Hollandaise sauce is always best when served fresh. The eggs and butter used to make the sauce might separate if it is left to sit, and if you do reheat the sauce it might overcook and become ruined, turning it lumpy and destroying its flavour. There are some effective ways to reheat the sauce delicately so that the sauce maintains most of its balanced flavour and remains smooth and free from lumps. Some of the best ways to reheat hollandaise sauce is to reheat it in the microwave or on the stovetop just until it is warm enough. Below is a description of how you can reheat hollandaise sauce on the stovetop and in the microwave.
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The Microwave Method To Reheat Hollandaise Sauce
Using the microwave to warm up hollandaise is a good option, as long as you set the microwave on a low setting. Placing the hollandaise sauce in the microwave on a medium or high setting may separate and overcook the sauce, and it will become completely ruined.
Follow these steps to warm up the hollandaise sauce,
- Place your hollandaise sauce into a microwave-safe bowl,
- Set your microwave to 20% power, or on ‘low’ if that is your only available option,
- Microwave your hollandaise sauce for about 15 seconds,
- Let the sauce sit for 15 seconds or so, and check to see if it is warm enough,
- Reheat your sauce for another 15 seconds if it is not ready,
- Repeat the process until the sauce is warmed up completely, and leave it to sit between reheating for 15 seconds at a time.
- Using a low heat setting, and short 15-second increments to reheat the hollandaise sauce in the microwave is the safest way. That way you do not overheat and overcook them. It might be a bit frustrating to heat up your hollandaise sauce this way but it is the only way to ensure the sauce is not ruined.
The Pros of Using a Microwave
With a microwave you are able to set it to a low heat setting, which gives you more control of the heat that the sauce is exposed to. Also, with a microwave you are able to heat the hollandaise sauce for short periods of time before switching the heat off. The microwave is also the quickest way to reheat your hollandaise sauce, as it does not need to be heated up before being used.
The Cons of Using a Microwave
If your microwave does not have specific heat settings, it may be difficult to heat up the hollandaise sauce without it separating. Because microwaves have different power levels, and it can be difficult to determine if your microwave will end up cooking the hollandaise sauce or not. It is easy to overcook your hollandaise sauce when using the microwave, even if it is left in the microwave for a few seconds too long, and the whole sauce may become ruined and unusable.
The Stove Top Method To Reheat Hollandaise Sauce
Another effective way to reheat your hollandaise sauce is to do so on the stovetop. You should be careful when using the stovetop, because it is easy to end up with cooked scrambled eggs, and not hollandaise sauce. Only use the stovetop if you are able to set it to low heat, otherwise, there is no point in reheating the hollandaise sauce on the stove. Your sauce may overcook if exposed to high heat will not be palatable after reheating.
Follow these steps to reheat your hollandaise sauce on the stovetop,
- Place your hollandaise sauce into a small pan,
- Turn the stove on to the lowest heat possible,
- Place your hollandaise sauce in the pan onto the stovetop,
- Stir your hollandaise sauce around as it heats up,
- Add in a small amount of butter and some water to re-emulsify the sauce, so that it does not separate,
- Once reheated through, remove your sauce from the heat and serve it immediately,
If the hollandaise sauce begins to separate, you can add in some butter and water and stir it to re-emulsify it. This should fix the problem. Remember to keep stirring the mixture to ensure that the hollandaise sauce in the bottom of the pan does not cook.
Pros of Using a Stovetop
The stovetop is a good option when it comes to reheating your hollandaise sauce if you can set it onto low heat. When reheating on the stove top you are able stir the sauce as it reheats to keep it from separating, and you can easily add in some extra butter or water to re-emulsify it as well.
Cons of Using a Stovetop
If your stovetop cannot be set to a low setting, there is a good chance that the hollandaise sauce could overcook and you will end up with scrambled eggs. The hollandaise sauce on the bottom of the pan might also burn or get over cooked if not stirred enough. You need to keep a close eye on the hollandaise sauce being heated on the stovetop to ensure that it does not start to overcook, or burn.
Tips For Reheating Hollandaise Sauce
It is ideal to serve the hollandaise sauce fresh, however, below are some tips to serving it after it’s been stored in the fridge or freezer. If you want to keep some aside and reheat it to enjoy at a later stage, here are some of the best ways to reheat the hollandaise sauce,
- If the hollandaise sauce separates and does not recombine, you could add in a few drops of water to the sauce while you whisk it. Some water, and butter, can help to combine the sauce again, as long as you whisk it together enough.
- If you make your sauce early, and plan to eat it in a little while, you should leave it in a warmer to keep warm until you are ready to use it. Set the warmer on low so that it does not cook the hollandaise sauce, but keeps it just warm.
- Do not leave your hollandaise sauce in the warmer for longer than 2 hours, because of the risk of bacterial growth, which could lead to food poisoning. This is even more possible if the eggs are not cooked.
- In order to store your hollandaise sauce in the fridge, keep it in an airtight container. You should serve the hollandaise sauce on the same day, or the next day latest, otherwise the taste will not be the same.
- Another effective way to reheat your sauce is to place it in a heatproof bowl and put it over boiling water. The hollandaise sauce can be whisked continuously until the steam from the boiling water reheats the sauce evenly and gently, without even cooking it.
