Quickly Warming Up Chicken In Your Air Fryer

Warming up chicken in an air fryer is a quick and easy way to ensure your meat is crispy on the outside and juicy on the inside. It's also a healthier option compared to using a microwave or oven.

To warm up chicken in an air fryer, first, preheat your appliance to between 175°C and 190°C. Then, place your chicken in the basket, ensuring the pieces aren't overlapping. Cook for around 5-10 minutes, flipping halfway through. The exact time will depend on the size of your chicken pieces, so be sure to keep an eye on them to avoid overcooking.

To check if your chicken is warm enough, use a meat thermometer to ensure it reaches an internal temperature of 165°F.

Preheat settings

Preheat Temperature

The ideal preheat temperature for reheating chicken in an air fryer is around 350°F to 375°F (175°C to 190°C). This temperature range will help ensure that your chicken is thoroughly reheated while maintaining its moisture and crispiness.

Preheat Time

Preheat your air fryer for a few minutes before placing the chicken inside. The preheat time can vary depending on the model of your air fryer, but it typically takes around 4 to 5 minutes for the air fryer to reach the desired temperature.

Benefits of Preheating

Preheating your air fryer has several benefits:

• Even Cooking: Preheating ensures that your air fryer reaches the desired temperature before cooking, resulting in more even cooking. This helps prevent undercooked or unevenly heated spots in your chicken.
• Moisture Retention: By preheating, you create a consistent temperature environment, reducing the risk of drying out the chicken. This is especially important for lean meats like chicken breast, which can easily dry out.
• Better Crispiness: Preheating helps activate the oil in breaded chicken, making it crispy on the outside while keeping the moisture inside.
• Time Efficiency: Preheating your air fryer can save overall cooking time, as you don't have to wait for the air fryer to heat up during the cooking process.

Tips for Preheating

• Use a meat thermometer to check the internal temperature of the chicken after reheating. It should reach an internal temperature of at least 165°F (74°C) to ensure it's safe to eat.
• Avoid overcrowding the air fryer basket. Place the chicken in a single layer to allow proper air circulation and even heating.
• If your chicken is coated with sauce or breadcrumbs, consider using parchment paper in the air fryer basket to prevent sticking.
• Brush your chicken with a thin layer of oil or your favorite sauce before reheating to enhance flavor and crispiness.
• If you're reheating room temperature chicken, let it sit at room temperature for about 10 minutes before placing it in the air fryer. This helps the chicken reheat more evenly.

Cooking times

The cooking time for reheating chicken in an air fryer depends on the type of chicken and the size of the pieces.

Chicken Breasts

For chicken breasts, it is recommended to set the air fryer to 350°F (175°C) and cook for 10-20 minutes. Flip the chicken after 6 minutes and check the internal temperature after 10 minutes to prevent overcooking. The chicken is done when it reaches an internal temperature of 165°F (74°C).

Chicken Wings

Chicken wings should be cooked at 365°F for 5-6 minutes. As with other types of chicken, it is important to arrange the wings in a single layer to ensure even cooking. Flip the wings halfway through for optimum results.

Chicken Thighs

Chicken thighs should be cooked for 3-4 minutes at 365°F. For crispier thighs, you can extend the cooking time by a minute or two. As always, ensure the internal temperature reaches 165°F (74°C) for safe consumption.

Chicken Tenders

Chicken tenders are cooked similarly to chicken thighs. Arrange them in a single layer in the air fryer basket and cook for 3-4 minutes at 365°F. Flip them halfway through to ensure even heating and crispiness.

Rotisserie Chicken

For rotisserie chicken, preheat the air fryer to 350°F and cook for 3-5 minutes, or until the outside is crispy and the inside is fully heated. If you are reheating a whole rotisserie chicken, the cooking time may be longer, so keep an eye on it and check it after about 4 minutes.

Fried Chicken

For leftover fried chicken, preheat the air fryer to 375°F/190°C. Optionally, spray or brush the chicken with oil for extra crispiness. Place the chicken pieces in a single layer in the air fryer basket, working in batches if needed. Reheat for 8-10 minutes for larger pieces, and 5-7 minutes for tenders, flipping halfway through.

Oil usage

While air fryers don't always require the use of oil, it can be helpful to add a small amount to keep your food moist and provide a golden brown colour. Here are some tips for using oil in your air fryer:

How Much Oil to Use

When air frying, the amount of oil you use can range from a few sprays to 1 tablespoon, depending on the type of food being cooked. For example, frozen foods such as dumplings or egg rolls may need a light coating of oil (about 1 teaspoon) to prevent dryness. On the other hand, most frozen foods with oil in their ingredients, such as frozen sweet potato fries, do not need additional oil.

