Leftover drumsticks reheat beautifully and retain their original juicy flavor. If you’re not careful, simply putting a piece of cold chicken in the microwave might result in overdone meat that’s difficult to chew and requires a gallon of water to wash down. Nothing is more frustrating than reheating excellent leftovers only to realize that the chicken is dry, the skin is rubbery, or the breading is soft.
Reheating chicken is straightforward and quick, and we’ll teach you how to do it in the oven, air fryer, microwave, or stovetop in a few simple steps. Chicken is high in protein, low in carbohydrates, and nutritious. They’re a popular main dish for any occasion, including weeknight dinners, brunches, parties, BBQs, and other get-togethers. Follow these simple steps to reheat chicken on the stovetop, in the oven, in an air fryer, or in the microwave.
Using a microwave
- On a microwave-safe platter, arrange the chicken leg pieces.
- To get uniform heat, place the tiny chicken legs in the center and the larger chicken leg pieces on the plate’s edge.
- You can drizzle a tablespoon of water or olive oil over the chicken legs to help keep them moist and tender when microwaving.
- Instead of water, you can use a teaspoon of chicken stock to increase the flavor.
- Cover the plate with a damp paper towel or microwavable plastic wrap before placing it in the microwave oven. Additionally, place a sheet of parchment paper between the chicken and the cover to absorb steam and get a crispy outcome.
- To get the internal temperature of a reheated chicken leg to 165 degrees Fahrenheit, cook it in 30-second intervals, flipping and rotating halfway through.
It’s challenging to reheat chicken legs in the microwave without them drying up or becoming chalky in texture. The secret is to maintain the steam inside the chicken by not overcooking it and providing moisture to it with a cover.
Is it safe to reheat chicken drumsticks in the microwave?
Yes, reheating a chicken leg in the microwave is safe if you follow all food safety precautions.
First and foremost, manage the chicken according to the 40°F to 140°F temperature danger zone recommendations, and please do not leave the chicken at room temperature for more than 2 hours.
Second, reheat perishable food to a temperature of 74°C or 165°F on the inside.
Reheating previously cooked chicken leg pieces is not unsafe; however, you should do it only once after cooking rather than several times. Reheating chicken several times causes it to dry, toughen the texture, and lose flavor.
So, if you want to reheat leftover chicken parts, you should know how to do it securely so that you don’t neglect its freshness.
Using an Oven to reheat drumsticks
Cooking bone-in or breaded chicken drumsticks in the oven is a fantastic way to use up leftover bone-in or breaded chicken.
- Preheat the oven in the first step. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F and take the chicken drumsticks out of the fridge.
- Allow your drumsticks to come to room temperature on the counter while you wait for the oven to heat up.
- Pour in some water and transfer the chicken to a baking dish. Sprinkle a few tablespoons of chicken stock or water to cover the bottom of the pan with a thin layer of liquid. After that, cover the pan with a double layer of foil. The steam produced by the water will aid in keeping the meat moist.
- Reheat the dish. Place the chicken in the oven and cook until it reaches a temperature of 165°F on the inside.
- Remove the chicken from the oven when it has warmed through and serve—it should be delicious and fulfilling. Note: This approach does not produce crispy skin, but if you want, broil your pieces of chicken for a few minutes to make them crisp outside before digging in.
Using a stove
- Preheat a pan over low to medium heat. When reheating chicken, a non-stick pan is ideal, especially if the skin has been left on the meat, as the fatty skin tends to stick to heated pans.
- When you put your hand 2 inches (5.1 cm) above the pan, you should be able to feel the heat emanating from it.
- The pan should not be as hot as it would be if you were cooking raw chicken, which will dry the chicken out.
- Melt one tablespoon (15 mL) of butter or oil in a small saucepan. The chicken will not dry out if there is a small amount of fat in the pan. Water or chicken broth could be used instead of the oil or butter if preferred.
- Put the cold chicken in the pan and keep an eye on it. Move the chicken around the pan to avoid the surface sticking to the pan, which will cause it to burn. Turn the chicken from time to time to reheat the chicken on all sides.
- Take the chicken out of the fridge 30 minutes before reheating it for optimal results. It will be at room temperature and will not dry out much during the process.
- Allow the chicken to cool before serving. Allow a minute or two for the chicken’s fluids to redistribute before serving.
Using an Air fryer
This approach restores crispiness well, but it takes longer.
If you have an air fryer, you may use it to reheat a once-crispy piece of chicken while keeping the crunch.
- Preheat the air fryer first. Preheat your air fryer for at least 5 minutes at 375°F, according to the manufacturer’s instructions.
- Get the meat ready. Place the leftover chicken in a single layer in the air fryer basket (or air fryer tray, depending on your model).
- Bring the leftovers to heat. In the air fryer, heat the leftover chicken for about 4 minutes, tossing the basket halfway through.
- Enjoy the crispiness of the chicken once it has reached an internal temperature of 165°F before dunking it in your favorite sauce and digging in.
On a barbecue or grill
This is the ideal way to reheat drumsticks that were initially grilled. Preheat your grill on high heat for about 10 minutes with the lid closed. If you are using charcoal, wait until the coals have turned white before grilling. Remove any sauce or marinade from the chicken to prevent it from burning.
Place the chicken on the grill, flipping it occasionally. Grill the chicken until it reaches an internal temperature of 165°F, which should take about 8 minutes. Serve immediately with your favorite dipping sauce. You could also baste the chicken with the sauce while grilling for extra flavor.
How long to keep leftover drumstick
If cooked chicken is kept refrigerated at 40°F or less, the USDA recommends using it within three to four days. As a general guideline, keep most leftovers in the refrigerator for no more than five days, rely on smell, and look as backup signs of freshness.
Can you freeze the leftover chicken drumstick?
You can keep the leftover chicken in the freezer for up to 6 months. However, once you reheat the leftover cooked chicken drumsticks, you cannot refreeze them again.
How do you moisten dry chicken?
Before reheating, you can moisten dry chicken by spraying it with water. The addition of water dampens the chicken.
How long does it take to reheat leftover chicken drumstick
When reheating chicken from frozen or chilled, the time it takes to reheat depends on the warming.
- The microwave is the quickest way to reheat the chicken, followed by the air fryer, stovetop, and oven.
- It takes 1- 3 minutes to reheat the chicken in the microwave.
- Reheating chicken in the air fryer takes 4 to 5 minutes.
- You should reheat the chicken in the oven for 5-10 minutes.
- You can use a meat thermometer to verify the internal temperature of the chicken; if the temperature reads at least 165F/75C when put in the meatiest part, the chicken is ready.
How to store your leftover chicken drumstick
Chicken drumsticks can be refrigerated if there are any leftovers. Store it in the fridge or freezer, depending on how long you want to keep it.
To keep in the fridge. Put the chicken in an airtight jar, label it, and store it for up to 5 days in the refrigerator.
To store in the freezer, follow these steps:
- Place the leftover chicken in a Ziploc bag or an airtight container.
- Label it with the name and dates.
- Freeze it for up to 6 months.
Can you refreeze cooked chicken drumsticks?
Cooked chicken drumsticks cannot be refrozen. After reheating the leftover chicken, don’t refreeze it; only reheat the amount you know you’ll eat.
Tips on reheating your chicken drumsticks
- Ensure the baking tray, air fryer basket, and skillet aren’t overcrowded.
- Place the chicken in a single layer on a baking sheet. Don’t make any overlaps.
- Reheat only the amount you know you’ll eat because you shouldn’t reheat more than once.
- If you prefer, toss in some fresh sauce to offer the chicken a new flavor.