The Chipotle bowl is an awesome burrito without the wrap. It usually comes with rice, beans, and protein. Similar to a traditional burrito. But, without that protective wrap, how do you reheat this somewhat sloppy dish?
Start by removing all the cold ingredients from your Chipotle bowl before reheating it. This includes uncooked vegetables, sour cream, and guacamole. Then put the remaining ingredients in a heat-safe container or stovetop vessel. You can then use your oven, microwave, air fryer, or stovetop to reheat the ingredients. Don’t reheat the original container.
The most difficult part of reheating your Chipotle bowl is avoiding a mess or burning the ingredients. But, if you know the proper amount of heat and time to reheat your bowl, you have nothing to worry about.
Can You Reheat a Chipotle Bowl In the Microwave?
You can reheat your Chipotle bowl in the microwave. In fact, the microwave distributes heat the most evenly for your bowl’s ingredients and prevents burning. So, it is one of the best methods.
If you have a high voltage microwave you can expect your food to be warmed within a minute. Especially if you do not a lot of thick meat chunks in your bowl. If you have steak you may only need close to an extra 30 seconds to get it warm enough.
The microwave is ideal also because it is the least messy. All you need is a microwave-safe container and maybe a spoon to give your food a stir halfway through.
Is It Safe To Microwave a Bowl From Chipotle?
The short and sweet answer is, yes it is safe to microwave your Chipotle bowl. However, you will want to make some quick modifications to ensure quality and safety.
First, if you purchase a bowl with all of the fixins’, you’ll want to remove some of these before microwaving it. These include guacamole, cheese sauce, and as much lettuce as you can manage to take out.
If you are unable to pull these ingredients out, don’t panic. You can still microwave your Chipotle bowl safely. But, the flavors may not be as good and the lettuce may be a little limp.
Last, you should avoid microwaving your Chipotle bowl in the original package you get it in. Although it is still debated, some people doubt the safety of the wax coating in the bowl. And, the paper fibers may not be sturdy enough.
To be safe and to avoid potentially having your bowl break, move the bowl’s contents to a microwave-safe dish. You should microwave on high for 1-2 minutes. Halfway through the microwave time, you should stir the bowl’s contents to ensure equal distribution of heat throughout.
Can You Reheat a Chipotle Bowl In the Oven?
Chipotle bowls can be reheated in the oven, but it has a few more steps than if you microwave them. But, heating it in the oven, depending on what is in your bowl, can create a much more satisfying flavor than the microwave.
If you get your Chipotle bowl with steak or chicken shreds, then the heat from the oven does create a better crisp. But, if you get your with more wet proteins such as sofritas, you may not notice a significant difference.
However, you should remove as much of the fresh toppings and extras as you can, just as you would for the microwave. Try your best to remove any guacamole and definitely move any sour cream.
Cheese sauce should be okay in the oven because it cooks slower than in the microwave and won’t make a hard crispy “skin” on the cheese sauce.
Remove as much of the lettuce, tomatoes, and other fresh vegetables as you can that would wilt in the oven. Bake at 400 degrees for 10-12 minutes in an oven-safe dish. Do not bake it in the original dish to avoid potential hazards from the heat.
You can also lay down aluminum foil over a baking sheet and then add the content of the bowl. Do not spread it thinly, or else it may burn. But, you can give it a stir while it cooks halfway through the cooking time.
Can You Reheat a Chipotle Bowl on the Stovetop?
You can reheat your Chipotle bowl on the stovetop, but make sure you do not leave it unattended. The stovetop can easily result in your bowl contents burning, so make sure you are careful with the heat controls.
To keep it simple, turn your stove to a medium setting (anywhere between 4 and 6 on a numbered stove gauge). Preheat your skillet for between 2-3 minutes before adding oil. You only need about a tablespoon of oil, though.
If you add too much oil, you might end up with a very soggy and overwhelming oiliness. After adding the oil, add your bowl’s contents. But, just like with every other heating method, remove the fresh vegetables, sour cream, and guacamole.
If there is a little left in the mixture, you can still reheat it this way. But, the sour cream and guacamole may taste a little strange.
Can You Eat a Chipotle Bowl Cold?
The good news is, yes you can eat your Chipotle bowl cold! It is the best solution for anyone pressed for time. Or, if you mixed all of the ingredients together it might make it difficult to separate the cold ingredients from the warm ingredients.
Therefore, yes it is good news for you if you still want to eat your Chipotle bowl. Depending on your ingredients of choice they can taste better or worse when eaten cold. The sofritas are already rather soft and mix well with all of the ingredients even if they are cold.
But, the steak or chicken strips may taste a little chewy when eaten cold. They are still good though, and perfectly safe since they are already fully cooked!