Chipotle has become one of the most popular fast-casual restaurant chains, known for its customizable burritos, tacos, salads, and bowls.
With so many ingredients to choose from, you can create your perfect Chipotle meal. But what if you don’t finish your entire Chipotle bowl in one sitting? Can you save the leftovers and reheat them in the microwave?
How To Microwave a Chipotle Bowl
Yes, you can microwave a Chipotle bowl to reheat it. Here are some tips for reheating a Chipotle bowl in the microwave:
- Transfer the bowl contents to a microwave-safe dish. Chipotle’s bowls and lids are not microwave-safe. Transfer the contents to a microwave-safe bowl or plate before reheating.
- Cover the dish: Covering the dish while reheating will help the food retain moisture and prevent splatters. Use a paper towel, microwave-safe lid, or plastic wrap. Vent the covering to allow steam to escape.
- Microwave in short increments: Reheat the Chipotle bowl in the microwave in 30-second intervals, stirring between each interval. This prevents overcooking.
- Stir periodically. Stirring helps distribute and conduct heat evenly throughout the bowl.
- Check for hot spots: Due to the variety of ingredients in a Chipotle bowl, reheating can create hot and cold spots. Check the temperature throughout and continue reheating in short increments as needed.
- Add a splash of water: A splash of water can help loosen up any rice, beans, or meat that has dried out in the fridge. The steam created will help rehydrate these components.
- Adjust cook times as needed. Cook times will vary based on your microwave wattage and the contents of your particular bowl. Keep testing and adjusting cook times until heated through.
Tips for the Best Results
Follow these tips to get the best results when reheating a Chipotle bowl in the microwave:
- Consume within 3-5 days for maximum freshness and flavor. The quality will deteriorate after that.
- Avoid rice and beans. Rice and beans can dry out, harden, or become mushy in the microwave. They’re best eaten fresh.
- Add high-moisture items. Ingredients like lettuce, salsa, guacamole, and sour cream add moisture and improve the reheated texture.
- Leave the lid off. Leaving the lid off during reheating allows excess condensation to escape, preventing sogginess.
- Skip the foil. Foil traps steam and leads to a soggy mess. Use microwave-safe dishware instead.
- Heat the meats separately. Reheat meats like chicken, steak, and barbacoa separately to avoid overcooking. Then combine with the other ingredients.
- Use half-power. Reheating at a lower power setting results in more even heating and better quality.
Storing Your Leftovers
To maximize the lifespan of your leftover Chipotle bowl, follow these storage tips:
- Allow the bowl to cool completely before refrigerating.
- Transfer to a sealed, airtight container, removing as much air as possible.
- Refrigerate within 2 hours of purchasing.
- Consume within 3-5 days for best quality and safety.
- You can also freeze a Chipotle bowl for 1-2 months. Allow to fully cool before freezing, then transfer to a freezer bag or airtight container. Thaw in the refrigerator before reheating.
Which Ingredients Work Best For Reheating?
Thanks to their high moisture content, these Chipotle Bowl ingredients reheat well in the microwave:
- Salsa: Both fresh and tomato salsas retain great flavor when reheated.
- Guacamole: Due to its high cream content, guacamole stays smooth and creamy. Just give it a stir before eating.
- Queso: Chipotle’s spicy melted cheese sauce reheats nicely in the microwave.
- Lettuce: Crisp lettuce adds a refreshing crunch and moisture. Just be careful of hot spots.
- Sour cream: High-fat dairy products like sour cream can help retain moisture in bowl contents.
- Cheese: Melty shredded cheese is a tasty reheated topping.
Which Ingredients Don’t Work As Well?
Some Chipotle ingredients are better eaten fresh rather than microwaved. Avoid reheating these:
- Rice: Rice easily dries out, becoming hard and crunchy in the microwave.
- Beans: Beans also dry out and lose their smooth texture. Refried beans can become pasty.
- Meat: Chicken, steak, barbacoa, and other meats toughen up and lose juiciness when microwaved.
- Fajita vegetables: Onions and bell peppers turn rubbery and lose their crisp-tender bite.
- Tortillas: Flour or corn tortillas become chewy and stale-tasting when microwaved.
For best results, add these more delicate ingredients fresh when you’re ready to eat your reheated bowl. Or heat them gently and briefly in a pan or oven.
Frequently Asked Questions About Microwaving Chipotle Bowls
Here are answers to some common questions about reheating Chipotle bowls in the microwave:
How long do you microwave a Chipotle bowl?
Microwave in 30-second intervals until heated through, around 2–3 minutes total, depending on contents. Check for cold spots and stir periodically.
Does microwaving ruin Chipotle?
It can degrade more delicate ingredients like rice and meat. Use half power, heat gently, and add fresh ingredients like lettuce just before eating.
Can you microwave the Chipotle plastic lid?
No. Chipotle lids are not microwave-safe. Transfer food into microwave-safe dishware instead.
Is it better to reheat Chipotle in the microwave or oven?
The oven is gentler, helping maintain texture better. But the microwave is quicker if you need to reheat your food quickly.
Should you add water before microwaving Chipotle?
A splash of water in the bowl can help create steam to loosen up dried-out sections and prevent excess drying.
What’s the best way to reheat Chipotle chicken?
Chicken reheats best on the stove or in the oven. Microwaving can make it rubbery. If microwaving, use half power and heat it separately from the other ingredients.
Can you reheat Chipotle without drying it out?
Yes! Use a covered dish, stir periodically, add splashes of water, use half power, and heat in short intervals. Eat it within 3-5 days before it dries out in the fridge.
Get Creative With Your Leftover Chipotle Bowl
Don’t let leftover Chipotle go to waste! Get creative with reheating and reusing your bowl contents.
- Combine with scrambled eggs for a hearty breakfast burrito. The salsa adds great flavor.
- Use it as a taco or nacho topping. Leftover chicken and steak make tasty nacho pileups.
- Stuff into a quesadilla or top a pizza for a Mexican-Italian fusion.
- Toss with pasta or cauliflower rice for a zesty rice bowl remix.
- Fold into an omelet with cheese for a quick, protein-packed breakfast.
- Turn into tacos or taco salads by combining with greens and crunchy toppings.
So go ahead—get your money’s worth out of that Chipotle bowl! Follow these microwave reheating tips and get creative with the leftovers. Just consume within 3-5 days for the best flavor and texture.
Hi, I’m Julie, the passionate foodie and founder of Juliesfamilykitchen.com. I created this blog out of a drive to prove someone wrong, and then I realized how much I truly enjoy cooking and trying new recipes. In my free time, when I’m not running around after my kids or spending quality time with my partner, you can usually find me in the kitchen experimenting with new dishes.