The Absolute Best Way To Reheat A Sandwich

According to recent National Center for Health Statistics data on sandwich consumption in the U.S., nearly half of the population eats a sandwich on most days. Given the supersized food situation happening across the country, a lot of us will be reheating the leftovers of that sandwich tomorrow. And for those who love to enjoy their leftovers as much as the original, a few tips for appropriate reheating would be handy.

Scanning expert advice on the topic, the microwave is the most common kitchen appliance you should avoid for reheating a sandwich. The microwave can seem like a fast fix, but depending on the sub, it is a mistake. Even frozen sandwiches meant specifically for microwave heating still need a ranking of worst to best in terms of how badly a microwave dries them out. Food icon Chef Marcus Samuelsson suggests you forgo a microwave in your kitchen altogether, since it essentially produces soggy second-class results that are inconsistently heated.

Our best shot for a day-after sandwich redux is to use the oven. A great reheat for almost any sandwich starts with a 325-degree Fahrenheit pre-heated oven and a sheet of aluminum foil to wrap around your sandwich. The foil will keep it from drying out and warm the sandwich consistently throughout. Give it 15-20 minutes, and presto — delicious sandwich, day two. However, not everybody is a fan of this American staple.

Even though sandwiches are a tasty part of our daily lunches, The Wall Street Journal points to our ubiquitous sandwich eating as a major part of the obesity problem in America. In a recent article, academics from Tufts University suggested that the sodium and saturated fat in a typical deli sandwich are like "eating a heart bomb."

Americans cannot shoulder all the bad-news-about-sandwiches blame, of course – it's not like we invented the thing. We owe that to the Earl of Sandwich, whose greasy fingers at a card game had him asking for two slices of bread so he could hold his roast beef and play simultaneously. However, we can pivot from our bloated sandwich-making habits with a few small steps.  

Using meat that is cooked at home and then sliced could dramatically help prevent our sandwich from being a sodium-drenched heart attack in our hands. Cleveland Clinic Registered Dietician Julia Zumpano says that if you must use deli meat, look for low-sodium options. Or better yet, go to the counter to ask for freshly sliced meat, choosing the leanest cuts possible. And bonus: Having quality meat in your sandwich ensures it will still taste good when you reheat it the next day.