How To Reheat Chicken Wings So They Stay Juicy and Delicious

You can’t go wrong with having chicken wings for dinner. Whether it’s Buffalo, honey garlic, parmesan, or sweet chili, they’re always a huge hit!

But if you overestimate your family’s appetite and have leftovers, you’ll want to know how to reheat your chicken wings so they stay tasty and juicy.

Don’t worry, reheated chicken does not equate to dry and tough meat.

With these 4 simple reheating methods, you’ll enjoy your leftover wings as much as you did the first time. 

With these super easy reheating methods, your leftover chicken wings will be as crisp, moist, and flavorful as the day you made or bought them.

So what are you waiting for? Let’s get cluckin’!

How to Reheat Chicken Wings in the Oven

First up: the oven. Reheating chicken in the oven doesn’t require much effort and always yields crisp and juicy wings.

I love this method, especially when dealing with saucy wings, such as Buffalo and honey garlic.

It does a fine job of locking in the flavors and the sauces in the meat, preventing it from drying. Other methods will only give you sad, soggy wings.

The only downside to the oven is that it takes the longest out of all the methods. But considering the quality of the reheated wings you’ll get, it’s worth it.

So, here’s how to do it:

1. If reheating frozen wings, transfer them to the fridge overnight to thaw. You can speed things up by placing your wings in a Ziploc bag and immersing it in cold water.

If reheating refrigerated wings, let the wings sit at room temperature for 15 minutes.

2. Preheat your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
3. Grease a baking sheet with non-stick spray. Transfer wings onto the sheet, leaving one inch of space in between.
4. Pop the sheet into the oven and reheat for 6 minutes. Flip the wings over and reheat for 6 more minutes.

Tips:

• If you’re concerned about your wings drying out, sprinkle a bit of water on the wings before popping them into the oven. 
• While your wings should be reheated all the way through within 12 minutes, it’s better to have a probe thermometer to check the internal temperature. According to USDA standards, your wings should have an internal temperature of at least 165 degrees Fahrenheit.

How to Reheat Chicken Wings in the Microwave

Reheating through the microwave oven is the fastest and most convenient method on our list. It’s the best option if you need to whip up a super quick meal. 

The only problem with the microwave is that if you don’t use it right, you risk getting dried out wings. But that does not mean you can’t get good quality reheated wings.

As long as you’re extra careful, your wings will be fine. 

With this method, we’ll cheat a little by using both the oven and the microwave. Don’t worry, it’s still super quick and easy! 

After many trials and errors, I find that this is the best way to get that crispy chicken skin we all love. But if you don’t want to go through the extra effort, that’s perfectly fine.

Here’s how to reheat with the microwave:

1. Preheat your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Again, this part is optional.
2. Put a damp paper towel at the bottom of a microwaveable plate. Place your wings on top of the paper towel. 
3. Top the wings with another damp paper towel. Doing so will help the wings keep their moisture.
4. Microwave the wings one minute and feel their temperature. Microwave again for 20-30 second increments until you get your desired temperature. You can serve and eat them right away, or:
5. Transfer the wings onto a baking sheet, leaving one inch of space in between.
6. Pop the baking sheet into the oven and bake for a minute. Flip the wings over and cook for another minute.

Tip: Give your reheated wings a refreshing flavor by garnishing them with minced parsley, shredded cheddar, or a spritz of lemon juice.

How to Reheat Chicken Wings in the Frying Pan

This technique is less commonly used to reheat wings, but I do find it very effective.

With this method, you can add more flavor to your wings by adding more sauce and ingredients as you fry. 

I believe it’s wise to reheat your food the way you cooked it. So if you’re dealing with deep-fried wings, reheating them in a frying pan is the best way to go.

It will bring life back into your cold wings, giving them their crisp and juicy quality.

Here’s how to do it:

1. Let your wings sit at room temperature for 15 minutes.
2. Set your burner on medium heat and heat your frying pan. Pour a thin layer of oil to the pan.
3. Fry your wings for 2 to 3 minutes per side, or until they become golden.
4. You may coat your wings with more sauce as you fry.

Tips

• Use a non-stick frying pan for easier reheating. 
• Place your reheated wings on a plate lined with paper towels. This will help absorb excess oil from the wings.
• Monitor the temperature of the oil as you fry. Don’t let it get too hot! Adjust the burner as needed.

How to Reheat Chicken Wings in an Air Fryer

If you made wings using the air fryer, then the best way to reheat them is through the same appliance.

The air fryer works by producing and circulating hot air inside the fryer, making food that’s super crisp and juicy, without all that oil. It’s healthy and nutritious!

The air fryer does a marvelous job of keeping leftover wings crisp and juicy. And it’s very easy to use, too. 

It yields the same excellent flavor and texture as the oven, but is more straightforward. With an air fryer, there’s no need to flip over your wings mid way. Hurray!

The only drawback is that it takes effort to clean the air fryer post-cooking. But other than that, I love it!

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

1. Let your wings rest at room temperature for 15 minutes.
2. Place the wings in the air fryer basket, leaving an inch of space in between.
3. Cook the wings at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for 10 minutes. Or, if you’re in a hurry, set the fryer at 375 degrees and cook for 7 minutes.

So, What’s the Best Way to Reheat Leftover Chicken Wings

To be honest, there is no one perfect method to reheat leftover chicken wings. It’s all just a matter of preference and circumstances.

If we’re talking about the quality of chicken alone, I find the oven and the air fryer to be the best methods. 

Both these techniques always yield excellent wing flavor and consistency. Sure, the oven is time consuming and the air fryer requires a lot of cleaning.

But if you get perfect reheated wings all the time, it’s a good compromise. 

I have to admit that when I’m pressed for time; I do rely on the microwave as well.

It won’t give me that crispy skin all the time (especially if I don’t pop the wings in the oven after), but the flavor will always be there. 

How to Store Leftover Chicken Wings

We can’t talk about reheating methods without discussing proper storage, can we? The key to delicious leftover wings is to store them the right way. 

The first thing you need to remember is that you need to store your wings within two hours of cooking them.

If they sit at the counter for longer than that, chances are, they will be contaminated with bacteria. Yikes!

Another important guideline is to wrap the wings properly by storing them in an airtight or sealable container.

If you plan on freezing them, I highly suggest double wrapping to avoid freezer burn.

Wings will keep well for up to 3 to 4 days in the fridge. If you store them in the freezer, however, you can keep them around for up to 3 to 4 months.

They’re still safe to eat after that, but the quality will start to deteriorate.

And yes, it’s safe to reheat your wings more than once. As long as you store and reheat them the right way, they’re good to go.