Listen up, Atomic Fam. Weâve all been there. You ordered a nuclear reactorâs worth of Atomic Wings, because you and the homies were #feelinit. Then all of the sudden yâall hit leftover city. Donât trip though, Atomic Wings leftovers can be FIRE, literally, if you know what youâre doing. Hereâs a guide on how to turn those Atomic leftovers into another crispy grub sesh. Â.
Chicken wings are a staple food for game days, parties, and everyday meals. Their crispy coating and tender, juicy meat make them an appetizing snack or entree. However, leftover wings often lose their appeal as they sit in the fridge, becoming soggy and less appetizing. Fortunately, there are several excellent ways to reheat chicken wings to restore their texture and taste. This comprehensive guide will explore the best reheating methods to revive your leftover wings.
Oven Baking – The Gold Standard for Reheating Wings
Oven baking is the ideal way to reheat chicken wings if you want them crispy on the outside and moist on the inside, just like when they were first cooked. Here’s a simple oven reheating method:
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Take the wings out of the fridge and let them come to room temperature for 10-15 minutes before baking.
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Preheat your oven to 350°F, Line a baking sheet with foil or use a wire rack,
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Arrange the wings on the sheet in a single layer without overcrowding
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Lightly spray or drizzle the wings with oil to prevent them from drying out.
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Bake for 10-15 minutes, flipping once halfway through, until heated through and crispy.
The hot, dry oven air will re-crisp the coating and breading on the wings as they heat. With the wings spread out, the heat circulates evenly and thoroughly warms the meat without drying it out. This yields wings with a crispy exterior and a moist, juicy interior.
Air Fryer – A Quicker Alternative to Oven Baking
It takes less time and works almost as well as an oven to reheat wings. The hot air moving around quickly makes the wings’ coating crisp. Here’s how to use an air fryer:
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Let the wings sit out for 10-15 minutes to come closer to room temperature before air frying.
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Spray or drizzle the wings lightly with oil.
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Air fry at 350°F for 6-8 minutes, shaking the basket halfway through.
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Check that the wings are heated through and have crisped up.
Because an air fryer can only hold a certain number of wings at a time, you may need to reheat them in groups. However, you can make frozen wings crispy and tasty again in just 6 to 8 minutes.
Skillet – Best for Sauced or Plain Wings
A skillet or frying pan is ideal for reheating basic or sauced wings. The direct heat helps crisp up plain wings, while a bit of oil prevents sauced wings from sticking. Here’s a skillet reheating method:
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Let wings sit out for 10-15 minutes to lose refrigerator chill before reheating.
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Heat 1-2 tablespoons of oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat.
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When oil shimmers, add wings in a single layer.
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Cook for 2-3 minutes per side, flipping once, until hot and slightly crisped.
The benefit of a skillet is that you can toss or coat wings with more sauce as you reheat them. This ensures sauced wings don’t dry out. It gives great results for buffalo or sticky Asian style wings.
Microwave – The Quick Fix for Wings
If you’re in a rush, the microwave can reheat wings reasonably well. While they won’t get crispy, the microwave rapidly heats the wings through. Here’s a microwave method:
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Place wings on a microwave-safe plate, spaced apart.
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Cover with a paper towel to prevent splatter.
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Microwave on High for 60-90 seconds.
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Check temperature and continue microwaving in 30 second bursts if needed.
Microwaved wings won’t have the same crispy texture as other methods. But in just a minute or two, you can have hot, juicy wings ready to eat or finish under the broiler. This method works best for sauced wings where crispness isn’t as important.
Tips for the Best Results
Follow these tips regardless of the reheating method for optimal results:
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Let wings sit out for 10-15 minutes to lose chill before reheating.
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Arrange wings in a single layer on trays or pans so they heat evenly.
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Lightly coat wings with oil or sauce to prevent drying out.
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Flip/shake/turn wings midway through for even heating.
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Check internal temperature with a thermometer to ensure wings reach 165°F.
Properly reheated wings can taste nearly as fresh and appetizing as if you just cooked them. With the right technique, you can revive refrigerated or frozen wings to crispy, juicy perfection. Next game day or party, impress your guests with perfectly reheated wings.
