M: Fried calamari from Olive Garden has been in the fridge for a couple days. How would I heat that up in an air fryer to get the best results?

G: Here’s the best way to reheat Olive Garden fried calamari in an air fryer so it turns crispy again without drying out:

TL;DR

Temp: 375°F (190°C)
Time: ~3–4 minutes
Steps: Bring to room temp → single layer in air fryer → shake halfway → check for crispness.

Detailed Steps

  1. Bring to room temperature:
    Take the calamari out of the fridge and let it sit for 10–15 minutes so it’s not ice-cold inside — this prevents uneven heating.

  2. Preheat air fryer:
    Set to 375°F (190°C) for about 3 minutes before adding food.

  3. Prep the calamari:

    • Lightly spray or brush with oil (optional but helps restore crispiness).
    • Arrange in a single layer; don’t overcrowd.
    • If you have a wire rack insert, use it to keep air circulating all around.

  4. Heat:

    • Air fry for 3–4 minutes total, shaking or flipping halfway through.
    • Smaller pieces or rings crisp faster; check around the 3-minute mark.

  5. Check texture:

    • If still soft or unevenly heated, add 30–45 seconds more at a time.
    • Avoid going past 5 minutes or they’ll toughen.

  6. Serve immediately:
    Calamari goes rubbery as it cools again, so eat right away with dipping sauce.

Optional trick: If the breading looks pale after reheating, give it a 10-second blast under the broiler to restore color — but only if you’re watching closely.

M: They're leaving shortly. By 11 o'clock. So I've got a limited amount of time to let it come to room temperature. Is there anything I can do to speed up the process or modifications to your original suggestion to get the best results given the constraints?

G: Yep — you can absolutely adapt for that time crunch. Here’s how to get 90–95% of the ideal result without waiting the full 10–15 minutes:

⚡ Quick Method (Total time ≈ 6–7 minutes)

  1. Preheat air fryer:
    Set to 375°F (190°C) right away.

  2. Microwave jump-start (optional but helps):

    • Spread the calamari on a paper towel–lined plate (to absorb moisture).
    • Microwave for 10–12 seconds — no more than 15.
    • The goal isn’t to heat them, just to take the chill off the center.

  3. Transfer immediately to air fryer:

    • Lightly spray with oil (or brush just a hint of olive oil if handy).
    • Arrange in a single layer — no overlap.

  4. Air fry:

    • 2 minutes, shake or flip, then 2 more minutes.
    • Check after 4 total; if they need a bit more crunch, do +30 seconds.

  5. Serve immediately with the sauce on the side — the residual heat will finish warming them through.

💡 If you’re skipping the microwave:
Just add ~1 extra minute (so 4½–5 min total) in the air fryer, but shake them at least twice to prevent overbrowning before the centers warm.

This shortcut will get you hot, crisp calamari with only a faint difference from the long-rest version.