Sometimes snacks get stale before you have finished the container. Especially if you live in a house with teenagers who never fully close the container! You can bring them back to an edible state by heating them in the oven. This works wonderfully for snacks like crackers, Chex mix, tortilla chips, pretzels and even whole loaves of bread. (If you have stale sliced bread you are better off making toast, crostini or bruschetta.) Spread the stale snacks out on a cookie sheet and place in a 350o F oven. Let them bake for about 10 minutes and then remove from the oven and let cool completely. Once cooled the snacks should be crispy and refreshed.
You can use this method with fresh nuts like almonds, peanuts, walnuts, etc. However, because nuts have a high unsaturated oil content, they can oxidize quickly on exposure to heat, light and air which creates rancidity that makes them smell and taste bad. Roasted, chopped, and ground nuts go rancid much rapidly than whole raw ones. Always smell nuts before you eat them or add them to recipes to be sure they are fresh. (I store nuts in the freezer until I need them.)
FAQs
Just turn on your oven
Placing them in the oven for a spell can drive out moisture, restoring them to their former crispy selves (and, if you store the snack in an airtight container, they'll stay crispy). You'll want your oven temperature to be fairly low, somewhere in the 200℉-225℉ range.
Can you revive old chips? ›
There's no need to add any oil at this point as your chips will already have oil on them from when they were originally cooked. Now place them in the oven for around 3 – 5 minutes. Seriously, that's all it takes: a quick blast in a super-hot oven for a few minutes.
Does microwaving stale chips help? ›
The microwave method is just as simple. Line a plate with a paper towel before setting the tortilla chips on top, then microwave on high for 15 seconds. Check the crispness and continue microwaving 10 seconds at a time until done. If you have the option, the air fryer is also a great idea.
Why was my unopened bag of chips stale? ›
Gases, like water vapor (the culprit behind humidity) can slip through these gaps. This movement of gases is called permeation and occurs faster in warmer environments, like your pantry in July. The result? Stale chips before you can even tear open the bag!
Can you crisp up Cheetos? ›
To make stale Cheetos crunchy again, you have two options. You can microwave them for two minutes or bake them in the oven for two minutes.
How to revive stale chips? ›
The simplest ways to revive stale tortilla chips
Lay them out on a baking sheet and toast them at 400 degrees Fahrenheit for three to five minutes or until they reach your desired crispiness (up to 10 minutes).
How do you make nacho chips crispy again? ›
If you've exhausted every way to repurpose them, stale tortilla chips can be revived in the oven. Just lay them out on a baking sheet and toast them in a 400°F oven for three to five minutes until they're crispy again.
How to make Lay's crispy again? ›
If I were you, I'd lay the crackers/chips/whatever out on baking sheets only a single layer thick. Then try heating them at 225 degrees F in a conventional oven for 15 to 25 minutes, or until you feel them become crisp again. You may need to get them to cool a bit first before testing for crispness!
Can you fix stale food? ›
Soak wilted vegetables (carrots, celery and more) in an ice bath for about 10 minutes to bring them back to life. Wilted produce is usually a result of loss of water and they just need to be rehydrated. Learn more. Stale crackers or chips can be re-toasted in the oven to crisp them up.
How to make stale chips taste good? ›
Here's how to revive them! Spread everything out on a baking sheet, and place it in the oven. Preheat your oven to 350. Once your oven is preheated, your chips will be perfectly crunchy again!
Keep Them Cool—Or Even Frozen
For example, high temperatures can cause the oil in food such as nuts and seeds to turn rancid quickly. If you live in a warm climate, consider storing these items in the refrigerator or freezer to extend their shelf life.
