How To Reheat Chicken Thighs In The Air Fryer
Learn how to make your chicken thighs crispy and tender all over again by using your air fryer or Ninja Foodi! Reheat chicken thighs in the air fryer in just 10 minutes or less!
The air fryer is a kitchen appliance that uses hot air to cook food. It is similar to a convection oven, but it works much faster. The air fryer is ideal for reheating all types of food because it can quickly cook food without making it dry or overcooked.
Reheating chicken thighs in the air fryer is no exception! When reheated in the air fryer, they will come out crispy on the outside and tender on the inside. Plus, you won’t have to worry about them drying out like you would if you reheated them in the oven.
The best quality leftovers starts with the proper way to store your food.
🧊How To Store Leftover Chicken Thighs (step-by-step instructions)
1️⃣Let them cool properly: After cooking, it is important to let your chicken thighs cool down before storing them. This will help prevent the growth of bacteria.
2️⃣Place them in an airtight container: Once they are cooled, place your chicken thighs in an airtight container or bag. This will help keep them fresh for longer. For extra protection, you can wrap them tightly in plastic wrap to keep them from drying out.
3️⃣Label and date the container: Be sure to label the container with the date that you cooked the chicken thighs. This will help you keep track of how long they have been in the fridge.
4️⃣Store them in the fridge: Chicken thighs should be stored in the fridge for up to four days. If you want to keep them fresh for longer, you can store them in the freezer for up to two months.
Now that you know how to store your chicken thighs, let’s move on to reheating them!
🐔How To Reheat Chicken Thighs In The Air Fryer (step-by-step instructions)
1️⃣Remove from the fridge to temp: Remove your cooked chicken thighs from the fridge and let them sit at room temperature for 15-20 minutes. This will take the chill off of the meat, which helps the proteins relax into the heat instead of seizing up going straight from hot to cold, which can lead to tough or rubbery meat.
2️⃣Preheat the air fryer: Preheat your air fryer to 375F for 3-5 minutes.
3️⃣Add to the air fryer basket: Once preheated and temped out, place the chicken thighs skin side down in a single layer at the bottom of the preheated air fryer basket. Set the timer for 10 minutes.
4️⃣Flip halfway: At the 4-5 minute mark, use tongs to flip the chicken thighs over and continue to cook for an additional 4-5 minutes or until the chicken skin is golden brown and the inside is warmed through.
5️⃣Remove and serve: Use tongs to remove the chicken thighs from the air fryer and let rest for 2-3 minutes before enjoying.
👩🏻🍳Helpful Air Fryer Reheating Tips
- Place the chicken thighs in a single layer in the air fryer basket. This will ensure that the hot air gets circulated all around the food and doesn’t steam. This will keep the skin crispy.
- The amount of time it takes to fully reheat chicken thighs will depend on how hot your individual air fryer gets and if your chicken thighs have the bone in. Bone in chicken thighs will take a few minutes more to heat through.
- Always use tongs when handling chicken thighs in the air fryer as the basket and chicken will be hot.
- For extra crispy skin, spray a thin coating of cooking oil on the skin before air frying. Check out the best oil to use in the air fryer.
🥔More Ways To Reheat Foods In The Air Fryer
Can I reheat in an air fryer? Yes, many foods can easily be reheated in the air fryer in under 15 minutes or less! Try reheating the following foods in your air fryer.
- Baked Potatoes
- Steak
- Chicken Breast
- Tacos
- Breadsticks
- Bacon
- Hamburgers
- Samosas
- Tamales
- French Fries
- Ham
- Turkey
- Ribs
- Pancakes
How To Reheat Chicken Thighs In The Air Fryer
Equipment
- air fryer or Ninja Foodi
- Tongs
Ingredients
- 4 Chicken Thighs cooked, leftovers
Instructions
- Remove your cooked chicken thighs from the fridge and let them sit at room temperature for 15-20 minutes. (This will take the chill off of the meat, which helps the proteins relax into the heat instead of seizing up going straight from hot to cold, which can lead to tough or rubbery meat.)
- Preheat your air fryer to 375F for 3-5 minutes.
- Once preheated and temped out, place the chicken thighs skin side down in a single layer at the bottom of the preheated air fryer basket. Set the timer for 10 minutes.
- At the 4-5 minute mark, use tongs to flip the chicken thighs over and continue to cook for an additional 4-5 minutes or until the chicken skin is golden brown and the inside is warmed through.
