Air Fryer Turkey Legs: Reheating Time And Tips

If you're looking to reheat a turkey leg in an air fryer, it's important to note that while it's a faster option than an oven, it can be tough to prevent the meat from drying out. To retain moisture, you can use turkey broth, water, or a mix of water and gravy. Here's a step-by-step guide:

1. Take the turkey leg out of the fridge and let it sit at room temperature for 10-15 minutes to remove the chill.

2. Preheat your air fryer to 325°F for 3-5 minutes.

3. Place the turkey leg in the air fryer basket.

4. Reheat for about 10 minutes per pound of meat. Flip the leg with tongs every 5-6 minutes for even cooking.

5. If the skin starts to burn, cover the leg for the remaining time.

6. Once reheated, remove the leg from the air fryer and serve while hot.

Preheat the air fryer to 350°F

Preheating your air fryer is an important step in the process of reheating your turkey legs. By preheating your air fryer to 350°F, you create the ideal temperature environment for your leftover turkey legs to be warmed up without drying out.

Ensure your air fryer is plugged in and turned on.

Locate the temperature control dial or buttons on your air fryer. This is usually a dial or a set of buttons on the front of the machine, allowing you to adjust the temperature.

Adjust the temperature to 350°F.

Turn the dial or press the buttons to set the temperature to 350°F. This temperature is crucial, as it ensures your turkey legs are reheated thoroughly without becoming dry.

Allow the air fryer to preheat.

Depending on your air fryer model, it may take a few minutes for the appliance to reach the desired temperature. Most air fryers will have a preheat light or indicator that lets you know when it's ready.

Prepare your turkey legs.

While the air fryer is preheating, you can take this time to prepare your leftover turkey legs. Remove them from the refrigerator and let them sit at room temperature for 12-20 minutes. This helps the meat come to a temperature that will warm more evenly without drying out.

Check if your air fryer is preheated.

Keep an eye on the preheat indicator or light on your air fryer. Once it signals that the desired temperature of 350°F has been reached, your air fryer is ready for the next step.

Place the turkey legs in the air fryer basket.

Open the air fryer and carefully place your turkey legs inside the basket. Ensure they are spaced out and not overcrowded to allow for even heating.

Reheat the turkey legs.

With the air fryer preheated to 350°F and the turkey legs placed inside, it's now time to start the reheating process. Close the air fryer and set the timer according to the weight of your turkey legs. For instance, you can reheat for about 5-10 minutes, flipping the legs halfway through to ensure even heating.

By following these steps and preheating your air fryer to 350°F, you can confidently reheat your leftover turkey legs, ensuring they are warmed to perfection while maintaining their juicy taste and texture.

Remove the turkey legs from the fridge and let them come to room temperature

Removing your turkey legs from the fridge and letting them sit on the counter for 12-15 minutes is an important step in the reheating process. This will allow the chill to come off the meat, ensuring that it warms up evenly and doesn't seize up. It's best to leave them uncovered, so the surface can dry out a little, which will help you achieve that sought-after crispy skin.

While you're waiting for the turkey legs to come to room temperature, you can preheat your air fryer to 350°F. This will take around 3-5 minutes.

If you're short on time, you can reduce the time the turkey legs sit out to 10 minutes, but it's important not to skip this step altogether. If you put cold turkey straight into the air fryer, it's more likely to dry out, and you'll miss out on that crispy skin.

Once your turkey legs have been sitting out for 12-15 minutes, you can place them in the preheated air fryer and follow the rest of the reheating process.

Apply moisture to the meat

Moisture is key to ensuring your turkey legs don't dry out when reheating them in the air fryer. Here are some tips and tricks to ensure your meat stays moist:

Use a Moisture Source

When reheating turkey in an air fryer, it's important to add a moisture source to prevent the meat from drying out. You can use a variety of liquids, such as turkey broth, water mixed with gravy, vegetable broth, chicken broth, or even just water. For extra flavour, you could also try using balsamic vinegar or butter.

