Of all the chicken recipes out there, fried chicken is probably one of the most popular. It’s really hard to beat the contrast in tastes and textures between the extra crunchy outside and the juicy, tasty inside. Is there anything more craveable?.
If you know how to fry chicken right, you’ll never go back! You can eat it plain, cover it in gravy, or make a great sandwich. And though it feels seemingly impossible that you could ever make too much fried chicken, there might come a time where you may have leftovers. But do you know how to reheat fried chicken to keep that crispy exterior and juicy center?.
Reheating can be a challenge. Thats because after awhile, the moistness of the meat seeps into the coating and makes it soggy. So how to you bring it back to its finger-lickin glory? Read on for three easy ways to reheat fried chicken. And no, none of them are the microwave. (Youll just get a rubbery center and mushy exterior. Yuck!).
Everyone has had that experience: you have tasty breaded chicken left over from last night’s dinner, but you know that putting them in the microwave will make them dry and rubbery. Reheating breaded foods is hard to do without losing their crunch and moisture, but it’s not impossible if you know what to do. There are several ways to make sure that your breaded chicken is always cooked perfectly when you reheat it.
Oven Baking
One of the best and easiest ways to reheat breaded chicken without drying it out is in the oven. Simply preheat your oven to 400°F and arrange the chicken pieces in a single layer on a wire rack placed on a baking sheet. The rack elevates the chicken from the pan so hot air can circulate all around the pieces to heat and crisp up the crust. Bake for 10-15 minutes until hot and crisp. Avoid the temptation to cover the chicken with foil during baking – this will just make it soggy. The key is exposing the crust to the dry oven air.
Air Fryer
An air fryer is a great gadget for reheating crispy foods like breaded chicken. Preheating your air fryer to 375°F, arrange the chicken in a single layer in the fryer basket. Cook for about 5 minutes per side, flipping halfway through, until heated through and crispy. Just like in the oven, resist piling the chicken pieces on top of each other – they need breathing room to get perfectly crispy. Air frying locks in moisture while crisping up the outside.
Stovetop
If you don’t have an oven or air fryer available you can also reheat breaded chicken right on the stovetop. This works best for smaller pieces. Heat a skillet over medium heat and add just enough oil to coat the bottom. Carefully add the chicken pieces and cook for 2-3 minutes per side until heated through. The oil helps conduct heat to the chicken evenly while also lending a bit of crispness to the crust.
Toaster Oven
A toaster oven is a great way to warm up small amounts of breaded chicken. To do this, just heat up the toaster oven to 400°F and put the chicken on a rack over a baking sheet. Heat for 10-15 minutes, flipping halfway. The smaller oven size lets the heat better cover the crust and make it crisp.
Deep Frying
Deep-frying the chicken again is the best way to get the most crunch and juice. The oil should be 350°F. Fry the chicken pieces for one to two minutes, until they are crispy and hot all the way through. This means getting out the deep fryer again, but it’s worth it if you want the texture of something that was just taken out of the fryer.
Microwave (With Caution)
I only recommend microwaving as a last resort. On very low power, microwave the chicken pieces for no longer than 30 seconds at a time, allowing to rest in between. This limits how much the chicken dries out, but the crust will still soften. Microwaving should only be used if you’re in a pinch with no other options available.
Handy Tips
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Allow refrigerated chicken to come to room temp before reheating for more even heating
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Reheat any sauces or gravies separately to avoid sogginess
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Use parchment paper or a cooling rack to avoid direct contact with baking sheets
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Eat within 3-4 days for best texture and flavor
How to Reheat Fried Chicken in a Skillet
You can reheat chicken the same way you cooked it the first time: by frying it! This will give you a nice crisp exterior, though it might be a little greasier than the original version.
- Put neutral cooking oil in a large skillet and heat it on medium-high until it reaches 300 degrees. While this is going on, set the chicken out to get to room temperature.
- Add the chicken to the pan slowly and cook for two to three minutes.
- After two to three minutes, turn the chicken over and cook the other side.
- While the chicken is still hot, put it on a wire rack over some paper towels to drain for five minutes. This will get rid of the extra oil.
How to Reheat Fried Chicken in the Oven
Much like baked chicken, a relatively hot oven will keep skin crisp while it heat the meat throughout. If you dont have a wire rack, you can also cover a sheet pan in aluminum foil and rotate the pieces halfway through.
- Prepare the oven to 400 degrees and let the chicken rest for 10 to 30 minutes so that it is more like room temperature.
- Place the chicken on top of the wire rack on top of the sheet pan. So the heat can move around the chicken, making sure all sides stay crispy and it cooks evenly.
- Put the chicken in the oven for 10 to 15 minutes, or until it’s fully heated through.
How to Reheat Chicken Without Drying It Out
FAQ
How to make leftover breaded chicken crispy?
For the best results, the best reheating technique I’ve found has been reheating in a preheated oven. Using a microwave, while quicker, tends to turn our leftover crispy chicken soggy. Who wants that? For a crispier product, baking them is the best option.
What is the best way to reheat breaded food?
The next best thing to do is put everything on a rack with space between the pieces in an air fryer, toaster oven, or convection oven. Toast until crispy again.
How to moisten dry breaded chicken?
Rescue Dry Chicken With Plenty Of Sauce – The problem you face with overcooked chicken is its dryness, so a solution can often be found by pairing it with more liquid-based or fatty ingredients. These add the moisture that the meat lacks, so a good sauce or gravy will fix a lot of your problems. Dec 10, 2024.