How To Reheat Chicken

From ovens to microwaves to air fryers, there are so many ways to reheat chicken. But do all methods provide the same results? No! Depending on the texture or type of your chicken, some methods might work better than others.

So, whether you're reheating boneless, breaded or fried chicken, here's everything you need to know about how to reheat chicken the right way.

Preparation First

Before you proceed with the reheating process, it's important that you first take your chicken out of the fridge and let it reach room temperature. That might take you about 30-40 minutes.

If you stored your chicken in the freezer, you may have to thaw it first as waiting for it to reach room temperature on its own might take too long. You can thaw your frozen chicken in several ways, but the best way is to let it thaw in the fridge overnight. Or, you can defrost the chicken in cold water if you're short on time. Just make sure to change the water every 30 minutes.

Reheating Chicken In The Oven - Best Method For Breaded, Bone-In, or Whole Chicken

If you're reheating a large amount of chicken or want your chicken to retain its original texture and flavor, then the oven is the way to go.

Here's how to reheat chicken in the oven:

• Preheat your oven to 400° F. Preheating the oven will speed up the heating process.
• Place the chicken on a baking sheet lined with foil or parchment paper. It'll prevent the chicken from sticking to the baking sheet and help keep it moist.
• You can also add a bit of moisture to the chicken by spraying it with a bit of cooking spray or brushing it with some olive oil.
• If you're reheating chicken breasts, you can cover them with foil to prevent them from drying out.
• Bake the chicken for 10-20 minutes, depending on its size. Use a meat thermometer to check that the chicken has reached an internal temperature of 165D F before eating it.

Reheating Chicken In The Microwave - Best Method For Non-Breaded, Skinless or Boneless Chicken

The microwave is not the best way to reheat chicken, as it can often result in dry, rubbery, or tough meat. But if you're short on time and need to reheat chicken quickly, then the microwave is a perfectly viable option, provided your chicken is skinless, boneless, or non-breaded.

Steps for reheating chicken in the microwave:

• Slice your leftover chicken into small pieces (about 1 inch thick), which will help it reheat evenly.
• Place the chicken in a microwave-safe dish and add a teaspoon of water and oil. This will help to keep the chicken moist.
• Cover the dish with a lid or a piece of plastic wrap and heat it for about 2 minutes.
• Check the chicken to see if it's heated through. If not, continue reheating it in 30-second intervals until it's hot.

Reheating Chicken In An Air Fryer - Best Method For Breaded, Fried, Or Chicken Wings

If you want to reheat breaded, fried, or chicken wings and get them nice and crispy, then the air fryer is the way to go. The air fryer will help to reheat the chicken without making it soggy. However, there's one catch; you can only reheat a small amount of chicken at a time in an air fryer.

Here's how to do it:

• Preheat your air fryer to 350° F.
• Place the chicken in the basket and cook it for about 5 minutes.
• Check the chicken to see if it's hot enough. If not, continue cooking it in 1-minute intervals until it's heated.

Reheating Chicken On The Stove

Don't have any fancy kitchen appliances? No problem! You can also reheat chicken on the stove. Just make sure to use low heat, so you don't end up overcooking or burning the chicken.

• First, remove the chicken from the container or packaging it came in.
• Heat some water or chicken broth in a skillet over low heat. The liquid should be just enough to cover the bottom of the chicken pieces.
• Add the chicken to the skillet in a single layer.
• You may need to do this in batches if you're reheating a lot of chicken.
• Cover the skillet with a lid and let the chicken cook until it's heated through. This will take about 5-10 minutes.
• Once the chicken is heated, remove it from the skillet and enjoy!

What To Do With Reheated Leftover Chicken?

There are endless possibilities when it comes to using leftover chicken. Here are a few ideas to get you started:

• Add it to a salad
• Make a chicken wrap or sandwich
• Top it on some pasta or rice
• Use it as filling for tacos or burritos
• Add it to a soup or stew