No matter if you prefer breaded, roasted or sauce-covered wings. There is something so appealing about the tasteful chicken skin that sets chicken wings apart from other chicken dishes.
However, chicken can become very dry when reheated. How can you avoid completely drying out your leftover chicken wings and ruining the dish when you want to enjoy your chicken wings the next day?
To reheat chicken wings, the easiest option is to pop them into the oven on a lined baking tray for between 15 and 25 minutes. You can also reheat them in an air fryer.
How to Reheat Chicken Wings
Whether you fried or oven-baked your chicken wings, the key to reheating leftover chicken wings is to avoid making the chicken skin chewy.
Chewy chicken wings are not only unpleasant but can ruin your meal, which is a shame because chicken wings that have been reheated correctly are tasteful and delicious.
The best ways to avoid chewy chicken wings are to reheat them in the oven or use an air fryer:
How To Reheat Chicken Wings In The Oven
You can reheat both fried and oven-cooked chicken wings in the oven.
So long as the temperature is low enough, the chicken skin will be crispy rather than chewy or dry. Here is how:
- Preheat The Oven
Set your oven to 180C before you start prepping the chicken wings to be reheated. - Prepare A Baking Tray
Using parchment paper, line a baking tray large enough to fit all your chicken wings. Or, if you don’t have parchment paper to hand, drizzle a little cooking oil directly onto the baking tray and spread the oil evenly. - Organise The Chicken Wings
Evenly spread the chicken wings out on the baking tray, leaving equal gaps between the wings and preventing any of the wings from touching. - Cover With Foil
If you want your chicken wings to be crisper, do not cover them with foil. But if your chicken wings are already too crispy for your liking, cover the tray with some kitchen foil. - Reheat
Set a time for 15 minutes and reheat the chicken wings. - Reheat (Again)
Check on the wings after 15 minutes. If they are still cold in the centre, reheat them for a further 10 minutes. - Heat The Sauce
While the chicken wings are warming up in the oven, transfer your sauce to a microwaveable bowl and reheat for 1 minute. - Combine The Chicken And Sauce
When the chicken wings and the sauce are thoroughly reheated, transfer the chicken to a heatproof dish and cover the wings in the sauce. Alternatively, you can use a heatproof bowl and toss the chicken in the sauce. But that is a little tricker. - Serve
All that’s left to do is plate up the chicken wings and enjoy.
How To Reheat Chicken Wings In An Air Fryer
For chicken wings that were previously fried, an air fryer can help to get back that satisfying crunch. Better yet, no fattening oil is required:
- Organize The Chicken In The Fryer
In the basket of your air fryer, arrange the chicken so that there is a gap between the wings. The less the wings touch, the more evenly they will cook. This may mean reheating your chicken wings in multiple batches. - Set Up The Air Fryer
When the chicken wings are all organised, you can go ahead and set up your air fryer. Turn the temperature to 180C or 205C for the crispiest wings. - Reheat
Set a timer for 5 minutes and leave your chicken wings to warm up. - Reheat The Sauce
Now is the time to reheat any sauce you plan to serve with your wings. This should be done in the microwave or on the stovetop over a low heat. - Serve Immediately
When the 5 minutes are up, serve your chicken wings in a heatproof dish and cover in the reheated sauce.
How to Reheat Chicken Wings Successfully
Reheating chicken wings effectively can be a little time-consuming and risks giving you food poisoning if not done correctly.
However, if you follow the tips below, you will have no problem successfully reheating your chicken wings:
- Use A Heat Thermometer – It can often be hard to tell when reheating chicken wings if they have reached a safe enough temperature to eat just from looking at the wings. Using a heat thermometer is the best way to ensure that the chicken is safe to eat. You want the inside of the chicken to reach at least 75C before serving.
- Higher The Heat, Crispier The Chicken – Depending on how crispy your chicken wings already are, you may need to set your air fryer to a higher heat and leave the wings to reheat for a shorter time to achieve that satisfying crunch. This should only be done if you are air frying your chicken wings. Setting your oven to a hotter temperature will dry the chicken and make it lose its flavour.
Is It Safe to Reheat Chicken Wings?
Chicken wings are only safe to reheat if covered and stored in the fridge. You should wait no longer than 2 days to reheat the chicken. Otherwise, it will start to develop harmful bacteria.
Even then, you will need to ensure that the chicken is thoroughly cooked to kill any bacteria that have started to grow. The methods listed above will do this for you.
Reheating Chicken Wings FAQs
Do you still have further questions about the best ways to reheat chicken wings? Then check out these FAQs:
Although it is possible to microwave chicken wings to reheat them, it’s not the best solution. You’ll find they dry out quickly and they lose their crispy outside. Instead, opt for the oven or air fryer.
The higher the heat, the crispier the chicken wings will be when you reheat them in the air fryer. You’ll never get them completely crispy when reheating them in the oven or microwave.
Acacia may be a freelance writer by day, but they are a food fanatic by night. They are always trying out new recipes or finding different ways to elevate classical dishes. But their biggest culinary aim is to educate others on the basics of the kitchen so that they too can enjoy delicious food.
