There's nothing quite like the crispy, golden goodness of fried chicken. But what do you do when you have some leftover fried chicken that's lost its crispiness in the fridge? Fear not, because the air fryer is here to save the day!
Why I Love This
Reheating fried chicken in the air fryer is a great way to consume chicken leftovers. Whether you are reheating leftover KFC chicken the next day or your favorite homemade chicken, these step-by-step instructions will work for you.
In this guide, we'll walk you through the step-by-step process of reheating fried chicken in the air fryer, ensuring that it comes out just as crispy and delicious as when it was first cooked.
No more soggy chicken from the microwave. The air fryer is by far the best option for reheating leftovers and making them taste like new.
A few of my other favorite items to reheat are chicken tenders, chicken wings, fried fish, burgers, and pizza!
Jump to:
Why Choose the Air Fryer?
Reheating fried chicken in the air fryer is a game-changer for several reasons:
- Maintains Crispy Texture: The air fryer uses hot air circulation to cook food, which helps to revive the chicken's crispiness, unlike a microwave that often leaves it soggy.
- Even Heating: The air fryer ensures even heating, so every bite of your reheated fried chicken will be as crispy as the first.
- Quick and Easy: It's a quick and hassle-free method, taking only a fraction of the time compared to reheating in an oven.
- Healthier. No deep fryer and no extra calories, fats, or oils are required!
Now, let's get to the step-by-step process!
Ingredients and Equipment
Ingredients:
- Leftover fried chicken pieces. These can be homemade or fast food leftovers.
Equipment:
- Air fryer. I like to use the Cosori Dual Blaze air fryer.
- Cooking spray (optional)
How to Reheat Fried Chicken
Step 1: Preheat the Air Fryer
Preheat your air fryer to 375°F (190°C). This step is essential to ensure that the chicken reheats evenly and retains its crispy texture.
Step 2: Prepare the Chicken
While the air fryer is preheating, take your leftover fried chicken out of the refrigerator. If the chicken pieces are stacked on top of each other, separate them to ensure even heating.
Step 3: Optional: Use Cooking Spray
For an extra crispy finish, you can lightly spray the chicken pieces with cooking spray. This step is optional but can help enhance the crispiness.
Step 4: Place the Chicken in the Air Fryer
Now, it's time to arrange the chicken pieces in the air fryer basket. Make sure to leave some space between each piece to allow for proper air circulation. If your air fryer is small, you may need to reheat the chicken in batches.
Step 5: Reheat in the Air Fryer
Slide the basket into the preheated air fryer and set the timer for 3-4 minutes. This initial heating period will warm up the chicken.
Step 6: Check for Doneness
After the initial heating, carefully open the air fryer and check the chicken. It should be warmed through, but it may not be as crispy as you'd like just yet.
Step 7: Flip and Continue Reheating
To ensure even crispiness, flip each piece of chicken using tongs. Then, return the basket to the air fryer.
Step 8: Finish Reheating
Continue reheating the chicken for an additional 2-3 minutes on the other side. Keep a close eye on it to prevent overcooking.
Step 9: Check Crispiness
Open the air fryer again and check the crispiness of the chicken. If it's not as crispy as you desire, you can repeat the flipping and reheating process for another 1-2 minutes on each side.
Step 10: Serve and Enjoy!
Once your fried chicken is crispy and heated through, carefully remove it from the air fryer and let it rest for a minute or two. This helps the crust to set and become even crispier.
Now, you're ready to dig in! Serve your reheated fried chicken with your favorite sides, and sauces, and enjoy the crunchy goodness.
Tips
- Avoid Overcrowding: Make sure not to overcrowd the air fryer basket. It's better to reheat in batches if necessary to maintain the crispy skin. Not only that, but no one wants little bites of cold chicken.
- Use an Instant-Read Thermometer: If you want to be extra sure that your leftover chicken is thoroughly reheated, you can use an instant-read meat thermometer. The internal temperature should reach 165°F (74°C).
- Customize with Seasonings: Before reheating, you can sprinkle your chicken with a bit of your favorite seasoning or spice mix to add extra flavor.
- Serve with Dipping Sauces: Fried chicken pairs wonderfully with various dipping sauces like ranch, blue cheese, honey mustard, or hot sauce. Have some on hand for a flavor boost.
Storage
Store any leftover reheated chicken back into an airtight container in the refrigerator. I personally don't like reheating chicken more than two times before disposing of it, if I am unable to consume all of it.
Reheating Options
There are several different ways you can reheat leftover chicken. While we prefer the air fryer method, we are going to share other ways as well to help you make an informed decision.
Air Fryer:
- Temperature: Preheat your air fryer to 375°F (190°C).
- Time: Reheat the fried chicken in the air fryer for approximately 3-4 minutes per side. After the initial heating, flip the chicken and continue reheating for an additional 2-3 minutes on the other side. Keep an eye on it to achieve your desired crispiness.
Oven:
- Temperature: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).
- Time: Reheat the fried chicken for about 20-25 minutes. If you're reheating a larger batch, it may take a bit longer.
