How to Reheat Fried Chicken the Right Way
Chicken is enjoyed by many. There are several ways you can prepare it. One popular and delicious way to prepare chicken meat is by frying. Fried chicken can be served anywhere – at home or outdoors, and is always a delight. You can never go wrong with fried chicken, whether you’re making some at home or ordering takeout. However, it can be difficult to retain this delicious flavor if you decide to save some for later. Learning how to reheat fried chicken the right way is essential!
No matter how much you enjoy fried chicken, you can’t always prepare or order some when you feel like having some. You can always have some leftovers preserved in your refrigerator. This can serve as your go-to snack for lunch or dinner and a piece of chicken taken right out of the fridge. But you would rather have it warm, and you may wonder, is it possible to reheat fried chicken? The answer is yes! Reheating fried chicken is quite simple and undemanding.
Is it Safe to Reheat Fried Chicken?
Photo Credit: Shardar Tarikul Islam
The simple answer is yes. It is safe to reheat any leftover fried chicken, as long as it was fully cooked the first time and doesn’t spend more than 2 hours in the danger zone (between 40°F and 140°F) before being preserved in a refrigerator. So as long as you meet these conditions, you can enjoy fried chicken, whether cold or reheated.
How Do You Keep Reheated Fried Chicken Crispy?
There are several ways you can reheat fried chicken. Here are a few suggestions to help you keep the fried chicken crispy after reheating:
Bring It to Room Temperature
Take out the chicken from the fridge and allow it to defrost for about 20 to 30 minutes and maybe up to an hour, depending on the size of the pieces. This will help reduce the time the chicken needs to heat up, ensuring that everything is evenly cooked, thus reducing the chances of the chicken pieces drying out.
Place Chicken on Wire Rack and Preheat Oven
It is ideal for giving the leftover fried chicken some air, and we recommend using a wire rack on a sheet pan. This will keep the chicken raised above the pan and allow air to circulate, thus preventing the bottom of the breading from turning squashy.
Bake Chicken for 12 to 15 Minutes
You wouldn’t want to keep the fried chicken for too long under heat, and we have learned that reheated chicken gets ready under a temperature of 120°F. We recommend that you go high, so in a preheated oven of 400°F, it will take between 12 to 15 minutes to get ready. Eating it right away is best, so it isn’t in the danger zone for too long.
Follow the above steps before you try any of the preheating methods listed below;
Reheating Fried Chicken Using an Oven
If you use an oven to reheat the fried chicken, preheat the oven to 400°F, then place the leftovers (after exposing them to room temperature) on the wire rack set on the baking sheet. The wire rack is responsible for circulating hot air to crunch up the bottom part of the chicken. Without a rack, a foil-lined baking sheet can serve as an alternative. The exact bake time isn’t definite, as this depends on the size of each piece.
Reheating Fried Chicken Using a Microwave
Using a microwave isn’t our best option because it doesn’t evenly reheat food and the surface is always moist. The microwave makes it almost impossible to get back the crunchy feeling of the leftover fried chicken. However, to get the best results from using a microwave, here’s what to do; before putting the fried chicken in the microwave, place a paper towel on the microwave-safe plate. Microwave the fried chicken repeatedly in 30-seconds intervals, and turn it over each time until it has fully warmed up. The paper towel will absorb any moisture that rises to the surface.
Reheating Fried Chicken Using an Air Fryer
Photo Credit: Shardar Tarikul Islam
An air fryer is an excellent option for reheating any leftover fried chicken, and you can achieve that crispy taste without adding any oil. All you have to do is preheat the air fryer to 375°F, then place a single layer of the leftover room temperature fried chicken on the basket of the air fryer, and cook each side for 2 to 3 minutes. Now you can enjoy your tasty, crispy, reheated fried chicken.
Reheating Fried Chicken on a Stovetop
To reheat fried chicken on a stovetop means refrying it a second time. Pour in about 2 inches of oil in a deep-bottomed pan, and heat the oil to a temperature of 300°F. Put a few pieces of the leftover room-temperature chicken into the hot oil pan (do not overcrowd the pan, so the oil temperature isn’t reduced). Then cook each side for at least 2 minutes until crispy, take out, and place on a wire rack for 5 minutes before digging in.
Conclusion
Regardless of the method used to reheat the fried chicken, it can never taste as good as when it is freshly fried, but you can still enjoy the leftovers in a crispy and moist state as long as it is reheated the right way.
You should only reheat any leftovers when you are ready to eat because reheating more than once will result in the chicken drying out.
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