Chicken wings: a crowd-pleasing appetizer, a satisfying meal, and a frequent source of leftovers. But how do you revive those leftover wings without sacrificing flavor and, more importantly, ensuring they’re safe to eat?
Reheating chicken wings the right way is essential for achieving that perfect balance of crispy skin and juicy meat. And of course, food safety is paramount when dealing with leftovers.
This guide covers several methods for reheating chicken wings, from using the oven to the stovetop, microwave, and even the air fryer.
Food Safety First: Storing and Handling Leftover Chicken Wings
Bacteria love chicken wings just as much as we do, so it’s important to store them properly. Put leftover chicken wings in the fridge within two hours of cooking them.
According to the USDA and Chef Ballaney, cooked chicken stays good in the refrigerator for three to four days.
Don’t reheat leftovers that have been sitting out at room temperature for more than two hours. Throw them away.
Before you reheat your wings, check them for signs of spoilage, such as changes in how they look, smell, or feel.
Choosing the Right Reheating Method: A Comparison
So, you’ve got leftover wings. Great! But how do you reheat them so they’re almost as good as the first time around? Here’s a rundown of your best bets.
Oven Reheating: The Gold Standard
As chef Deepak Ballaney says, the oven’s your best bet for keeping those wings crispy and heating them evenly. You’ll need to preheat the oven, and the whole process takes about 15 minutes, so it’s not the quickest.
Air Fryer: A Quick and Crispy Alternative
Air fryers are a faster way to get crispy wings. The key here is to keep a close eye on them. It’s easy to overcook them and dry them out.
Stovetop Reheating: Achieving a Charred Exterior
The stovetop can give you a nice, charred finish, Ballaney notes. However, it’s harder to heat them evenly this way. You’ll want to be careful they don’t get too well-done before the insides are warm enough.
Microwave: The Least Recommended Option
Generally, you’ll want to avoid the microwave. It’s fast, sure, but microwaving tends to make wings rubbery and ruins the crispy skin. You’ll sacrifice texture for speed.
How to reheat chicken wings in the oven
- First, preheat your oven to 350°F.
- Take the wings out of the fridge and let them sit for about 15 minutes to warm up.
- Spray a baking sheet with cooking spray, so the wings don’t stick.
- Lay the wings out on the sheet in a single layer. Don’t let them overlap.
- Put the sheet on the middle rack and heat for 10 to 15 minutes. The wings should be crispy and have an internal temperature of 165°F.
- If your wings have sauce, brush on some extra sauce halfway through.
How to reheat chicken wings in an air fryer
The air fryer is probably the best way to reheat wings. Here’s how to do it:
- Preheat your air fryer to 400°F.
- Lightly spray the wings with cooking spray. This will help them crisp up.
- Put the wings in the air fryer basket in a single layer. Don’t overcrowd them.
- Reheat for 5-7 minutes, flipping them halfway through.
- Make sure the internal temperature reaches 165°F before you eat them.
How to reheat chicken wings on the stovetop
Here’s a simple method for reheating chicken wings on the stovetop:
- Heat a skillet on your stovetop over medium heat.
- Add about 2 tablespoons of cooking oil to the pan.
- Place your chicken wings in the skillet, being careful not to overcrowd them. Work in batches if you need to.
- Use tongs to turn the wings from time to time, preventing them from burning.
- Reheat the chicken wings for two to three minutes, flipping them halfway through.
- Make sure the internal temperature of the wings reaches 165°F.
How to reheat chicken wings in the microwave
The microwave is the least effective way to reheat chicken wings, but here’s how to do it:
- Line a microwave-safe plate with a damp paper towel.
- Put 10-12 wings on the plate.
- Cover them with another damp paper towel.
- Microwave the wings in 20-second intervals at low power (about half power).
- Use a meat thermometer to make sure the internal temperature is 165°F.
In Closing
However you reheat your wings, food safety always comes first. Make sure you’ve stored the leftover wings properly, and always reheat them to an internal temperature of 165°F.
While a microwave might be the fastest option, the oven and air fryer are the best ways to reheat chicken wings and get them nice and crispy.
Feel free to experiment with different reheating methods to find the one that works best for you. Enjoy!