Toaster Oven:
- Temperature: Preheat your toaster oven to 350°F (175°C) as well.
- Time: Reheat the fried chicken for approximately 10-15 minutes. Keep an eye on it to prevent overcooking.
Microwave:
- Temperature: Microwaves don't use a temperature setting, but you can set the power level to 50% or use the "reheat" function if your microwave has one.
- Time: Reheat the fried chicken in 1-2 minute intervals, flipping the chicken between intervals. The exact time will depend on the microwave's power and the amount of chicken you're reheating. Typically, it takes about 3-4 minutes to reheat a single piece of chicken.
Remember that while the microwave is the quickest method, it can make the chicken lose some of its crispiness. To maintain the crispy texture, the oven or toaster oven methods are generally better, with the air fryer option giving the best results. Additionally, always use a food thermometer to ensure that the internal temperature of the chicken reaches 165°F (74°C) for safe consumption.
FAQs
Yes, you can reheat various types of chicken, including fried chicken, grilled chicken, roasted chicken, and even chicken wings, or chicken breast in the air fryer.
Reheating times can vary depending on the type and thickness of the chicken, but it typically takes around 3-5 minutes per side at 375°F (190°C) for most chicken pieces. The number of pieces of chicken will also determine the amount of time it will take for reheating.
Using a light coating of cooking spray can help enhance the crispiness of reheated chicken, but it's optional and depends on your preference.
To prevent dryness, you can add a small dish of water to the air fryer while reheating, which helps to maintain moisture. Additionally, avoid overcooking the chicken.
Preheating the air fryer is recommended because it ensures even reheating. It takes about 2-3 minutes to preheat.
Yes, flipping the chicken halfway through the reheating process ensures even crispiness on both sides.
Reheating chicken at around 375°F (190°C) is a good starting point. However, you can adjust the temperature based on the type and thickness of the chicken and your desired crispiness.
Yes, you can reheat bone-in chicken pieces in the air fryer. Just make sure they are arranged in a single layer for even reheating.
Absolutely! Seasoning the chicken before reheating can add extra flavor. You can use your favorite seasonings, spices, or sauces to customize the taste.
Yes, it's safe to reheat chicken in the air fryer, as long as you follow proper food safety guidelines. Ensure that the internal temperature of the chicken reaches 165°F (74°C) to ensure it's safe to eat.
The size of your air fryer will determine how many chicken pieces you can reheat at once. Avoid overcrowding the basket to ensure even reheating.
Remember that reheating and cooking time and temperatures may vary based on the specific type of chicken and your air fryer model, so it's a good idea to monitor the process and adjust as needed to achieve the desired results.
Reheating Fried Chicken
Reheating fried chicken in the air fryer is the best way to revive its crispy, golden goodness. With a few simple steps, you can enjoy your leftover fried chicken as if it were freshly made. So, the next time you find yourself with some cold fried chicken in the fridge, don't hesitate to reach for your air fryer and indulge in the ultimate crispy delight!
Experiment with different seasonings and sauces to make your reheated fried chicken even more exciting. Happy cooking, and even happier eating!
More Air Fryer Reheating Recipes
Are you new to air fryers? If you are, we have a great article about What is an Air Fryer. It talks about what you can make, how to use it, and more.
Looking for the BEST accessories to use with your air fryer? We've put together this list of our favorite Air Fryer Accessories.
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📖 Recipe
Reheat Fried Chicken in AIr Fryer
Equipment
- 1 Air Fryer
Ingredients
- 8 pieces chicken fried
Instructions
- Preheat your air fryer to 375°F (190°C). This step is essential to ensure that the chicken reheats evenly and retains its crispy texture.
- While the air fryer is preheating, take your leftover fried chicken out of the refrigerator. If the chicken pieces are stacked on top of each other, separate them to ensure even heating.
- For an extra crispy finish, you can lightly spray the chicken pieces with cooking spray. This step is optional but can help enhance the crispiness.
- Now, it's time to arrange the chicken pieces in the air fryer basket. Make sure to leave some space between each piece to allow for proper air circulation. If your air fryer is small, you may need to reheat the chicken in batches.
- Slide the basket into the preheated air fryer and set the timer for 3-4 minutes. This initial heating period will warm up the chicken.
- After the initial heating, carefully open the air fryer and check the chicken. It should be warmed through, but it may not be as crispy as you'd like just yet.
- To ensure even crispiness, flip each piece of chicken using tongs. Then, return the basket to the air fryer.
- Continue reheating the chicken for an additional 2-3 minutes on the other side. Keep a close eye on it to prevent overcooking.
- Open the air fryer again and check the crispiness of the chicken. If it's not as crispy as you desire, you can repeat the flipping and reheating process for another 1-2 minutes on each side.
- Once your fried chicken is crispy and heated through, carefully remove it from the air fryer and let it rest for a minute or two. This helps the crust to set and become even crispier.
Notes
Nutrition
*Nutritional information is a calculated guesstimate. Please note that this can change with different brands and modifications you may make to the recipe. For the most accurate information, use a nutritional calculator with the exact brands and measurements you're using with each recipe.
©AirFryingFoodie 2023
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