Foil Packet Method

One effective way to ensure moisture retention is to create a foil packet. Place your turkey leg on a layer of foil and pour about 1/4 cup of broth over it. Then, seal the foil completely to trap the steam inside. This method works well for small portions of turkey.

Baking Dish Method

If you have a larger portion of turkey to reheat, you can use an oven-safe baking dish. Place the turkey in the dish, pour the broth over it, and tightly seal the top with aluminium foil. This method also helps to retain moisture during the reheating process.

Preheat the Air Fryer

Before adding your turkey, preheat your air fryer to 325°F for 3-5 minutes. This will help start the airflow and ensure quicker and more even cooking.

Reheating Time

For turkey legs, place them in the preheated air fryer for 10 minutes per pound. Flip the legs with tongs every 5-6 minutes to ensure even cooking. If the skin starts to burn, cover the legs for the remainder of the reheating time.

Resting Time

Once you've removed the turkey legs from the air fryer, let them rest for a few minutes before serving. This allows the juices to redistribute, resulting in tender and juicy meat.

Avoid Overcrowding

If you're cooking multiple turkey legs, avoid overcrowding the air fryer basket. This can prolong the cooking time and lead to uneven cooking. It's best to cook in batches if necessary.

Don't Forget to Thaw

Always remember to thaw frozen turkey legs before reheating them in the air fryer. You can do this by submerging them in cold water (without removing the packaging) for 2-4 hours or leaving them in the fridge overnight to thaw.

Baste with Butter or Spray

To prevent your turkey from drying out during reheating, baste it with melted butter or cooking spray every 10 minutes.

Reheating Tips

• Use a meat thermometer to check the internal temperature of the turkey. It's ready when it reaches an internal temperature of 165°F.
• If reheating a large piece of turkey, you may need to increase the cooking time.
• Serve with your favourite sides, such as mashed potatoes, gravy, green beans, or stuffing.

By following these tips, you can ensure your turkey legs stay moist and juicy when reheating them in the air fryer.

Place the turkey legs in the air fryer basket

When you're ready to reheat your turkey legs, place them in the air fryer basket, ensuring they don't touch each other so that all sides get nice and crispy. If your turkey legs are frozen, it is recommended that you thaw them before placing them in the air fryer. You can do this by submerging them in room-temperature water for 2-4 hours or leaving them in the fridge overnight.

If you're reheating multiple turkey legs, be sure not to overcrowd the basket, as this will result in uneven cooking. Depending on the size of your turkey legs, you may need to reheat them in batches.

Before placing the turkey legs in the air fryer basket, you can coat them in a variety of seasonings and oils to add flavour and crispiness. For example, you could try a combination of unsalted butter or olive oil, garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, salt, and pepper. Alternatively, you could use a dry rub of seasonings on the turkey legs and then spray them with avocado oil or olive oil before placing them in the air fryer.

Once you've prepared your turkey legs and placed them in the air fryer basket, you can move on to the next step of reheating them.

Reheat for 5-10 minutes

Reheating a turkey leg in an air fryer is a quick and easy process. Here is a step-by-step guide:

Preparation:

First, remove your turkey leg from the refrigerator and let it sit at room temperature for 12-20 minutes. This will take the chill off the meat and ensure even reheating.

Preheating the Air Fryer:

Preheat your air fryer to 350°F (177°C). This will usually take around 3-5 minutes.

Reheating the Turkey Leg:

Place the turkey leg in the air fryer basket. If desired, spray the turkey leg lightly with cooking oil to promote crispiness. Reheat for 5-10 minutes, flipping the turkey leg halfway through to ensure even heating.

Checking for Doneness:

Use an instant-read thermometer to check that the turkey leg has reached an internal temperature of at least 165°F (74°C). This is the minimum temperature recommended by the USDA for safely consuming poultry.

Serving:

Once the desired temperature is reached, remove the turkey leg from the air fryer using tongs and serve while hot. Enjoy your delicious and crispy reheated turkey leg!

Note: The reheating time may vary depending on the size and power of your air fryer, as well as the weight of the turkey leg. Adjust the time accordingly, and always ensure your turkey is thoroughly reheated before consuming.

Frequently asked questions