Interested in reheating chicken in oven but aren’t sure what technique to use? You’ve come to the right post. Here, we’ll be going over all of the information you need to know how to properly heat various types of chicken in the oven without your chicken drying out. Sound interesting? Join us as we learn more about reheating chicken!
Table of Contents
- How to Reheat Chicken Without Drying It Out
- Best Way to Reheat Chicken
- Reheating Chicken in Oven: How Long?
- Reheating Moist Chicken in the Oven
- FAQs
- Reheating Chicken in Oven Is Pretty Simple!
How to Reheat Chicken Without Drying It Out
Reheating chicken without drying it out is a fairly simple process. For most pieces of chicken meat, the key is adding a bit of liquid, namely water or broth, to the vessel you are reheating it in, and reheating your chicken at a steady heat.
Read on for more information about how to reheat various types of chicken without drying it out.
Best Way to Reheat Chicken
Reheating Fried Chicken in the Oven
Reheating fried chicken in the oven can be tricky to do without drying it out because most people like fried chicken to remain crispy.
One method of maintaining the moisture in your fried chicken is to microwave it first using water or wet paper towels before transferring it to the oven to crisp up the skin.
To do this, simply use a microwave-safe plate or dish and place damp paper towels on top of and beneath the chicken as you warm it in the microwave. How long you warm it will depend on your microwave oven strength and how much chicken you have, but you’ll want it fairly warmed through.
Then, take your fried chicken pieces and pop them into a preheated oven at 350 for about 5-10 minutes (again depending on the amount of chicken you have) before removing and enjoying.
Reheating Rotisserie Chicken in Oven
Most rotisserie chickens come with reheating instructions that indicate what temperature to put the oven on when reheating. We recommend you use this temperature for reheating your rotisserie chicken.
To reheat rotisserie chicken without drying it out, place your chicken in a baking pan with high sides. Then, add 2-3 tablespoons of water or broth to the baking pan along with any drippings from the chicken for added flavor.
Cover the bird with foil and reheat until heated through. For crispier skin, remove the foil halfway through before removing and serving.
Reheating Baked Chicken in Oven
Reheating baked chicken in the oven is very similar to reheating rotisserie chicken.
To do so, simply place a bit of water or broth in a baking dish with high sides, and cover it with foil. Bake until heated through, removing the foil halfway through for crispier results, if desired.
Baste the chicken once heated through for ultimate flavor and juiciness.
Reheating Chicken Wings in Oven
When reheating chicken wings in the oven, try microwaving your chicken for a minute or two before placing it in the oven on a baking sheet at 350 degrees Fahrenheit until it the wings are warmed through.
Reheating Chicken Tenders in Oven
To reheat chicken tenders in the oven, crank up the oven heat to about 400 degrees Fahrenheit to keep them crispy and cook them for about 10 minutes or until warmed through.
Reheating Chicken Breast in Oven
When reheating a chicken breast, first allow your chicken to come to room temperature before placing it in a baking dish with a splash of chicken broth or water. Cover it with foil. Place the chicken in a preheated oven at 350 degrees Fahrenheit until heated through.
Reheating Chicken Thighs in Oven
When reheating chicken thighs in the oven follow the same steps mentioned for reheating chicken breasts above.
For crispier skin, remove the foil halfway through the baking process.
Reheating Chicken Nuggets in Oven
To reheat chicken nuggets in the oven, suspend them on a wire rack over a lined baking sheet and heat them in a preheated oven at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for about 10 minutes or until heated through.
Reheating Chicken in Oven: How Long?
How long it takes to reheat your chicken will depend on the amount of chicken you are reheating, the thickness of the chicken, and the kind of chicken you are using.
Full bird rotisserie chickens may take as much as 45 minutes to 1 hour to fully cook through while chicken nuggets may only take 10 minutes.
It really does depend on the type and quantity of chicken you are reheating.
Reheating Moist Chicken in the Oven
What You’ll Need:
- Water or Broth
- Baking Pan With High Sides
- Chicken (preferably brought to room temperature)
- Foil
How to Keep Chicken Moist When Reheating in Oven
Room temperature
Bring your chicken to room temperature.
Preheat
Preheat your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
Add water
Pour a little bit of water or broth at the bottom of the pan. Two to three tablespoons ought to do the trick, but it will depend on the amount of chicken you are warming. Too much water will cause your chicken to become soggy, so be careful to only add as much as you’ll need.
Add chicken
Add the chicken to the pan and cover with foil.
Bake
Bake for 10-20 minutes or until heated through. If crispier skin is desired, be sure to remove the foil halfway through the reheating process to allow the skin to crisp up.
Note: Alternatively you may be able to warm your chicken for a couple of minutes in the microwave under a couple of damp paper towels before placing the chicken in the oven for an additional 10-15 minutes (uncovered) for similar results. Just be sure to not overheat them in the microwave…this will lead to hard and dried-out chicken for sure!
FAQs
When reheating chicken in the oven should you cover it?
You should cover your chicken in the oven for optimal moisture. However, covering your chicken won’t get the skin crisp. If crispy skin is what you desire, you’ll want to reheat your chicken on a higher heat, like 400 degrees Fahrenheit, uncovered, and for a shorter amount of time than you’d normally do. If you desire moist and crispy chicken, you can try covering it for half of the amount of time it takes to reheat it and uncovering it for the other half of the allotted time or until the desired level of crispiness is reached.
Why did my chicken blow up when reheating in the microwave oven?
Chicken often “pops” or “blows up” in the microwave because the water in the chicken heats and has nowhere to go but outward. The steam takes up more space than does the water, and this is why you often hear popping or bursting noises when heating chicken in the microwave.
What temperature is safe when reheating a whole chicken in oven?
The best temperature to reheat chicken is generally somewhere between 350 and 400 degrees Fahrenheit. We recommend you use 400 degrees Fahrenheit for a thin and crispy chicken like chicken nuggets or tenders and the lower temperatures for thicker pieces of chicken that are baked or roasted. Be sure to follow the methods mentioned in the post for the best reheating methods according to your chicken type.
Reheating Chicken in Oven Is Pretty Simple!
Reheating chicken in the oven is fairly simple.
For best results, use water and cover the chicken with foil to help inject moisture into the chicken as you bake it.
For crispier skin, remove the foil covering halfway through the reheating process until it reaches the level of crispiness you desire.
We hope this helps!
