Discover the best methods for reheating fried chicken with this step-by-step guide. These expert tips will teach you how to reheat fried chicken in no time.
There's nothing quite like the hot, crispy, crackling goodness of fried chicken. Every bite is an experience. A satisfying crunch greets you, and tender, juicy meat follows, accompanied by a bit of steam (if you're lucky). Before you know it, you're going in for seconds and thirds. Unfortunately, leftover fried chicken (unless eaten cold) leaves much to be desired; especially when the chicken is reheated incorrectly. Reheating fried chicken improperly can lead to soggy breading and dried-out meat resulting in a less-than-satisfactory experience. You may also get chicken that is warm on the outside and cold in the middle, but fear not!
You can return leftover fried chicken to its original state with the proper technique and a little care. In this guide, we'll explore how to reheat fried chicken, ensuring that you end up with tender, juicy chicken that's just as crunchy and satisfying as it originally was.
Fried Chicken Storage
Before we delve into the various reheating methods, let's address the crucial step of proper storage. Improperly stored fried chicken can lose its texture and flavor more rapidly, making it challenging to achieve the desired results when reheating. To preserve the quality of your leftover fried chicken, follow these storage guidelines.
- Cool the chicken: Before storing leftover fried chicken, cool it to room temperature. Otherwise, the chicken will steam in the foil or container you put it in. Do not leave the chicken at room temperature for over 2 hours, or 1 hour on a hot day.
- Strive for an airtight seal: This can be done in a shallow airtight container (you don't want a lot of space at the top) or individually wrapping each piece of chicken in foil or reusable food wrappers. If using foil or food wrappers, it is best to pop them in a freezer bag and remove as much air as possible before sealing.
From there, refrigerate the chicken for up to 5 days or freeze the fried chicken for up to 3 months. By properly storing your fried chicken, you're setting the stage for successful reheating.
How to Reheat Fried Chicken: Top Three Methods
Now that we've covered the importance of proper storage let's dive into how to reheat fried chicken. After years of eating fried chicken and extensive testing, I've found that three methods work best. The methods include the oven, air fryer, and stovetop.
Oven
Reheating fried chicken in the oven is a popular method that yields excellent results. The reason the oven works so well is the even heat distribution. It quickly crisps up the skin and heats the meat thoroughly without drying it out. To reheat fried chicken in the oven:
- Preheat your oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit and place the chicken pieces on a baking sheet, preferably fitted with a wire rack. A wire rack allows the heat to circulate, which crisps the top and underside of each piece without needing to flip it.
- Place into the oven for 15-17 minutes or until the internal temperature reaches 165 degrees Fahrenheit and the exterior is crisp. If reheating boneless, skinless fried chicken like chicken tenders, reduce reheating time by about 5 minutes.
- Plate and serve.
In addition to your standard oven range, you can reheat fried chicken in a countertop convection oven as well as a toaster oven as long as there is a "convection" or "bake" setting. Convection ovens are particularly effective at reheating fried chicken due to the hot air circulation it provides. This results in even crispness, plus no hot and cold spots. Overall, it's much more efficient. Due to that efficiency, you want to watch the fried chicken closely. It will probably reheat faster.
Air Fryer
If you own an air fryer, you're in luck! The air fryer is an excellent tool for reheating fried chicken as it helps revive the crunchiness of the breading. It's my go-to method when I have a few pieces left over since air fryers are efficient, so easy to use, and cleanup is even easier. Air fryers use circulating heat to cook food, and that heat circulation prevents the chicken from sogging. Instead, it removes any moisture absorbed during refrigeration to return fried chicken to its original state. As for how to reheat fried chicken in an air fryer, follow these steps:
- Preheat the air fryer to 370 degrees Fahrenheit and place the chicken in a single layer in the fryer basket.
- Reheat the chicken for about 10 minutes, flipping halfway through, until it reaches an internal temperature of 165 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Plate and enjoy.
Stovetop
Reheating fried chicken using the pan frying method yields super crispy chicken making it great for those who love the big crunch. You know how twice-fried fries are next-level delicious? So is twice-fried chicken. The stovetop method also allows for precise temperature control and easy monitoring. All you need is a pan with high sides and oil for frying. You can use new oil or reserved fry oil from when you first cooked the chicken as long as you strain the oil through a cheesecloth-lined fine mesh strainer. Fry oil can be reused up to three times. Once you have everything you need:
- Fill a large, deep pan with a little over ¼-inch of oil.
- Heat the oil to 300 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Place the leftover fried chicken into the oil. Do not overcrowd the pan.
- Reheat for 2-3 minutes per side.
- Transfer the chicken to a plate lined with paper towels to drain excess oil.
Can I Reheat Fried Chicken in the Microwave?
One popular reheating method that did not make the list is microwaving. Avoid it unless you love soggy, soft, borderline gummy breading and rubbery chicken. The microwave is a quick and convenient option for many other foods, but it does not work with fried chicken. Microwaves cause water molecules in food to vibrate, which produces heat that cooks the food. Although this is a great way to heat food fast, vibrating water molecules do not promote crispness.
Now that you know how to reheat fried chicken, you'll never be faced with underwhelming leftovers again. What method will you choose?
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