How to Reheat Chicken Wings? (7 Ways That You Should Know)

Iva Carter
Published by Iva Carter
Last Updated On: August 5, 2023

Reheated wings are my go-to food when I have an unplanned gathering, so I make sure to always have them in my freezer ready to go.

In fact, I’ve gotten so good at reheating chicken wings that my guests can’t even tell they are reheated.

I’ve spent months trying out and perfecting different ways of reheating chicken wings.

Today, I’ll share my top five tested and proven ways of reheating leftover chicken wings for delicious results every time.

Quick Summary

  • You can reheat wings in different ways, including oven, microwave, air fryer, and more.
  • Reheating in the microwave is the riskiest method, as you can have mushy wings.
  • Reheating sous vide has good results but is the most time-consuming method.

7 Ways to Reheat Chicken Wings in the Oven

Chicken wings being reheated in an oven

Here’s how to reheat chicken wings in the oven:

  1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
  2. Take the wings out of the fridge so they come to room temperature. This takes about 15 minutes. If your wings are frozen, thaw them in the fridge.
  3. Place the chicken wings on a baking sheet. Make sure they are spread out and in a single layer.
  4. Reheat chicken wings for 10 to 20 minutes. Use a meat thermometer to check the internal temperature. The chicken wings are done when the thermometer reads 165 degrees [1].
  5. You can flip the wings halfway through to make sure they are evenly heated.
  6. Remove reheated crispy wings from the oven and transfer them to a heat-proof bowl. The bowl should have enough room to toss the wings in the sauce.
  7. Pour sauce over the wings and toss them until they are completely coated.

“Chicken wings should be cooked to 165 F, as measured with a food thermometer, in the thickest part of the wing, avoiding the bone.”
- U.S. Department of Agriculture

Reheating leftover chicken wings in the oven is one of the best reheating methods. Your chicken wings will have a crispy exterior and moist inside.

Pro tip: Spritz the wings with water before placing them in the oven to make sure they don’t dry out.

Reheating Chicken Wings in the Air Fryer

A top view of chicken wings being reheated in an air fryer

Here’s how to reheat your chicken wings in the air fryer:

  1. Preheat the air fryer basket.
  2. Brush the basket with olive oil.
  3. Put the leftover chicken wings in the air fryer basket and brush the tops of the wings with oil so they don’t dry out.
  4. Air fry for five minutes at 360 degrees per side or 370 degrees for two to three minutes per side.
  5. Check the internal temperature is 165 degrees, and remove the heated wings.

The air fryer is another great way to reheat wings, as they can achieve crispy skin and tender meat. The air fryer circulates hot air around the food, which helps the wings cook evenly.

Note: Don’t place too many leftover wings in the basket. They should be in a single layer.

Also Read: The Best Chicken Wings Recipe

Reheating Chicken Wings in the Frying Pan

Here’s how to reheat your chicken wings in the frying pan:

  1. Take the wings out of the fridge and let them come to room temperature.
  2. Add one or two tablespoons of oil to the frying pan (depending on how many leftover wings you have). Heat on high.
  3. Once the oil is hot, heat the wings for about four minutes per side.

Overall, a frying pan is another great way to get crispy skin when you reheat wings. The oil lightly fries the wings, so you have extra crispiness.

Also Read: How to Reheat Turkey?

Reheating Chicken Wings in the Microwave

A woman reheating chicken wings using a microwave

Here’s how to reheat your chicken wings in the microwave:

  1. Take out the wings and let them come to room temperature.
  2. Put a damp paper towel on a microwave-safe plate.
  3. Put the wings on the paper towel and cover them with another damp paper towel. This preserves the wing moisture.
  4. Microwave the wings at 30-second intervals. It should take about two to three minutes to reheat the wings.
  5. Finish off the wings in the oven or an air fryer to have crispy skin. Lay the wings on a baking sheet and cook them in the oven or an air fryer for another two minutes.

Reheating refrigerated wings in the microwave is a good method if you’re short on time.

However, you need to be careful, or you can end up with dry and rubbery wings.

That’s why it’s best to finish them in the oven or air fryer.

Reheating Chicken Wings Sous Vide

Reheating chicken wings using a sous vide machine

Here’s how to reheat your chicken wings sous vide:

  1. Preheat the sous vide machine to 165 degrees.
  2. Place your wings in an airtight container, such as a zip-lock plastic bag. You can place rubs in the bag with the wings for crisp and juicy wings.
  3. Put the bag with Buffalo wings in the sous vide machine.
  4. Cook the wings for about an hour and a half.

Sous vide means under vacuum, so this is a more complex cooking method compared to the ones above. However, it provides good results, and you can use it for reheating frozen wings and refrigerated ones.

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FAQs

How Do You Reheat Chicken Wings Without Drying Them Out?

You reheat chicken wings without drying them out by spritzing them with water in the oven, using sauces in the sous vide method, oil in the air fryer, or a damp towel in a microwave.

Can You Reheat Chicken Wings the Day After?

Yes, you can reheat chicken wings the day after. Wings can stay in the fridge for up to four days and in the freezer for three to four months.

Are Leftover Wings Good Cold?

Yes, leftover wings are good cold. They are safe to eat if properly refrigerated, and you can use sauces to enhance the flavor and get saucy wings.

What Is the Best Way to Reheat Your Wings?

You can reheat your wings using any of the methods listed above. The oven and the air fryer are the most likely to result in crispy meat, but you can try the microwave method if you’re short on time.

Chris Meckes, co-founder of culinary website Twins and Teaching, adds that it’s essential to make sure the chicken wings are covered after being cooked or placed in air-tight containers to prevent drying.

However, the most important part when reheating chicken wings is having quality wings.

Over the past two years, my go-to source for all things chicken has been ButcherBox, a meat delivery company that sells a wide range of poultry cuts, including chicken wings.

Their birds are allowed to roam free and are sourced from family farms that don’t give them any antibiotics or growth hormones.

You get free delivery on all orders, and the company allows you to customize your box, which is a huge plus.


References:

  1. https://www.usda.gov/media/blog/2022/02/08/enjoy-your-super-bowl
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