Can You Reheat Chicken Nuggets?

Can you reheat chicken nuggets? If you have chicken nugget leftovers, you might end up wondering whether it is safe to reheat them. In this post, I will share with you some tips and facts about chicken nuggets.

This happened to me years ago when I cooked more chicken nuggets than I could eat once. When one of my readers asked me this query, I remember the same exact experience I had.

So, can you reheat chicken nuggets? You can reheat chicken nuggets. You can do it in the oven, microwave, on the stove, or in the air fryer. Heating will eliminate the bacteria making the food safe to eat.

However, before heating make sure that the chicken nuggets are safely stored in the fridge. Do not leave them at room temperature. Bacteria will quickly spread and will contaminate the food.

How Can You Reheat Chicken Nuggets?

As mentioned, there are many ways you can reheat chicken nuggets. You can use the oven, microwave, stove, and air fryer. But how will you exactly do it?

To give you more details, let me explain the process further. I hope this helps you figure the best heating method for your leftover chicken nuggets.

So, without further ado, let’s dive into the tips.

1. Reheat Chicken Nuggets in The Oven

If you have more chicken nuggets to reheat, an oven is one of the best options. It is a great way to achieve good results. Using the oven, you will be able to reheat the nuggets until the crumbs are golden.

Reheating chicken nuggets in the oven is pretty simple and straightforward. It only involves a few steps.

Here’s what you need to do if you reheat chicken nuggets in the oven:

1.Put the frozen chicken nuggets on the wire rack.

2. Preheat the oven to 375-400 degrees Fahrenheit for about 10 minutes.

3. Heat the chicken nuggets for 15-20 minutes.

4. After 15 minutes, check the temperature to see it they reached the desired heat.

5. Put the nuggets back into the oven and give them another 5 minutes if needed. Then check them again after several minutes.

There you go, you have reheated your favorite chicken nuggets. However, reheating chicken nuggets in the oven has several benefits and limitations though.

The benefits of reheating chicken nuggets in the oven

One of benefits of reheating chicken nuggets in the oven is that the oven reheats them evenly.

Another good thing is that you can enjoy the same crispiness and moisture inside of the chicken nuggets as if they were baked first time.

The limitations when you use oven

Using the oven when reheating chicken nuggets also has limitations. One of which is that it takes longer time to reheat them. If you don’t have enough time, you probably won’t be able to do it.

Another thing is that chicken nuggets can turn hard and difficult to eat if left for too long in the oven. So make sure that you don’t forget them.

2. Reheat Chicken Nuggets in The Microwave

If you don’t have time to wait to reheat chicken nuggets, then your best option could be the microwave. The best thing about the microwave is that it reheats chicken nuggets pretty quickly.

The entire process is so simple and requires nothing other than just putting the chicken nuggets inside.

Here’s what you need to do if you reheat chicken nuggets in the microwave:

1. Put all the chicken nuggets you want to reheat on the microwave-safe plate. Make sure that they are not overlapping eat others.

2. Heat them for one minute on full power then check if they reached the desired temperature.

3. Continue heating for another 30 seconds if necessary.

That simple. You have just reheated the chicken nuggets.

But like the oven, using the microwave to reheat chicken nuggets also has some pros and cons.

The benefits of reheating chicken nuggets in the microwave

The best thing about reheating chicken nuggets in microwave is that it does the job in no time. It is perfect for a busy day. Aside from that, it is also super convenient.

The limitations when you use microwave

The problem when using microwave to reheat chicken nuggets is that, in most cases, it deteriorates the crispiness of the nuggets. Also, it turns them into soggy something that you might not want.

There is a way to somehow avoid this problem. That is to reheat the chicken nuggets quickly in a short period of time. However, the main purpose of reheating is not only to make the food taste good but also to kill the bacteria.

That said, you really need to weigh the choices. It largely depends on you.

3. Reheat Chicken Nuggets on The Stove

Another popular way to reheat chicken nuggets is by using the stove. However, this can be daunting and tricky especially if this is your first time doing it. You need to be careful because if you do it wrong you’ll potentially lose your beloved golden nuggets.

Here’s what you need to do if you reheat chicken nuggets on the stove:

1. The first step is to preheat a pan with a little bit of oil.

2. Put the chicken nuggets in and heat them for 2 minutes on each side.

3. As soon as they reach the desired temperature, turn off the heat. But if they need a little bit more time to heat, leave them in the pan for a few more minutes.

The benefits of reheating chicken nuggets on the stove

Using the stove to heat the chicken nuggets is the best option especially if the oven or microwave is unavailable. Although it is not as quick as the microwave, it can reheat the chicken nuggets while retaining the crispiness and inside moisture.

The limitations when you use stove

The only drawback I can think of when using the stove is that the chicken nuggets can get burned once you forget them. So make sure that you pay attention to it during the whole process.

4. Reheat Chicken Nuggets in the Air Fryer

The air fryer is another great tool to reheat chicken nuggets. However, not everyone has this device. If you have one, then reheating chicken nuggets should be easier for you. This is a healthier way of reheating foods because this device requires no oil. It uses hot air to heat the food.

Here’s what you need to do if you reheat chicken nuggets in the air fryer:

1. Preheat the air fryer to 400 degrees Fahrenheit for a couple of minutes.

2. Put the chicken nuggets inside and leave them for 8-10 minutes.

That’s it. You have just reheated chicken nuggets in a healthy manner.

The benefits of reheating chicken nuggets in the air fryer

The good thing about an air fryer is that it does not need oil to reheat chicken nuggets. This keeps the nuggets healthy while attaining that crisp texture outside and tender inside.

The limitations when you use air fryer

I can’t think of any drawback in using an air fryer except that it is not the fastest way to reheat chicken nuggets. Aside from the waiting time, there are no real limitations.

Final Thoughts

In conclusion, you can reheat chicken nuggets. That is for sure. If you have a lot of leftovers, do not waste them. Instead, keep them in the refrigerator or freezer and reheat them later.

As mentioned, there are many ways you can reheat chicken nuggets. You can choose from reheating them in the oven, microwave, on the stove, or in an air fryer.

If you ask me what is the best way, I would recommend an air fryer. It is, in my opinion, the healthiest way to reheat chicken nuggets.

However, the only problem is that not everyone has it. If that is your case, you can then choose other ways.

If you have an oven, I definitely recommend using it. Although it takes a longer time to reheat chicken nuggets, it reheats foods evenly while retaining the crispiness and tender texture inside.

I hope this helps.