What does refried mean?
Refried is an adjective describing food that has been fried a second time. Its overwhelmingly common use is in “refried beans,” a preparation in which cooked beans are mashed or partially mashed and then fried in oil or lard, often with seasonings such as salt, pepper, garlic, or chili. The dish is associated particularly with Mexican and southwestern United States cuisines, and “refried” is more common in North American English than in British English. The word is also occasionally applied to other foods, such as potatoes or plantains, when they are cooked once and then fried again. In everyday conversation, “refried beans” is so familiar that the adjective is rarely used independently. When describing food more generally, speakers may choose “reheated” or “fried again,” depending on the cooking method involved.
adjectiveRefried means fried again after a food has already been cooked, especially beans or potatoes. It is most commonly used in the phrase “refried beans,” a dish of cooked beans that are mashed and fried in oil or lard.
- Fried again after being cooked once, especially after being boiled or mashed.
"She served refried beans and warm tortillas at dinner."
"The refried beans were served with rice and grilled chicken."
"She topped the tacos with refried black beans and shredded cheese."
The word’s extra hyphen-free prefix means a second frying—and the phrase “refried beans” has become a staple of Mexican and Tex-Mex dining.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does refried come from?
The word is formed in English from the prefix “re-,” meaning again, and “fried,” the past participle of “fry.” This straightforward formation reflects the cooking process: the food is first boiled or otherwise cooked, and then fried. The expression became particularly established through its culinary use for beans in Mexican and southwestern United States cooking.
How refried is actually used
The word is especially common in North American English and in the cuisines of Mexico and the southwestern United States. It is most naturally encountered in the fixed expression “refried beans”; outside that context, “reheated” or simply “fried” may sound more usual.