another tricky part about reheating your Beef Wellington is not overcooking it to where the interior meat is tough and dried out. To ensure the exterior puff pastry doesn't burn, consider placing a sheet of aluminum foil over your Wellington. This will help redirect some of the heat, making sure your leftovers have that crispiness you're looking for without being overdone.
How long should you reheat Beef Wellington?
How long it takes to reheat leftover Beef Wellington in the oven depends on how much you have left. It also depends on whether you'll slice the Wellington or cook it whole. If you have nearly a whole Beef Wellington left, then be prepared to wait about the same amount of time as it took to cook the Wellington proper. It takes around 45 minutes to cook the dish initially and up to 40 minutes to reheat the meal based on its size.
Of course, you can speed up the reheating process significantly if you slice the Wellington up. Slices of Beef Wellington should take around 20 minutes to cook. However, that can vary depending on their size. Additionally, slicing the Wellington poses a risk that you may overcook the meat in an attempt to reheat it. Beef Wellington is best served at medium or medium rare. You can mitigate these risks by using a meat thermometer to measure the temperature of your beef. It should read 135 degrees Fahrenheit for medium rare and 150 degrees Fahrenheit for medium. The aluminum foil should also help divert some of the direct heat.
Why the oven is the best way to reheat Beef Wellington
But, you may ask yourself, is this really the best way to reheat your Beef Wellington? Compared with the alternatives, the oven is your best bet at ensuring the quality of your meal. If you only have a few slices left, you can always toss the meal in a pan on the stove. However, this isn't ideal for larger leftovers, as you would risk overcooking the Wellington on the direct heat of the stove. Likewise, oil from the pan may leave your pastry a tad greasy.
As mentioned above, you should never microwave Beef Wellington unless it's a last resort. This reheating method will cause your pastry to end up a soggy mess that's not up to the quality you deserve from the dish. Reheating your Wellington in the air fryer is a viable method, especially if you want your meal fast. However, that pro can soon turn into a con. Since air fryers heat so quickly, there's a greater chance of accidentally burning rather than reheating your meal. The oven allows your Wellington to reheat thoroughly. Just be sure to eat those leftovers within four days as they begin to lose their quality afterward.