If you have any leftover delicious grilled cheese, you may be wondering, can cooked halloumi be eaten cold?
I have to admit it’s very unlikely this will happen; who can resist freshly grilled or barbecued halloumi?
But if you do have some left, what will happen to it when it goes cold?
Does it change the texture or the taste?
Do you have to keep cooked halloumi in the fridge?
Can you reheat it?
Let’s find out all about cold halloumi!
Halloumi is best enjoyed hot and freshly grilled, but it can be eaten cold the following day and remains edible when refrigerated for up to two days. After cooking, cool and store in an airtight container in the fridge. Add herbs, oil, or lemon juice before serving. When cold, halloumi’s texture becomes firmer and more rubbery, with a stronger salt flavor. Reheating in the oven is recommended, while microwaving is not suitable.
Eating Halloumi Cold the Next Day?
Let’s try and imagine a scenario when you have some leftover halloumi!
Not very likely, is it?
Halloumi is at its best when freshly grilled, fried, or barbecued.
The cheese goes all warm and squidgy on the inside with a crispy brown exterior.
But what happens when it goes cold?
Can you still eat halloumi the next day?
Yes, halloumi is perfectly edible, even up to two days later.
However, it needs to cool down after cooking, and you should pop it in an airtight container lined with a paper towel in the fridge.
Don’t add any oil, lemon juice, or herbs at this stage; wait until you are ready to serve.
You do need to realize that the texture of the halloumi is going to change.
It won’t stay gooey and squishy forever!
The cheese will get harder and be more rubbery.
It will probably taste somewhat different too.
The saltiness will be more evident than when the halloumi is cooked.
Any added flavorings will also have a more pronounced taste.
Believe me, I have tried this with chili-flavored halloumi, and it goes from having a mild kick to full-on spicy heat!
You can also freeze leftover halloumi for up to three months.
Can You Reheat Cooked Halloumi?
It is possible to reheat cooked halloumi, and thicker slices work best.
The best method is to warm it in the oven on a wire rack at a temperature of 350°F.
It should take less than five minutes, and reheating halloumi this way should bring back some of the squidginess that we all love!
Frying halloumi to reheat it is also recommended and takes literally one minute on each side.
Two methods that don’t work are using the microwave or an air fryer.
With the microwave, reheat the halloumi for no more than 20 seconds.
And be prepared to eat it immediately!
Microwaved halloumi goes from far too soggy to setting really hard within the space of a minute.
And neither of these two textures is pleasant!
Reheating halloumi in an air fryer also gives poor results.
Although it’s very quick, the cheese gets really chewy and dry, nothing like fresh halloumi.
It’s also said to be possible to reheat halloumi in a toaster, but I suggest you put it in a bag; otherwise, I can imagine a terrible mess!
How to Fry Halloumi Cheese the Right Way
Final Thoughts
Halloumi can certainly be eaten up to two days after cooking it.
It should be stored in the fridge after cooling.
The flavor and texture of the halloumi are likely to change once cold.
The salty taste may be more evident, and the halloumi will be harder in texture and more rubbery.
If you prefer the cheese to be warm, it can be reheated in an oven or pan-fried for the best results.
Reheating in a microwave or air fryer is not recommended, as the texture will be dry and hard, not pleasant.
So, don’t throw away your leftover halloumi; enjoy it all over again the next day!
If you are interested, I have written a more in-depth article on whether you can warm up halloumi in the microwave.