How to Warm Pita Bread for Gyros
Katie Rudenga / Foodservice Tips, Restaurant Tips / September 20

There’s no better pairing than a warm serving of gyro meat, warm pita bread and some chilled tzatziki sauce to top it all off. Granted, you might be wondering if you can get away with serving only room temperature or even cold pita bread with this delectable dish.
While you’re more than welcome to do so, it does compromise the quality of the gyro plate since a nice heated piece of bread is by far better than cold. So, if you’re ready to improve your gyro dish to have customers lining up to order it, you’ll need to know how to warm pita bread for gyros.
How to Warm Pita Bread in the Oven
An oven will help you achieve the perfect consistency for your pita bread without requiring a lot of work. The temperature you’ll want to set the oven to should be between 350-375 degrees Fahrenheit. This is the best range to avoid burning the bread.
Before loading the pita bread in the oven, you can sprinkle a little bit of warm water or olive oil on it. You can also add any seasonings as desired, like salt, garlic, etc. Once you have prepped the bread, you can wrap it in aluminum foil and put it in the oven to warm up. You’ll want to leave it in for 8-10 minutes until it reaches your desired temperature.
Then, you can remove it carefully from the oven while wearing heat-resistant gloves and unwrap it from the foil. It’s best to serve it immediately so it doesn’t get cold.
How to Warm Pita Bread on a Flat Top Grill or Griddle
Another method that can achieve the perfect pita bread consistency but requires just a bit more of your attention is using a flat top grill or griddle. You’ll want your cooktop set with medium-high heat for this method. Before you get cooking, be sure to brush a little bit of olive oil on both sides of your pita bread and add any seasonings you’d like.
Once the bread is prepped, you can place it directly on the grill or griddle. You’ll want to let the first side heat for up to two minutes and then flip it for the same amount of time. You can then take it off the grill with a spatula or tongs and serve it to your customers.
How to Warm Pita Bread in the Microwave
If you’re looking to answer the questions of how to warm pita bread for gyros but want the fastest and easiest way, this is the one for you. However, it may not give you the same quality as the oven or griddle. Using a microwave can help save time if you have a long line of customers ready for a gyro plate. You’ll want to start by prepping your bread by adding things like olive oil or other seasonings.
After the prep work is done, you’ll want to lay the piece of pita bread on a microwave-safe plate and cover it with a lightly dampened paper towel. Be careful not to drench it too much or your bread could end up soggy. From there, you can heat it up for about 30 seconds in the microwave to achieve the perfect temperature. However, you might want to only cook it in 15-second intervals so you can monitor the consistency. You’ll want to serve it immediately so customers can enjoy it while it’s warm.