4 Ways To Reheat Chicken Wings

Storing leftovers in your refrigerator and freezer is always a good idea. Food is too precious and expensive to throw away just because you cooked too much. Many people don't like to eat yesterday's leavings because they don't know how to properly reheat leftovers; if you aren't careful when reheating, you can easily dry out that leftover piece of juicy prime rib or turn crispy fried chicken into a rubbery mess. Chicken wings are so delicious and versatile that we often cook way too much and wind up wasting them. Learn how to properly reheat chicken wings, and you will have the makings for another meal or snack.

How to Reheat Wings in the Oven

The best way to reheat a delicious chicken wing is in the oven. This method will give you a crisped exterior and a moist and juicy inside. If you are worried about your wings drying out, spritz them with water before putting them in the oven.

Preheat your oven to 350 F. Take your leftover wings out of the fridge so they can come to room temperature—this usually takes about 15 or so minutes. (If your wings are frozen, let them thaw in the refrigerator before reheating.) Spray a sheet pan with cooking spray and arrange the wings on the sheet pan in a single layer, about an inch apart. You can spritz the wings with water at this point in case you are concerned with them drying out. Place the sheet pan in the oven, reheat the wings for about five to six minutes on one side, then turn them and continue to heat for another five to six minutes or until a meat thermometer stuck in the meatiest wing reads 165 F, the USDA's safe minimum internal temperature for chicken. Cook times will vary based on the amount of wings and the temperature.

How to Reheat Wings in the Air Fryer

The air fryer is a great tool to make crispy and juicy chicken wings—have you tried our Air Fryer Lemon Pepper Chicken Wings recipe yet? The air fryer is a convection oven that heats food evenly by circulating air in the basket, which also makes an ideal setting to reheat your leftover wings. Take your leftover wings out of the fridge so they can come to room temperature. Preheat your air fryer to 350 F. Spritz the wings with oil and nestle them in the basket, and make sure they aren't crammed in there or they won't reheat evenly. Heat wings in the air fryer for up to 10 minutes but check on them every few minutes or until they reach an internal temp of 165 F. If you have a lot of wings to reheat you shouldn't stuff them in the air fryer basket but reheat them in batches, or in that case, reheating them in the oven may be faster.

How to Reheat Wings in the Microwave

It is easy to reheat side dishes, like mashed potatoes, in the microwave. You can also use this convenient appliance to reheat chicken wings but, for best results, you should still use your oven. This hybrid method uses both the microwave and oven together for reheated wings that retain a crispy exterior and juicy interior. To begin, preheat your oven to 350 F. Line a microwave-safe plate with a damp paper towel. Place the chicken wings on the plate and top them with another damp paper towel. Put the wings in the microwave and heat for about two minutes or until they become slightly warm. Do not overheat or they will dry out. Take the wings out of the microwave, place them on a baking sheet, and put them in the preheated oven. Cook for about one minute, flip them over, and cook for another minute. Check one of the wings for the internal target temperature of 165 F. Continue to warm in the oven until the target internal temperature is reached.

How to Reheat Wings in the Frying Pan

This process is relatively simple and only takes about ten minutes. Take the wings out of the refrigerator and let them sit for a few minutes until they reach room temperature. Add one to two tablespoons of oil (according to how many wings you have) to a frying pan and heat on high. When oil is hot, add the chicken wings and fry for two to three minutes, turning them at the half-way point. Once the wings appear golden, check that a wing's internal temperature is 165 F, and then remove them from the pan.