The secret to cooking lamb chops is to keep them moist and not overcook them!
The same is true when it comes to reheating your lamb chops. One of the truest pleasures is being able to have the same quality of lamb as the first time it was cooked, and some reheating methods actually give you the opportunity to build even more flavor on the lamb.
From the oven, to the grill, to the air fryer, here is the most thorough and simple guide for reheating lamb chops.
Lamb chops, which usually come from the loin, rib, and sirloin, are a naturally tender and juicy cut of meat. Although incredibly succulent and tender when cooked medium, if overcooked or reheated incorrectly the lamb can quickly become tough.
Although we’ve found the most reliable and best way to reheat lamb chops is by using an oven, the principle remains the same no matter what method you are using. Keep in the moisture and don’t overcook the lamb!
If you don’t have access to an oven, or want a quicker and more convenient way to reheat your lamb chops, you can use the stove, your grill, the microwave, or even do air fryer lamb chops. Now, let’s go through the best methods of reheating lamb chops, keeping them moist and flavoursome.
Reheating Lamb Chops In The Oven
Ovens give you so many levels of control over the temperature and the cook of your food. It’s because of this that reheating lamb chops in the oven is the most effective way to retain the moisture and tenderness.
Although it’s a rather simple process it does take a touch longer than some other methods. However, we’ve found it to be the most reliable and failsafe way to reheat lamb chops, whether you’re reheating just a few or 10+ at once.
Here are the easy steps to reheat lamb chops in the oven:
- Preheat your oven to 350°F/175°C, ideally on the fan forced or the bake option.
- Place the lamb chops in the center of an oven-safe baking tray and cover the lamb and tray with two layers of aluminum foil.
- Once the oven is preheated, place the baking tray in the center of the oven and cook for ten minutes.
- After about ten minutes pull out the lamb chops and test the internal temperature to see how they are coming along.
- Give them a flip, cover them again with the foil, and return them to the oven for a further 5-10 minutes.
- Repeat this process until the lamb has reached ~165°F/72°C, which may take between 10-20 minutes depending on how many lamb chops you are reheating.
Reheating lamb chops in this way retains as much tenderness and flavor as possible, but if you want to go the extra mile, try adding a few tablespoons of stock, broth, or juice to the lamb chops before covering them in foil.
For a fresh herbaceous smell and taste you can also each lamb chop on a sprig of fresh rosemary. As the lamb reheats, the meat will take on the flavor and you’ll be left with lamb just as good (or almost as good) as it was when it was first cooked!
Reheating Lamb Chops On The Grill
One of my favourite methods of reheating lamb chops that can actually enhance the flavor as well as reheat the meat is by using a grill. Doesn’t matter if it’s a charcoal, gas, or electric, the goal here is slightly re-sear the meat on a medium heat, adding texture AND flavor.
This method can more easily dry out the meat if you are grilling at high temperatures, so I recommend not letting the cooking temperature exceed 400°F/204°C.
If you’re reheating lamb chops on the grill, follow these easy steps:
- Preheat your grill to around 400°F/205°. Hot enough to lightly sear it without charring or burning the meat.
- While the grill is preheating, remove your lamb chops from the refrigerator and let them come closer to room temperature.
- Evenly space out the lamb chops on your grill, not overcrowding it to allow for a consistent temperature.
- Cook for 2-3 minutes each side depending on the thickness of your lamb, remembering to close the hood.
- No need to rest the lamb chops, you can serve them straight to the plate.
The extra colour and sear on the lamb makes for a great centrepiece, even if it’s the second time around serving it! Pairing the lamb chops with a nice gravy or sauce goes the extra distance here as it balances out any dehydration from the grilling process.
Reheating Lamb Chops On The Stove
Using the stove is one of the more convenient and hassle free methods for reheating lamb chops. Again, you have full control here, and with much less risk of drying out the lamb because of the juices that are left in the skillet.
Using the stove to reheat lamb chops is simple, just:
- Heat a large skillet over a medium heat.
- Add a drizzle of olive oil or a small lob of butter.
- After a minute or so, allowing the butter or oil to heat, place your lamb chops evenly spaced out on the skillet, being sure not to crowd them.
- Cook the lamb chops for 2-3 minutes a side depending on the thickness.
- Once you’re happy with the temperature, turn off the stove and you’re ready to serve.
Because you’re dealing with a skillet, an enclosed cooking space, you can very easily add additional flavors while you reheat the lamb. Adding a few sprigs of rosemary and a few garlic cloves to the oil or butter really takes it to the next level.
How To Reheat Lamb Chops In The Microwave
Let’s face it, using the microwave is always the most convenient option. If you are pushed for time, or you haven’t got access to other methods then you can very easily reheat lamb chops in the microwave.
To retain as much moisture in the meat, and heat the lamb chop evenly through, here are our recommended steps:
- Place your lamb chops in a single layer across a large microwave safe plate.
- To help prevent the lamb from becoming too dry and chewy, pour 1-2 tablespoons of stock, juice, or broth over the lamb chops.
- Microwave on high for two minutes, or 30 seconds per lamb chop if you’re reheating less than four.
- Usually this is adequate time for reheating, but you may wish to continue microwaving in 30 second bursts if it’s not completely reheated.
- Easy, quick, and ready to serve.
The microwave has a notoriously bad reputation for making meat dry and chewy. If you follow the above method you will retain as much moisture and flavor in the lamb chop as possible.
Can You Reheat Lamb Chops In The Air Fryer?
Air fryers are perfect for crisping up almost anything, plus they hold consistent heat. Unfortunately there really isn’t a way to prevent the moisture from being drawn out of the meat, but there are several things you can do to minimize it, still leaving you with a juicy lamb chop.
Follow these steps to reheat lamb chops in the air fryer:
- Get your air fryer’s temperature up to 300°F/150°C.
- Carefully layer the bottom of the air fryer basket with aluminum foil, which will prevent the natural juices of the lamb from getting away.
- Place your lamb chops in the basket in a single layer to help with even heating.
- Place your basket back in the air fryer and reheat for 4-8 minutes depending on the thickness of your lamb chops.
- Ready to enjoy just as easy as that.
How Do You Reheat Frozen Lamb?
If you’ve made enough lamb for a small village and you can’t finish it all in one sitting, it’s good to know you can freeze it for up to 3 months without sacrificing much flavor or texture.
But, when you go to reheat your frozen lamb to serve, just be aware that it’s always best to thaw it first. This will allow the meat to slowly change temperatures over the whole cooking process, rather than going from really cold to really hot so quickly, which often leads to uneven heating, having some bits chewy and overcooked but some bits still cold.
You can use whichever method of reheating lamb chops as you wish, with the most reliable being in the oven, or on the grill or stove.
Can You Reheat Lamb Twice?
Nobody likes to waste food. Especially when it’s as divine and delicious as a lamb chop. If your eyes were bigger than your stomach when you reheated your last leftover lamb chops then you might be asking, are you able to reheat lamb twice?
Just to be clear, it’s entirely safe to reheat meat several times over, so long as it’s reaching 165°F/72°C each time. However, you will find a very quick decline in texture as the fibres of the meat have been pushed to their limits. But reheating your lamb chops for the second time using any of the above methods will still yield a bite worth eating!
