Here’s How You Can Cook Frozen Falafel

How to prepare uncooked frozen falafel

Cooking frozen store-bought or homemade falafel is easy when you prepare it according to packaged instructions. This typically takes:

• less than 3 minutes in a microwave,
• about 4 minutes over your stove top, and
• around 10 minutes in an air fryer, and, 
• at most, 15 minutes in an oven.

Luckily, there’s nothing more to it!

Uncooked frozen falafel will take longer to prepare compared to the cooked ones since you don’t need any actual cooking time.

Rather, you would just need to heat it.

What is the best way to prepare cooked frozen falafel?

Depending on the method you choose, the preparations of cooked frozen falafel will differ.

Unfortunately, cooked falafel loses its crispness when it’s frozen.

Whichever heating method you choose, avoid the temptation of deep-frying as this will not make it crisp again.

If you’re still short on time and going for a traditional method of preparation, start by thawing your precooked falafel in the refrigerator overnight.

Once it’s thawed, remove it and cook it straight away.

It takes half as long to reheat thawed falafel compared to when it’s frozen but it also makes your falafel more prone to falling apart.

Here are 4 ways you can reheat already cooked falafel:

1. Baking Frozen Precooked Falafel

Had your falafel been rich in oil or you’d chosen the oil-free option of baking last time, you can still bake it a second time.

Take your falafel patties and wrap them in aluminum foil to stop them from losing too much moisture.

Then place them in the oven or toaster oven for 10 to 15 minutes and bake at 350° Fahrenheit.

If you don’t use foil, bake them for 15 to 20 minutes instead.

At about half way through, flip the patties over to achieve an even texture on all sides.

2. Microwaving Frozen Precooked Falafel

Yet another oil-free reheating option is microwaving.

In order to do this without the falafel drying up, cover it in a moistened paper towel and place it in the microwave for about 2 and a half minutes with the setting to defrost selected.

The dampened towel should stop your falafel from overly drying out and soak up extra oil.

Once the falafel is defrosted, heat on medium power at 1 minute goes until they are heated to your desired temperature.

3. Pan Frying Frozen Falafel

Frying your frozen falafel is healthier than deep frying it, but it does come with some added precaution.

Since falafel can break apart so easily, try to move it around on the oiled pan as little as possible.

This isn’t necessary when deep frying falafel since it’s easy to roll the balls around in the oil.

Cook for about 10 minutes or until done.

4. Cook Frozen Falafel Using an Air Fryer

Using an air fryer is one of the fastest ways to reheat your precooked falafel without defrosting it.

But, how long it takes to cook frozen falafel in air fryer?

The total time it takes to air fry your frozen falafel is about 15 minutes. 5 minutes to preheat and 10 or less to cook.

1. Begin by spraying or brushing your air fryer basket with non-stick oil spray and placing your falafel inside.
2. Preheat the air fryer with the temperature set at 370° Fahrenheit.
3. Then place your falafel inside and fry until the oil seeps out or for about 7 minutes – and voilá – you’re good to go!