How to Reheat Popcorn Chicken [4 Easiest Ways!]
There is no better way of creating memorable moments with your loved ones than when sharing the crispy popcorn chicken. People always make or buy these in plenty, and having leftover popcorn chicken is no surprise. You can preserve it for the following day instead of throwing it away. But how do you reheat popcorn chicken?
Because cold popcorn chicken tastes greasy, you can reheat yours by baking, air frying, using a microwave, or deep frying. These methods are sure not to lose the crispiness of your chicken, which is the main quality we love about this dish.
I will educate you about each of these methods of reheating chicken so you can choose the most convenient for you. Keep reading to get more information.
1. Reheat Popcorn Chicken in Air Fryer
It is the best method for reheating your popcorn chicken. The technique is easy as this:
- Remove your leftover chicken from the fridge and rest it for approximately 20 – 30 minutes. The step ensures that the pieces reach room temperature, which helps in even heating.
- Prepare your air fryer by preheating it to 3750F.
- Place the chicken pieces neatly in the air fryer’s basket, ensuring there are spaces between them.
- If the pieces are many, reheat them in batches instead of overcrowding
- Heat the pieces for 8 -10 minutes
- Turn your chicken popcorn after 4 – 5 minutes while shaking the basket to allow even heating on both sides.
- Check whether the pieces have heated enough using a digital kitchen thermometer. You know they are ready when your thermometer reads 1650F.
- Remove them from the air fryer and serve with your preferred sauce.
Tip: Use the thickest part of the popcorn chicken to check the temperature.
2. Reheat Popcorn Chicken in Oven
It is another excellent method of reheating popcorn chicken. When using an oven for reheating, be careful to prevent your chicken from drying out.
- Prep your leftover chicken by removing it from the refrigerator and allowing it to reach room temperature.
- Preheat your oven to 4000F.
- Place the popcorn chicken on a baking sheet, leaving spaces between them.
- Bake for approximately 10 – 13 minutes
- Check the temperature of the pieces using your digital kitchen thermometer.
- Remove from the oven and serve as preferred
Tip: You can grease the baking sheet lightly to get crispier pieces.
Also check similar post on How to Reheat Lo Mein For Maximum Flavor
3. Reheat Popcorn Chicken by Frying
When you don’t have a microwave, oven, or air fryer, you can reheat your chicken pieces by re-frying them.
- Take the popcorn chicken leftovers from your fridge and rest for about 20 – 30 minutes.
- Pat them with paper towels to ensure they are free from moisture.
- You will need coating ingredients to recoat your popcorn chicken. It helps prevent burning the pieces before getting warm on the inside.
- Brush them lightly in a fresh coat and arrange them on a clean plate. Ensure the coating is adequately seasoned to avoid having bald chicken pieces.
- Heat oil in a frying pan at medium-low temperature
- Fry the pieces in batches while avoiding overcrowding them in the pan for approximately 3 – 4 minutes.
- Remove the pieces from the pan when they are nicely brown and crisp
- Line a plate with a kitchen paper towel to drain the excess oil from the pieces
- Serve hot with your favorite dip.
Tip: Avoid using high temperatures for this method. The coating will turn fast and burn before the inner parts get heated.
4. Reheat Popcorn Chicken Using a Microwave
Though not one of the best methods, you can reheat your popcorn chicken using a microwave. It is suitable for people in a hurry but not great since most people end up losing the crispiness for soggy pieces.
- Remove your chicken pieces from the refrigerator and rest them to reach room temperature. It should take 20 – 30 minutes.
- Use a microwave-friendly plate and arrange the pieces without overcrowding. It helps prevent heating your dish partially.
- Set your microwave on high and start reheating in batches
- Time varies depending on the pieces you heat at a time. For example, 15 parts will require 1.5 – 3 minutes to heat and less for fewer pieces.
- Remove from the microwave and rest them for about 1 minute before serving. The step allows your popcorn chicken to be firm and crispy.
- Serve with your desired dip.
💡 Be cautious about timing and temperature and timing when using a microwave. A slight mistake can ruin your dish.
Conclusion
Have you been having leftover popcorn chicken and wondering how to reheat it instead of throwing it away? I hope you have been enlightened and these methods feel practical. It’s time to stop throwing your leftover chicken and start enjoying them for another day!
Did You Know? Popcorn chicken can last up to 4 days while refrigerated. Consider discarding your pieces after 4 days to prevent food poisoning.