Want to eat last night’s leftovers from your favorite fried chicken place, but don’t know how to get that crispy and delicious texture back? Allow me to help you out!
Fried chicken is hands-down one of the most delicious foods you could possibly buy. However, if you want to reheat your leftover chicken the next day, the microwave may not be your best bet, as the chicken’s texture will be totally different.
You might be wondering “Well then, how can I get that newly bought fried chicken texture back when reheating my chicken?”. The answer is honestly quite simple; air fry!
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What Exactly Is An Air Fryer, Anyway?
Glad you asked. An air fryer is basically your typical convection oven, but with a simple twist! The appliance is used to make food resemble and taste like fried food, using little to no oil and hot air.
Over these past few years, the air fryer has become very popular, and you will see this appliance in many households. Some popular items that are air-fried include frozen french fries, chicken wings, and cookies.
If you’re wondering how an air fryer works, it’s actually not as complex as you may think. The top section of the air fryer contains a fan and a heat source. There is a basket that sits inside, which is where you put your food.
When you switch on the air fryer, the hot air from the heat source wraps around your food and makes your delicacies crispy. This causes the food to look like it has been fried when it hasn’t even been touched by oil.
How Can An Air Fryer Benefit My Fried Chicken?
When it comes to fried chicken, an air fryer is a total game-changer. Not only is it excellent for making fried chicken, but it is also amazing for reheating! The hot air allows the chicken to become crisp, without being drenched in oil.
Many people find that air-fried chicken tastes a lot better than when the chicken is fried in oil since it becomes crunchy and flavorful. The texture of the fried chicken isn’t as affected as it would be if it were to be placed in the microwave, where it would be heavily impacted.
Fried chicken is another mealtime favorite, and while it’s good cold, it’s even tastier hot. The problem with reheating fried chicken is that sometimes the crust will be crispy, but the meat either remains lukewarm or dries out. Using my oven takes too long and the microwave won’t get that crust crispy again.
So, I found my solution by using my air fryer. The crispy skin is crispy again and the meat within remained tender and moist. It may actually taste better the day after! How long to reheat fried chicken in an air fryer? Barely ten minutes!
How Do I Do It?
So, you’ve finally decided to turn to your air fryer to reheat your chicken! What’s next?
Step 1: Preheat your air fryer to 375 degrees Fahrenheit (190 degrees Celsius). Be sure to allow your fried chicken to come to room temperature.
Step 2: Put the fried chicken in a single layer on the basket. Try not to pile up your fried chicken on the basket, as this decreases the chance of your fried chicken becoming crisp.
Step 3: Cook for approximately 4 minutes. To make sure your cooking is even, flip over your chicken.
After you follow these three simple and easy steps, you should be left with crispy and delicious fried chicken!
(Note: because you have to reheat the chicken in a single layer, you may have to place 2-3 pieces of chicken at a time, therefore heating in batches.)
In other words:
Step 1: Remove your leftover fried chicken from the refrigerator and allow it to sit for approximately fifteen to twenty minutes to attain room temperature. This will allow the chicken to cook faster and the skin will be crispier.
Step 2: Preheat your air fryer to 350°F.
Step 3: Position the chicken pieces in the basket without overcrowding. You want to make sure there is ample room for the air to circulate.
Step 4: Cook your chicken for five minutes.
Step 5: Flip the chicken pieces and cook for another five minutes.
Step 6: Remove your chicken from the air fryer, season if necessary, and serve.
Related: Can You Put Frozen Food In An Air Fryer? (How to Cook & Time Required)
Overview
Overall, having an air fryer in the kitchen can ultimately change the way you cook and reheat. This easy-to-use appliance can save you a lot of time (and oil) and makes reheating your items a lot easier.
Fried food, especially fried chicken, shouldn’t be warmed up in a microwave, as it will completely change the texture. With that being said, using an air fryer for these types of foods is essential.
Best of all, the air fryer can prepare crispy and crunchy food in just a matter of minutes. So please, my fellow fried chicken lovers, put that air fryer to some use! And if you don’t own one, you should start looking for a good one to buy!
