How to Reheat Chipotle Bowl

As much as I hate spicy food, I love Chipotle just as much. I mean, who wouldn’t. Especially the Chipotle bowls, the mix of spicy and smoky flavors is too much to let go of. The quantity and spice level make it impossible for me to finish the entire bowl in one sitting. The outcome? I always have leftovers lying around in the fridge.

Since I don’t believe in food wastage, I knew for a fact that I need to find constructive ways on how to reheat chipotle bowl. Alongside this, I wanted to retain the freshness of the bowl too.

Here are a few ways of reheating your chipotle bowl that I know works pretty well.

What is a Chipotle Bowl?

Also known as a Burrito bowl, Chipotle bowl is a popular Mexican dish from the popular fast-food chain. It is a burrito in a bowl, but without the tortilla. So, all it contains are the fillings of the burrito.

It is a healthy and balanced meal consisting of rice, beans, veggies, and meat or vegan substitutes.  

Since most of the ingredients in the Chipotle bowl consist of fresh ingredients, reheating the components is pretty tricky. It leaves the elements soggy, making it hard for you to consume it the day after.

But, I have sorted you with some of the best reheating techniques.

Reheating Chipotle Bowl – Ultimate Guide

The majority of the Chipotle bowls come with the sauce on the side. So, if you know you wouldn’t be able to finish the entire bowl, I’d suggest you pour the sauce in sections instead of pouring it out on the whole salad.

It prevents the risks of souring or wilting of the lettuce. So, before you reheat the leftover burrito bowl, make sure you remove the following ingredients from the bowl first.

• Lettuce or any other vegetables
• Guacamole
• Salsa
• Sour Cream

What is the life of homemade salsa?

Here are a few methods that you can take a look into.

In the Microwave

When you look up reheating methods for Chipotle bowls, the most common one that everyone suggests is the microwave. It is quick but can dampen the taste a little. So, it is a hit or miss. This method also doesn’t require you to remove all the delicate ingredients, especially if you don’t have much time on your hands.

Steps to follow:

• Start by transferring all the contents of the Chipotle bowl into a microwave-safe container.
• Put the timer to a minute and let it reheat for the first minute.
• Once done, take the container out and stir the ingredients to ensure even reheating.
• Put the container back into the microwave and then reheat it for 15 seconds.
• Once done, take it out of the microwave and add the sauce and extra toppings if you’d like some.

In the Skillet

Another common alternative to reheat your leftover Chipotle bowl is to use a skillet. It is a time-consuming process and requires a bit of prep. Make sure you remove the vegetables and lettuce from the bowl before you start reheating it.

Steps to follow:

• Remove all the delicate toppings from the bowl, including the salsa, lettuce, guacamole, and sour cream.
• Once done, turn on the stove and place the skillet on it.
• Turn on the flame between low to medium heat and dump the rest of the Chipotle bowl’s ingredients on the skillet.
• You can keep the skillet open and stir the ingredients now and then, or you can close it with a lid to reheat them faster.
• Make sure that you stir everything every minute to avoid burning.
• Once done, take it out of the skillet into a bowl and add the ingredients that you removed before.

Have you tried any of these ceramic electric skillets?

In the Oven

One of the best ways to reheat your leftover Chipotle bowl is in the oven. It ensures even reheating without the risks of burning or extra toasting of the veggies and the rice in the bowl. It does take longer than the other methods, so you need to have time in your hand if you plan on doing this.

Steps to follow:

• Start by preheating the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
• Before transferring the ingredients into a baking tray, remove the delicate ingredients to retain the freshness.
• Once done, spread out the ingredients on the tray or an oven-safe container.
• Ensure that you cover the top of the dish with an aluminum foil to retain the moisture and evenly heat the food
• .
• Set the timer for 10-15 minutes, depending on how much leftovers you have.
• Once the reheating is done, take it out of the oven and add the veggies and sour cream on top and enjoy it piping hot.

Is it Safe to Refrigerate the Chipotle Bowl?

Yes, Chipotle bowls are entirely safe for you to refrigerate to extend their shelf life. Refrigerating them helps you save up the leftovers that you can reheat the next day and enjoy without any guilt or risks.

If you wonder how long it is safe to refrigerate the bowl, I’d suggest not going beyond 4-5 days. Since the bowl contains lettuce, onion, and guacamole, it has higher risks of getting sour, posing risks of contamination.

So, at best, try and finish the leftovers the next day or maximum the day after.

Conclusion

Reheating your Chipotle bowl is easy. You need to know the right ways. I struggled with the reheating process initially until someone told me that I was supposed to remove the delicate ingredients before reheating them. So, mostly, you learn along the way. And this article is just a cumulative knowledge of what I have learned after reheating multiple leftover Chipotle bowls.