How To Reheat Korean Fried Chicken

Korean fried chicken has quickly become a worldwide delicacy that many people enjoy. Some individuals like to snack on it while it is cold, while others prefer to heat it.

If you fall in the latter category, you shouldn’t worry about reheating your spicy chicken since you can use various methods, including a microwave, oven, air fryer, and pan heating options.

I know the beauty of this chicken lies in its crunchy core and sticky covering, so I have provided tips that will keep its consistency unaltered. Here is a detailed explanation of how you can reheat your fried chicken using these options.

Oven reheating

When reheating this dish, the trickiest part is to ensure it stays crunchy on the inside and moist outside. But when you use an oven to heat the chicken, it is assured that you will keep it in its original state. Here is what you should do.

1. Take the chicken from the refrigerator and let it cool to room temperature
2. Preheat the oven to 400°F for at least 5 minutes
3. Brush a tampered glass baking dish or non-stick baking tray with a thin layer of oil
4. Unwrap the chicken from its packaging and place it on the prepared dish
5. Bake your poultry for 10 minutes, then flip it over
6. Cook it for five more minutes, and your dish is ready

A pro tip you might want to consider is to avoid covering the chicken to keep it from becoming soggy. If you feel like it may become too dry, you can cover it up for the last 5 minutes.

Microwave reheating

Microwaves are known to heat meals quickly, but there is one downside to using them; they are very drying. The beauty of Korean fried chicken is the crispy inside and thick outer sauce.

While a microwave can quickly suck dry all the juice from your chicken, you can take advantage of some of these tricks to ensure it keeps its original texture and taste. Here is what you should do.

1. Take your room-temperature chicken and wrap it in a paper towel
2. Place the chicken inside a tampered glass dish and throw it into the microwave
3. Heat the meal for one minute on high heat
4. Take it out and check if it is hot enough
5. If not, you can put it back into the microwave oven for 30 more seconds
6. This time, cover it up to keep it from drying

If you do not have a glass baking dish, use a regular plastic dish instead. In this case, cook the wrapped chicken for 30-40 seconds, then give it a rest before heating for another 30 seconds. Cover using a lid to keep its sauce moist.

Air fryer reheating

Air fryers have become very popular, thanks to their energy-saving properties. They require little to no oil to cook any meal, making them the perfect choice for anyone trying to preheat fried chicken. The best way to heat your Korean fried chicken using this device is to:

1. Preheat the air fryer to between 375°F and 400°F for 5-10 minutes
2. Coat the bottom with a thin layer of oil
3. Arrange the chicken pieces across the surface on one layer
4. Cover the fryer, set the timer to 10 minutes, and heat the chicken
5. Halfway through the time, flip the chicken pieces to ensure they cook evenly
6. If you have more chicken pieces remaining, repeat the process and enjoy

Please take note that reheating the chicken pieces for longer than the recommended time can make them lose the nice moist texture on the coating. If you want them very hot, a few spoons of water will suffice to keep them moist.

Double pan reheating

As complicated as this may sound, the double pan method is one of the most economical ways of reheating your chicken, especially if you do not have an oven, microwave, or air fryer. It is also simple and allows you to monitor the chicken in real-time. All you have to do is:

1. Take a skillet pan and place it over your cooking stove on very high heat
2. Place a non-stick pan over the skillet and allow it to preheat for a couple of minutes
3. Drizzle some oil on the pan and let it cook for a minute
4. Arrange the chicken pieces on a single layer over the pan’s surface
5. Cover using a tight lid and cook for seven minutes, then flip the poultry
6. Heat for another five minutes, then take the pan off the fire and serve

If you feel the chicken is becoming too sticky, add some drops of water to keep its original texture. You can also adjust the heat to avoid burning it. Take note that you can also get rid of the heavy skillet pan and use a regular frying pan or a pot instead.

However, you may have to reduce the heat to medium then increase the intensity. Put a cup of water nearby and use this to baste the chicken when it gets too sticky or dry.