How to Reheat Your Leftover Chicken Wings? 7 BEST Ways

We’ve all been there – you order a generous amount of chicken wings for dinner, but can’t finish them all. Now you’re stuck with a pile of cold, congealed chicken wings that have lost their appetizing crispiness. But don’t throw them out! With the right reheating method, you can restore leftover chicken wings to their former glory.

In this article, I’ll share the 7 best ways to reheat chicken wings so they taste fresh-from-the-fryer. With a little time and some simple kitchen tools, you can make those leftovers taste crispy, juicy and delicious again.

1. Reheat in a Frying Pan

One of the quickest and easiest methods is reheating chicken wings in a frying pan. Here’s how to do it:

1. Take the chicken wings out of the refrigerator and let them come to room temperature, about 15-20 minutes.
2. Heat up a frying pan over medium-low heat. Add about a tablespoon of oil or butter.
3. Once the oil is hot, add the wings to the pan. Fry for 5-7 minutes per side or until the skin becomes crispy and golden brown.
4. Remove the wings from the pan and serve while hot.

The benefit of using a frying pan is that you can crisp up the chicken skin nicely. Just be careful not to burn the wings or overcook them.

2. Reheat in the Oven

The oven allows you to thoroughly reheat a large batch of wings. Follow these steps:

1. Let the wings sit at room temperature for 15-20 minutes before baking.
2. Preheat your oven to 350°F.
3. Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil and lightly grease it.
4. Arrange the wings on the pan and bake for 10-15 minutes. Adjust time based on quantity.
5. Check that the wings are fully heated through before removing from oven.
6. Let the wings cool slightly on a wire rack before serving.

The nice thing about oven reheating is that it heats the wings evenly throughout without drying them out.

3. Reheat in a Toaster Oven

A toaster oven is great for reheating a smaller batch of wings. Here’s how to do it:

1. Preheat your toaster oven to 350°F.
2. Place the wings on the rack and cook for 5-10 minutes, until heated to 165°F internally.
3. Check frequently to avoid burning the wings.
4. Once done, remove wings and serve immediately.

The toaster oven gives you more control over the reheating process than a conventional oven. The hot air circulates around the wings to crisp up the skin.

4. Reheat in the Microwave

The microwave provides a quick way to reheat wings if you’re in a rush. Here are the steps:

1. Place wings on a microwave-safe plate and cover with a damp paper towel.
2. Microwave for 1 minute, then check and continue microwaving in 30 second increments.
3. Stop when the wings are heated through. Take care not to overcook them.
4. Let the wings rest 2 minutes before eating so heat distributes evenly.

While the microwave won’t crisp up the skin, it’s ideal for quickly reheating wings to an edible temperature.

5. Reheat in Microwave and Oven

For the best of both worlds, first microwave the wings to heat them through, then finish them off in the oven. Here’s the method:

1. Microwave the wings for 2 minutes until warm.
2. Place the wings on a baking sheet and put them in a 350°F oven for 1 minute per side.
3. The oven gives the wings a crispy texture while the microwave pre-heats them.

This dual approach minimizes cook time but crisps up the skin for tasty wings.

6. Reheat on a Grill

You can mimic the flavor of freshly grilled wings by reheating leftovers on a grill. Follow these tips:

1. Oil the grill grates well before heating.
2. Place wings on the grill over medium-low heat.
3. Grill for 15 minutes total, flipping occasionally.
4. Move done wings to a platter and tent with foil before serving.

The grill gives you that smoky, charbroiled flavor we love in wings. Just watch carefully to avoid burning.

7. Reheat in an Air Fryer

An air fryer is a great way to reheat wings to a crispy finish. Here’s how to air fry leftover wings:

1. Preheat air fryer to 350°F.
2. Place wings in fryer basket in a single layer, avoiding overcrowding.
3. Cook for 7-10 minutes until hot and crispy.
4. Check frequently to prevent burning.
5. Serve wings immediately for best texture.

The super hot circulating air in an air fryer crisps up the chicken skin on wings perfectly.

Tips for the Best Results

Use these tips for optimal results when reheating chicken wings:

• Let the wings come to room temp before reheating for more even heating.
• Reheat wings to an internal temperature of 165°F to ensure they are safe to eat.
• Don’t overload pans or air fryer baskets to allow proper air circulation.
• Toss wings in a little oil or butter before reheating for extra crispy skin.
• Season wings again before reheating to boost flavor.

Enjoy Tasty Leftover Wings

Now you know how to save and reheat those leftover wings instead of throwing them out. Whether you use the oven, grill, or air fryer, proper reheating techniques will make those wings taste freshly cooked once again.

With the different methods in this article, you can pick the reheating approach that works best for the amount of wings you have. Crispy, juicy chicken wings from last night’s takeout or your own cooking can be just as delicious the second time around.

The next time you order or make more wings than you can eat, try one of these reheating methods. Enjoy your leftover wings as if they were fresh off the grill or fryer!