Reheating Rotisserie Chicken in Air Fryer for the Best Crispest Finish
Are you searching for ways of reheating rotisserie chicken in air fryer? Well, guess what? There’s only one perfect way to reheat that delicious bird—and you’ve found it! If you want your rotisserie chicken to stay juicy on the inside but with a golden, delightfully crispy finish on the outside, you’ve got to reheat it the right way. And I’m here to show you how.
Step by Step Instructions for Reheating Rotisserie Chicken in Air Fryer
Today, I’m dishing out all my best secrets for reheating rotisserie chicken in air fryers to absolute perfection. Also to get you ahead of the game check out my detailed review on the 7 best air fryers for one person (we included the best air fryer for rotisserie chicken as well)
As a chef, restaurateur, and foodie, I’ve got more than a few tricks in my fryer basket that you simply won’t find anywhere else. The easy-to-follow recipe below is the best way to reheat rotisserie chicken. It’s going to give you the succulent, crispy-skinned bird of your rotisserie dreams, my friends!
Step 1: If your rotisserie chicken has been in your refrigerator, take it out and let it come to room temperature for about 15 minutes. (And if it’s still warm from the store, let it cool down to room temperature first.)
Never skip this step. You don’t want to try reheating rotisserie chicken in air fryer when it’s still cold. You’ll end up with chicken that is hot on the outside but cold on the inside. And if it is already warm when it goes in, you run the risk of overcooking it. Reheating rotisserie chicken in air fryer when it’s already warm is going to turn it into jerky!
Step 2: Preheat your air fryer to 375ºF.
(You may note that this is a bit higher than other instructions for reheating rotisserie chicken in air fryers that you might see elsewhere. Rotisserie chicken skin gets softer as it cools off.
That’s because the steam escaping from the meat is getting trapped in it. The higher temperature is going to reinvigorate the skin, evaporate unwanted moisture, and help it get crispy once again. This slightly higher temperature works better to accomplish this!)
Step 3: Next, we’re going to do something else that is a little different from other recipes for reheating rotisserie chicken in air fryers: Add butter!
Melt a tablespoon of butter in the microwave for about 10 seconds. And if your chicken did not already come seasoned, add a sprinkling of your own favorite seasoning to the butter. I personally love McCormick’s Perfect Pinch. (Honestly, I usually add some of that even when my chicken is already seasoned!) Brush that butter/seasoning all over your bird. You want a thin coating, not dripping, but make sure you hit every spot.
Why do this when reheating rotisserie chicken in air fryer? The butter adds incredible flavor, and the extra seasoning just makes it all taste even better. But this step is not just about taste. It also helps your skin reach optimal crispness. There’s a noticeable difference between dry, brittle skin and truly crispy skin. The butter is your secret weapon that will help make it perfect!
Step 4: Place your chicken in the basket and put it into the preheated fryer. (Make sure you’ve reached proper temperature before you start reheating rotisserie chicken in air fryer. If it’s not up to temp, you won’t get optimal results.) Time it for 8 minutes total.
Step 5: After reheating your rotisserie chicken in air fryer for 4 minutes, get in there and give it a flip! This helps it reheat evenly and recrisp on all sides.
Step 6: Check your bird after the last 4 minutes have elapsed. Is your skin nice and crispy? If so, it’s done. If not, continue reheating your rotisserie chicken in air fryer for another minute and check again. (All air fryers can vary, and a bigger chicken might need a little longer, too. The important thing is to take it out as soon as it’s ready. If you let it go too long, your skin may still be crispy but it could start tasting burnt, and your meat will get dry.
What is Rotisserie Chicken
When it comes to roasting chicken, there is no better way to do it than on a rotisserie. Why? Two reasons: The spin and the baste. A rotisserie chicken is constantly spinning around as it roasts. As the bird turns, heat is evenly blasting it from all sides and all that wonderful skin is getting browned and crisped up to mouth-watering perfection. Not just the top, but also the bottom, wings, legs, thighs—every single glorious inch of it.
