How To Reheat Fried Chicken In Air Fryer
Whether you have leftovers from Popeyes, KFC, or homemade fried chicken, the air fryer will transform your leftover fried chicken into a mouth-watering crispy and tender chicken in just 10 minutes or less! Learn How To Reheat Fried Chicken In The Air Fryer or Ninja Foodi so it doesn’t go to waste!
Can you reheat fried chicken in the air fryer? Yes! Forget the microwave or the oven. The air fryer is the best way to reheat leftover fried chicken.
The air fryer uses dry circulating heat to cook food. This means that your chicken will not get soggy when you reheat it. The hot air circulates around the chicken and crisps up the skin while cooking the inside of the chicken at the same time. Fried chicken makes this especially delicious because there is oil in the breading that will reactivate when heated!
Whether it’s from KFC, Publix, Popeye’s your local fried chicken restaurant, or you made it yourself, you want to ensure it’s stored properly for the best results.
❄️How To Store Leftover Fried Chicken Properly
If you have extra fried chicken that you need to store, the best way to do it is by placing it in an airtight container in the refrigerator. You can also wrap the chicken tightly in aluminum foil or plastic wrap.
Leftover fried chicken will be good for 3-4 days when stored properly in the fridge. After that, it’s not recommended to reheat and eat the chicken as it may start to spoil.
📖How To Reheat Fried Chicken In Air Fryer
1️⃣Let the fried chicken come to room temperature: This is a very important step as it allows the protein to relax in the chicken. Going from cold to hot will create meat that may have a tough texture without any moisture. Depending on the size, let your fried chicken rest outside of the fridge for 15-20 minutes.
2️⃣Preheat the air fryer: You’ll want to set the air fryer to 375°F. This will ensure that your chicken reheats evenly throughout while still getting crispy. If you have a smaller air fryer, you may need to reheat the chicken in batches.
3️⃣Place the chicken in the air fryer: Place the chicken pieces in the air fryer basket, making sure they are not touching. If your air fryer oven has a wire rack, you can place chicken on top in a single layer.
4️⃣Reheat for up to 8 minutes: Once the air fryer is preheated, cook the chicken for 5-8 minutes flipping halfway. How long it takes to reheat fried chicken in the air fryer depends on the size and thickness of the chicken. You may need increase the cooking time for longer if your chicken pieces are larger or if you desire more crispiness.
5️⃣Remove and serve: Using tongs, remove the fried chicken from the air fryer and serve immediately and enjoy!
🥷🏻Using Ninja Air Fryer to Reheat Fried Chicken
You can use any air fryer to reheat fried chicken. The Ninja Foodi is a multi-functional kitchen appliance that combines air frying, pressure cooking, and slow cooking. Its air frying or air crisp feature is ideal for reheating fried chicken, as it circulates hot air to crisp the skin without drying the meat.
🔥Fried Chicken Reheating Chart
How long to reheat fried chicken in air fryer will depend on the thickness and size of your fried chicken and how big your air fryer is. For best results, use a meat thermometer to ensure the reheated fried chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165F. You can also experiment with reheating at 350F or 400F.
| Type of Fried Chicken | Reheating Time & Temperature |
|---|---|
| Fried Chicken Legs (Drumsticks) & Chicken Thighs | 5-6 minutes at 375°F |
| Fried Chicken Wings | 4-5 minutes at 375°F |
| Fried Chicken Breasts | 6-8 minutes at 375°F |
| Boneless Fried Chicken Tenders or Strips | 3-4 minutes at 375°F |
❔FAQ
Can you air fry something already fried?
Yes, in fact the oil coating will help give it a delicious crispy texture.
Do you need to flip chicken when reheating in air fryer?
Yes, you should Flip the chicken over halfway through cooking to ensure even reheating and crispy skin for best results.
How long does it take Kentucky fried chicken to reheat in the air fryer?
This depends on the piece of chicken you are reheating. Legs and thighs will take 5-6 minutes, wings will take 4-5 minutes, breasts will take 6-8 minutes, and tenders will only need 3-4 minutes.
Can I reheat frozen fried chicken in the air fryer?
Yes, you can reheat frozen fried chicken in the air fryer. Place the frozen chicken in the air fryer and heat at a lower temperature (around 350°F) for a few minutes to keep the breading from burning. Then, increase the temperature to 400°F for the last few minutes to ensure the chicken is heated through and the crust becomes crispy. Check with a food thermometer to make sure its warmed through properly.
🥔More Ways To Reheat Foods In The Air Fryer
The air fryer is not just for reheated chicken! You can use it for reheating leftovers of any kind using these easy air fryer recipes!
- Chicken Thighs
- Baked Potatoes
- Steak
- Tacos
- Breadsticks
- Bacon
- Hamburgers
- Samosas
- Tamales
- French Fries
- Ham
- Turkey
- Ribs
- Philly Cheesesteak
- Lasagna
How To Reheat Fried Chicken In The Air Fryer
Equipment
- Air Fryer or Ninja Foodi
- Tongs
Ingredients
- 2 piece Leftover Fried Chicken (legs, thighs, breast, drumsticks, wings)
Instructions
- Let the fried chicken come to room temperature. This is a very important step as it allows the protein to relax in the chicken. Going from cold to hot will create meat that may have a tough texture without any moisture. Depending on the size, let your fried chicken rest outside of the fridge for 15-20 minutes.
- Preheat the air fryer. Set the air fryer to 375°F for 3-5 minutes. This will ensure that your chicken reheats evenly throughout while still getting crispy. If you have a smaller air fryer, you may need to reheat the chicken in batches.
- Place the chicken pieces in the Ninja Foodi or air fryer basket, making sure they are not touching. If your air fryer oven has a wire rack, you can place chicken on top in a single layer.
- Cook the chicken for 5-8 minutes, flipping halfway. How long it takes to reheat fried chicken in the air fryer depends on the size and thickness of the chicken. You may need to increase the cooking time for longer if your chicken pieces are larger or if you desire more crispiness.
- Using tongs, remove the fried chicken from the air fryer and serve immediately and enjoy!
Notes
| Type of Fried Chicken | Reheating Time & Temperature |
|---|---|
| Fried Chicken Legs (Drumsticks) & Chicken Thighs | 5-6 minutes at 375°F |
| Fried Chicken Wings | 4-5 minutes at 375°F |
| Fried Chicken Breasts | 6-8 minutes at 375°F |
| Boneless Fried Chicken Tenders or Strips | 3-4 minutes at 375°F |
