How To Keep Fast Food Warm Until You Can Chow Down

After you've waited in a fast food drive-thru line, your anticipation building with every inch you move, it can be frustrating to return home and find a meal that's far from what you imagined. Yet the sad reality is that many folks end up with fast food that becomes cold and unappetizing before they have a chance to eat. While nobody likes soggy and frigid french fries or a wilted, wimpy burger, that's often what greets you beneath the colorful, branded tinfoil when you finally have the chance to unwrap it.

Now, being disappointed with cold food doesn't necessarily make you picky, as there are legitimate food safety reasons for preferring your fast food order remains warm until you're able to eat it. No matter the reason, though, you're hardly alone if you want to keep your fast food hot until you can enjoy it. To help ensure your fast food stays at the ideal temperature until you're curled up on your couch and ready to eat, we gathered some tips. Keep these in mind the next time you stop by McDonald's to pick up one of its new and improved burgers, or pop into a Popeyes to grab a 12-pack of wings.

The key to keeping your fast food warm begins with the journey home. Of course, while the easiest (and most direct) way to keep your food warm is to minimize the amount of time spent in the car, that isn't always possible.

One option to keep your food hot while traveling home (if your vehicle has the capability) is to place the bag on the seat beside you and use the seat warmer option. If that isn't available, try tossing a disposable hand warmer packet on the seat underneath your fast food bag, or cranking up the heat and pointing the vents at the bag. Of course, while these options are certainly feasible, you may want to consider bringing a travel container with you to keep your fast food nice and toasty while it rests inside.

Various portable food warmers or insulated bags offer simple methods of keeping fast food warm on the ride home. Some portable food warmers, such as a lunch box heater, can be plugged into the vehicle to keep the contents inside piping hot at the temperature they belong. An insulated bag, meanwhile, works by providing two layers of heat-trapping protection (generally, a foil layer and foam insulation) to keep your food from getting cold too quickly.

While keeping your fast food warm in the car is an important aspect, you may also run into the issue of your food becoming cold while it sits on your counter at home. With that in mind, if you're not quite ready to eat when you walk in the door, you can pop the bag in the microwave or oven, then shut the door — without turning the appliance on. This will trap the heat inside the closed space, thus preventing the food from swiftly cooling down. If you used an insulated bag on the car ride home, that will also work wonders for keeping your food warm while you get situated.

When all else fails, your only option may involve the sad but necessary step of reheating the food. You can unwrap your food items and place them in a microwave-safe container, then heat them for short intervals until they reach that ideal hot spot. Additionally, an air fryer (or the companion to your microwave) is another popular and effective way to bring foods back to a crispy state. If you're reheating chicken wings, an air fryer can restore that crunchy exterior without accidentally turning the poultry soggy. Popping a chicken sandwich that's gotten a little sad on the ride home in the air fryer for a quick blast of heat can also reinvigorate the delicious flavors, while firming up the bread, as well.