Briefly, there are four ways to reheat chicken wings: in the oven, in the microwave, on the stove, and in an air fryer.
Leftover chicken wings after lunch are almost a sure thing. I’ve never made precisely as many chicken wings as we eat for lunch. The great thing is that when you have a pair of crisp and juicy wings, you will have a great snack the next day.
Reheating wings seems like a simple thing everyone knows how to do. However, there are a few tricks to get perfect, soft inside, and crispy outside chicken wings. We bring you tips that will surely improve the taste of your favorite dish.
Heating Chicken Wings In The Oven
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.
You won’t need a lot of hassle, and you don’t have to watch them every minute while they warm up. Besides, you will get beautiful crispy skin and a well-heated interior.
Step 1: Let your Chicken Wings Rest on Room Temperature
It is good to take the leftover wings out of the fridge and leave them for at least 15 minutes at room temperature to adjust. Also, if you have frozen them, be sure to defrost them first and adjust to room temperature.
Step 2: Preheat the Oven to 350 °F
Allow the oven to heat well to a temperature of 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Do not put the chicken before the oven is preheated, as you will not get an excellent crispy outcome.
Step 3: Place the Chicken on the Baking Paper
Place the baking tray on a baking sheet, and then arrange the chicken wing pieces on it. You want to distance them a little from each other so that they have space between them. This will allow them to be nicely crispy on all sides. If the chicken wings are very dry, you can spray them with a little water (not too much) or a little oil.
Step 4: Bake for 15 Minutes
Put the chicken wings in the oven and leave them for about 7 minutes. Then turn each piece over and return to the oven for an additional 7 to 8 minutes. It will be enough time to heat the chicken on all sides and get a nice crispy caramelized crust.
Reheating Chicken Wings In The Microwave
In the case of chicken wings, the microwave will do the heating job quite fine. It is the second best way and won’t get that crispy crust like in the oven, but it will be nicely heated and delicious. So if you have a pair of chicken wings for a meal at a break at work, don’t be afraid to reheat them in the microwave.
Step 1: Place the Chicken Wings on a Microwave Safe Plate
Use a dish that is safe for the microwave. Place a paper towel slightly moistened with water on it. Put pieces of chicken wings and cover them with a damp paper towel. You can avoid this wrapping step if you are in a hurry, but with the help of wet paper, the chicken will be a little juicier.
Step 2: Place in Microwave for 2 Minutes
Put the chicken wings in the microwave for two minutes. Make sure it is heated enough, and if not, repeat the process for an extra minute or two. You can remove the paper towel and put it in the microwave for another 30 seconds just to keep the chicken nicely warmed around the edges.
Warming Chicken Wings On A Stove
A stove is also a quick and convenient way to reheat leftover wings. And, you’ll also get a slightly baked crispy crust flavor. Just be careful not to burn them. Keep in mind that the wings are already baked, so be careful not to overdo the baking.
Step 1: Let your Chicken Wings Rest in a Room Temperature
In this case, it is also good to leave the wings to adjust to room temperature, especially if they are frozen. Be sure to temper them first. If you are left with moisture or ice on chicken wings, it will spray oil from the pan, which can be inconvenient.
Step 2: Heat the Skillet with Oil
Put a tablespoon or two of oil in a frying pan and place it on the stove to warm up. Do not allow the oil to start burning, but start adding the chicken as soon as the pan is heated. It is best to use vegetable oil that is resistant to high temperatures.
Step 3: Put the Chicken Wings in the Skillet
Put pieces of chicken wings on heated oil. It will take about 3 minutes on one side and then turn them over to the other side. You can repeat the process two more times until the chicken gets a golden baked color. Do not remove the chicken from the oil too soon as the inside may not be well heated. When it is done, remove from the pan, wipe the excess oil off with a paper towel, and serve.
Warming Up Chicken Wings In An Air Fryer
Heating these delicious chicken pieces comes naturally to the air fryer and is not too much trouble. All you need is the basket that came with the machine, a little oil, and, of course, leftover chicken.
With a simple way to reheat, you might want to make enough wings for two days of lunch next time. Here’s what you need to do.
Step 1: Let your Chicken Wings Rest on Room Temperature
As with the previous methods, the results will be slightly tastier if you have time to let the chicken sit at room temperature for a while. Thus, you allow the internal temperature to equalize, and the heating results better. In case of a lack of time, feel free to skip this step.
Step 2: Preheat the Air Fryer to 360 °F
A medium heat of 360 degrees F will be just fine for heating up delicious wings. Do not set the temperature too high so as not to burn the outer ends of the meat while the inside may remain cold.
Step 3: Place the Chicken in the Basket
Place the chicken pieces in the grill air fryer basket and make sure to do it in one layer. If you have more wings, separate the heating into several rounds. You can lightly coat the top of the chicken with a bit of oil or melted butter. Put the wings in the air fryer.
Step 4: Heat and Twist
The cooking time will take approximately 5 to 6 minutes. It would be a good idea to turn the pieces of chicken wings at halftime so that they heat up as well as possible. When everything is sufficiently heated, serve immediately.
FAQs
How do you store leftover chicken wings?
Be sure to store leftover chicken wings after lunch as soon as they cool. If you intend to consume them in the next 3 to a maximum of 4 days, you can put them in the fridge. If you want to store them for a long time, up to 3 months, you can freeze them.
Be sure to wrap the chicken wings in a plastic cooler bag or seal tightly in a bowl. Do not put an uncovered chicken in the refrigerator with other food.
Is there a difference in reheating traditional and boneless wings?
There is actually no difference in the procedure of reheating traditional or boneless chicken wings. The only difference is that boneless chicken will need a little less time to warm up, so keep that in mind.
Can I reheat chicken wings several times?
The bacteria should disappear with high temperature, so if you did the reheating correctly, you should not be in danger if you reheat the chicken twice. Yet, the advice of experts is to reheat the chicken, or any other meat, only once. Rather separate the amount you want to eat and reheat just that.
How do you reheat chicken wings without drying them out?
To reheat chicken wings without drying them out, use an oven or air fryer instead of a microwave. Preheat the oven or air fryer to around 350°F (175°C), place the wings on a baking sheet or in the air fryer basket, and heat them for a few minutes until they are warmed through. Optionally, you can brush them with a little sauce or melted butter before reheating them to help retain moisture and flavor.
Conclusion
Warming up chicken wings is certainly something you’ve done a hundred times, and it is not at all complicated. However, with a few right guidelines, you can get a much better result and that beautiful crunch tender flavor you had in the beginning. Follow our tips and discover your favorite way to reheat wings.
Tanja is great lover of healthy eating and lifestyle, she has been editing TV series about nutrition and health for years. She also engaged in food production in the family business, mainly focused on fruit processing without destroying vitamins and minerals. She believes that quality nutrition is one of the key ingredients of a happy and healthy life.
