Can You Reheat Liver?

Liver is one of those meats that divide people – its strong taste, rubbery texture, and potent aroma isn’t for everyone.

But if you’ve got some leftover liver and you’re wondering whether it’s safe to reheat it, Let’s find out…

 

Reheating Liver – Yes or No?

The good news is, yes, it’s absolutely fine to reheat liver. But you need to be mindful of a few things to ensure it’s safe to eat, and that you won’t risk sacrificing the well-known liver texture into an unpleasant chewy mess. Here’s how to go about reheating liver.

 

How to Reheat Leftover Liver

First things first. The chances of you reheating your leftover liver and fully retaining its original texture is rather remote. That’s liver for you.

So, don’t be disheartened if it isn’t as delicious as it was the first time around. Other things to bear in mind when reheating liver:

1. Always cook it on a low-medium heat.
2. Use plenty of oil to prevent it from drying out during cooking.
3. Use a lid or cover to prevent moisture escaping.
4. If you find the perimeter of the liver is dried from cooking, trim around it. The main capacity should still be tender and moist, providing you’ve used enough oil, and haven’t overcooked it.

 

Reheating Liver in the Oven

As mentioned above, use a protective cover for the dish and use plenty of fluid to keep the meat moist. Tin foil will work fine.

Pre-heat your oven and place the dish inside on a low temperature (175 degrees Celsius is a good recommendation), and cook the liver for up to ten minutes.

Remove it and use a temperature probe to ensure it’s fully-heated and safe to eat. If not, aim for a few more minutes and regularly check the temperature.

Bear in mind, it won’t take long for the liver to overheat and dry out.

 

Reheating Liver in the Microwave

If you’re wondering whether it’s okay to reheat liver in the microwave, the answer is yes. This method will certainly be quicker and easier than the oven option.

Microwaving liver is actually better because microwaves will not allow moisture to escape, so you’re less likely to dry out the meat.

As with the oven, make sure your microwave temperature is low-medium. Using a little cooking fluid is also recommended though.

Heat your liver in short bursts to ensure you don’t overcook it. Again, use a temperature probe to ensure it’s fully cooked in the centre/thickest parts of the liver.

 

Can You Eat Raw Liver?

Technically, yes, most people can eat raw liver with no problems, but there are a few things to take into consideration first:

Eating raw liver (or raw red meat and fish in general) may contain bacteria and parasites. Cooking the liver will ensure that these are destroyed, so this is recommended if you’re concerned about safety.

It is wise to go as organic as you possibly can when purchasing liver to ensure you’re not consuming steroids and other chemicals built up in the liver from non-organically raised animals.

People with certain health conditions or compromised immune systems should avoid eating raw liver.

Always eat raw liver when it’s fresh. Wash the liver as well to remove external bacteria or chemicals.

Make sure the liver is sourced from a reputable retailer and has been prepared, stored, and wrapped properly.

 

Can You Freeze Cooked Liver?

Yes, it’s absolutely fine to freeze cooked liver for a period of up to three months. Always make sure it’s wrapped in air-tight wrapping to avoid any air bubbles being exposed to the meat, and to avoid freezer-burn. Once thawing, only reheat cooked liver once.

 

The Bottom Line

It’s absolutely fine to reheat liver, as long as you are mindful or not overheating it, and making sure it’s fully cooked.

The microwave is one of the best methods for doing this, as it will help keep moisture locked into the meat and prevent it from drying out. It isn’t recommended, however, to cook raw liver in the microwave.