Plus, something else equally magical is going on while that chicken is spinning. It is basting itself! Because the chicken is continually rotating, all the juice, fat, and seasonings that would otherwise drip away stay with the bird. And not only that but those tasty drippings are evenly distributed throughout. As a result, you get what I think is just about the best chicken on the planet, folks. Tender, moist, juicy, flavorful meat. Crispy, crunchy, golden skin. So much better than just shoving that bird in your oven! But—so not easy to do at home.
Why Should You Reheat Rotisserie Chicken in Air Fryer?
Yes, you can get yourself a home rotisserie appliance. And I’m not saying those aren’t great. But they are also big, bulky space hogs. Plus, they’re a pain in the you-know-what to set up as well as to clean. Not everybody has room for them or the time for all that! But as we all know, our local grocery store has us covered. Rotisserie chicken has become a staple at most stores, and what a terrific convenience it is! Reheating rotisserie chicken in air fryers is easy. Cooking it yourself on the other hand? Not so much.
And they really know how to hook us, too, don’t they? Have you ever watched those chickens spinning around behind the meat counter? It’s hypnotic! How could you not pick up one after seeing that? But there are some tricks to choosing a good one:
If you don’t already have a favorite source for rotisserie chicken, here’s a great article that ranks some of the major grocery stores’ efforts from best to worst. But you probably already have that chicken at home just waiting to get some air fryer love. So, let’s do it!
6 Tips for Picking Out the Best Rotisserie Chicken at the Store
- Opt for a store that prepares its rotisserie chickens daily. Fresh is always best.
- Look for lots of them. Not every store does a great job. But if your store is selling lots of rotisserie chickens every day, that means they are popular. And that means they are doing it right.
- Choose a chicken that is still warm. Grocery stores typically display the newest ones in a warming case. (Cold ones from the refrigerated case are going to be older.)
- Look for a round, plump bird. If it looks shriveled up, it’s already overcooked and dry.
- I always look for a big one, too. Big chickens are older chickens, and they are also more flavorful!
- Look for a light golden-brown color on the skin. Too-dark skin is another red flag that the chicken may be overcooked.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. I don’t have a whole chicken—it’s just some pieces. Can I still reheat it in the air fryer?
Absolutely! Follow the steps above for reheating rotisserie chicken in air fryer, but time it for less. About 6 minutes total should do it (and you should still turn the pieces over at the halfway point).
2. Is reheating rotisserie chicken in air fryer okay to do more than once?
No. You’ll have overdone skin and meat. Plus, it can also become a food safety hazard. As food warms up, bacteria grow. With a second heating, that bacteria can reach levels that could give you food poisoning. Instead, debone it and use it a different way, like in a salad or sandwich. It never has to go to waste!
3. How to keep rotisserie chicken warm?
Put the chicken on a rack in a 200ºF oven to keep it warm. (But I wouldn’t recommend holding it for more than an hour or it is going to start getting dry.)
4. I don’t have an air fryer. Can I reheat my chicken a different way?
You can use these same instructions for reheating rotisserie chicken in air fryers with your oven. Just put it on a rack and time it for 15 minutes total. But be warned that it won’t be quite as good. Air fryers have convection. You won’t get that rapid airflow in a regular oven, or the same ultra-crispy results. If you want to know how to reheat a rotisserie chicken the best way, the air fryer is it. They are awesome appliances!
5. Can I reheat my rotisserie chicken in the microwave?
That’s never a good idea unless you don’t care about crispy skin. Microwaves are crappy crispers! But if you just care about warming up the meat, see how to reheat chicken and rice.
6. My rotisserie chicken is already dry. Is there anything I can do?
Yup, I’ve got a hack that can help. Put the chicken in a big Ziplock bag and add two cups of chicken stock. (There’s none better than Rachel Ray’s!). Let the bird sit in the stock in your fridge for at least 4 hours, and turn the bag around occasionally. The dry meat will soak up some of that stock! Then, when you are ready to begin reheating rotisserie chicken in air fryer, just take the bird out, pat it dry, and follow the instructions normally.
Conclusion
Ditch the soggy leftovers! Reheat your rotisserie chicken in the air fryer for the ultimate crispy skin and juicy meat. It’s quick, easy, and delivers restaurant-quality results in minutes. So skip the microwave and embrace the air fryer for next-level chicken resurrection!
