Best Way to Reheat Chicken Wings

Chicken wings always go down well at mealtimes, whether you have them as a starter or part of a buffet, or as part of the main course.  But they go down better when done right. 

Sure they can taste great when you first cook them, but if you’re lucky enough to have some leftover the next mealtime or the next day, ideally, you want them to taste just as good as when you first cooked them.  Crispy and flavorful on the outside and succulent and juicy on the inside.  Love chicken wings! 

The key is to reheat the chicken wings without stripping them of the moisture and flavor that makes them so moreish. 

So, what we’re going to do here is talk about some of the more preferred ways of reheating chicken wings before concluding on which way we think is best. 

It’s worth bearing in mind, of course, that the way you cooked the chicken wings initially can have a huge bearing on the best way to reheat them.  For example, chicken wings that have been coated in breadcrumbs and then baked should be handled differently to chicken wings that have been set to marinate and then roasted.  This article concentrates on reheating chicken wings without breadcrumbs or batter. 

Best Way to Reheat Chicken Wings

Another thing to bear in mind is that you shouldn’t reheat them for too long as this risks burning them and ruining the taste. 

Whenever you decide you want to keep some of your chicken wings to reheat the next day, remember always to place your chicken wings in the refrigerator, don’t leave them out for your pets to get to them before you do. 

4 Best Ways to Reheat Chicken Wings 

In no particular order, and without further ado, we’re now going to run through 4 different methods of reheating chicken wings.  

Refrying 

If you originally cooked your chicken wings by frying them, then giving them a quick refry is the most convenient way to reheat them.  All you need are a frying pan and a little oil. 

  1. The first step is to get the chicken wings out of the refrigerator and let them sit for a while to get to room temperature.
  2. When ready, heat some oil in your frying pan on medium heat, and place your chicken wings inside.  You will need enough oil to cover the chicken wings.
  3. Refry the chicken wings for about 2 to 3 minutes on one side before turning them over and doing the same again.  The idea behind this is to get the chicken wings evenly heated.  Be careful because there may be splashing.
  4. When you’re happy with how your chicken wings are looking, use some kitchen tongs to remove the wings from the pan and place them on a plate topped with a paper towel.  The purpose of the paper towel is to absorb excess oil from the chicken wings.  But don’t leave them there for too long, or the chicken wings will start to stick to the paper towel. 

Reheating in the oven (roasting or toasting oven) 

If you’re not keen on having your frying pan spit hot oil on you, then here’s another method for reheating chicken wings that will ensure they will be crispy and not soggy with oil and remain moist and juicy on the inside. 

  1. Preheat the oven to 180 degrees centigrade
  2. While the oven is preheating, get the chicken wings out of the refrigerator and let them sit for a while to get closer to room temperature.
  3. Place a sheet of aluminum foil into a baking pan (or roasting tin).  This gives the wings a more even heat, which prevents the chicken wings from sticking to the baking pan.
  4. Place the chicken wings onto the pan and into the oven for a total of 15 minutes.
  5. Using oven gloves, take them out of the oven and check that you’re happy with the look and the texture.
  6. You may want to let them cool down for about 5 minutes before plating up to serve. 

In an Air Fryer 

If you’re lucky enough to own an air fryer, you can fry or refry your food without oil, which is so much healthier than traditional frying. 

  1. The first step is to get the chicken wings out of the refrigerator and let them sit for a while to get to room temperature.
  2. Place the chicken wings in the air fryer, but be careful not to overfill it.  Instead, ensure there’s enough space between the chicken wing pieces so that every piece will be evenly reheated.  (Unfortunately, if you have a lot to reheat, this may mean  reheating in batches.)
  3. Set the temperature to 200 degrees centigrade, and set the timer for 10 minutes.
  4. The chicken wings may be ready before the full 10 minutes is up, so check on them halfway through and take them out when you’re ready.
  5. Let them cool a little, so they’re not too hot to the touch to serve up. 

Why should you avoid using a microwave to reheat chicken wings?

The trickiest way to reheat chicken wings is in the microwave.  This is because the heat of the microwave causes the chicken wings’ moisture to evaporate, leaving a very dry texture that’s nowhere near as good as fresh chicken wings. 

Some people say that you can reheat chicken wings in the microwave by placing damp paper towels above and below the chicken wings in the microwave.  But this isn’t ideal. 

Conclusion 

These methods are great ways of reheating chicken wings, but ultimately which method to use comes down to things like what kitchen equipment you have at your disposal and personal cooking and taste preferences.  And because of this, our top recommendation is to find your perfect method by “trial and error.”  Try out these different methods and decide for yourself which one you like best. 

Enjoy your chicken wings!

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