The Best Way to Reheat Your Wings
So now you have properly stored your Atomic Wings leftovers and youre ready to enjoy them. Letâs get those wings ready with these tips:Â.
- Don’t use the microwave. Putting your Atomic Wing leftovers in the microwave is a huge lie. It may leave your wings soggy and sad. The best way to reheat food and get the best taste is to use your oven or air fryer. Â .
- Oven Love: Crank your oven to 350â (IYKYK). Lay those extra wings out on a baking sheet so they look like they’re lying in the sun. Bake for 10 to 15 minutes, flipping them over once, until they are “crispy AF.” Â .
- Lucky you! If you have an air fryer, set it to 375°F to 400°F and cook the wings for 5 to 7 minutes on each side. You’ll get them crispy. Â .
- Pre-sauced vs. Serve with sauce on the side. If your wings were already sauced, the sauce will bake into them when you reheat them, so it might not be as wet as you’d like. If so, you can add more sauce after reheating by putting the wings and extra sauce in a bowl and tossing them to make sure they are well covered. Â .
First Things First: Safe Food StorageÂ
Proper storage of your Atomic Wings leftovers is key to keeping your chicken wings safe and delicious. Here are some essential tips:
- Airtight containers are your best friend. Don’t leave your Atomic Wings leftovers out in the open in the fridge. Put them in a container that won’t let air in or wrap them tightly in plastic wrap. So the wings don’t dry out and pick up smells you don’t want them to. Â .
- Making sure the fridge is below 40â² (4â) is very important. As soon as the temperature in your fridge goes above 40°F, bacteria can start to grow. So make sure your fridge is nice and cold. Â .
How to Reheat Chicken Wings
FAQ
How to reheat chicken wings?
We bring you tips that will surely improve the taste of your favorite dish. The oven is actually the best way to reheat crispy wings, especially for dishes such as buffalo wild wings, spicy wings, honey garlic chicken wings, fried chicken wings, oven baked wings, and honey sesame chicken wings.
Can You reheat chicken wings in an air fryer?
Air fryers are effective at reheating chicken wings and ideal for fried wings, in particular. Read on for the steps to reheating wings in an air fryer—just keep in mind that air fryers work fast and have a heating element that’s closer to the food than a traditional oven, so you’ll need to keep a close eye to avoid overcooking.
Can You reheat honey garlic chicken wings?
Before putting the honey garlic chicken wings back in the oven, heat it to 375 degrees Fahrenheit and cook them for 10 to 15 minutes, or until they are hot all the way through. You can also freeze honey garlic chicken wings for up to 3 months. How do you reheat Costco chicken wings?.
Can You reheat Frank’s red hot chicken wings?
You can reheat frank’s red hot chicken wings by preheating your oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit and cooking them for 5-7 minutes, or until they are heated through. You can also freeze frank’s red hot chicken wings for up to 3 months. How to Reheat Buffalo Wings? The best way to reheat buffalo wings is in the oven.
Can You reheat Costco chicken wings?
You can reheat Costco chicken wings by preheating your oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit and cooking them for 5-7 minutes, or until they are heated through. You can also freeze Costco chicken wings for up to 3 months. How do you reheat Kroger chicken wings?.
Can You reheat Kroger chicken wings?
For Kroger chicken wings that have been frozen, preheat your oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit and cook them for 5 to 7 minutes, or until they are warm all the way through. You can also freeze Kroger chicken wings for up to 3 months. How do you reheat chicken wings with sauce?.
How do you reheat already cooked chicken wings?
Heat your oven to 350 degrees. Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil or parchment paper and put your wings on it in a single layer. Set the wings out to cool. You will put the chicken wings in the oven and reheat for 10-20 minutes flipping half way through, or until a meat thermometer reads 165 degrees.
Is it better to reheat wings in the oven or air fryer?
Chicken wings reheat best when using an oven, as this even heating method creates a crispy exterior without drying out the meat.Jan 15, 2025
Can you reheat chicken wings with bones?
Reheating bone-in chicken wings is both easy and fast when using your air fryer: Preheat the air fryer to 360 degrees. You will want to take your leftover wings out of the fridge and bring to room temperature before you put them in your air fryer basket. Place the wings in an even layer in the basket.