When to Use Oil

It is recommended to use oil for almost 75% of what you cook in your air fryer. This includes foods that typically require oil when cooked in an oven or foods that you would need to grease a baking sheet for. For example, roasted vegetables, fried chicken, and chicken thighs are often prepared with oil. On the other hand, foods like hamburgers, hot dogs, and frozen sweet potato fries typically do not need oil.

How to Apply Oil

When air frying, put the oil on the food, not directly into the air fryer basket. You can use an oil mister, a basting brush, or a cooking spray (other than PAM, which can damage the non-stick coating) to apply the oil. For fresh meats and vegetables, toss them in a bowl with a few teaspoons of oil and your desired seasonings before placing them in the air fryer.

Types of Oil to Use

You can use any oil in an air fryer that you would typically use in an oven. This includes vegetable oil, olive oil, coconut oil, canola oil, and more. It is recommended to avoid aerosol cooking sprays like PAM, as these can damage the non-stick coating of your air fryer.

Healthiest Oils to Use

There is no single oil considered the "healthiest," but some options that are generally regarded as healthy include avocado oil, extra virgin olive oil, peanut oil, and sesame oil. These oils have higher smoke points, which means they can withstand higher temperatures without breaking down and releasing harmful compounds.

Chicken preparation

Preparing chicken in an air fryer is a quick and easy way to ensure your meat is cooked evenly, with a crispy exterior and a juicy interior. Here is a step-by-step guide to preparing chicken in an air fryer.

Step 1: Preheat the Air Fryer

Firstly, preheat your air fryer to 350-375°F/175-190°C. Preheating is not essential, but it will ensure more even cooking and help to prevent the chicken from drying out.

Step 2: Prepare the Chicken

If your chicken has been in the fridge, let it sit at room temperature for about 10 minutes before cooking. This will help it to heat more evenly.

You can brush the chicken with a little oil or cooking spray to enhance crispiness, but this is optional.

Step 3: Arrange the Chicken in the Air Fryer Basket

Place the chicken in the air fryer basket in a single layer, ensuring there is space between each piece for the air to circulate effectively. Avoid overcrowding the basket, as this can prevent proper air circulation and result in uneven cooking.

Step 4: Cook the Chicken

Cooking times will vary depending on the type and size of chicken you are preparing. As a general rule, smaller pieces will take 5-7 minutes, while larger pieces will take 8-10 minutes.

For example, chicken tenders or chicken wings will take less time than chicken breasts or thighs. A whole chicken will take longer, typically around 10-15 minutes.

Flip the chicken halfway through cooking to ensure even heating and crispiness on both sides.

Step 5: Check the Internal Temperature

To ensure your chicken is thoroughly reheated and safe to eat, it should reach an internal temperature of 165°F/74°C. Use a meat thermometer to check the temperature.

Step 6: Serve

Once the chicken has reached the correct internal temperature, remove it from the air fryer and serve.

Tips

• If your chicken is coated in sauce or breadcrumbs, place it on parchment paper in the air fryer basket to prevent sticking.
• Remember to adjust the cooking time based on the thickness and size of your chicken pieces.
• Always check the internal temperature of the chicken to ensure it is safe to eat.
• Experiment with seasonings or sauces to add extra flavour.
• Do not reheat the chicken more than once, as this increases the risk of foodborne illness.
• Store leftovers promptly in the refrigerator and consume within a few days.

Serving suggestions

Once you've warmed up your chicken in the air fryer, you can serve it in a variety of ways. Here are some ideas:

• Chicken Caesar Salad: Slice or shred the reheated chicken and place it on a bed of crisp romaine lettuce. Add homemade croutons, grated Parmesan cheese, and a drizzle of Caesar dressing. Toss it all together just before eating for a crunchy and satisfying salad.
• Chicken Wrap or Burrito: Wrap the reheated chicken in a whole wheat tortilla with lettuce, diced tomatoes, shredded cheese, and a dollop of Greek yogurt or salsa. Roll it up tightly and enjoy a portable and flavorful wrap.
• Chicken and Waffle Bites: Cut the reheated chicken into bite-sized pieces and serve them alongside mini waffles. Pack a small container of maple syrup for dipping. This playful combo brings together sweet and savory.
• Sandwiches: Try the chicken in sandwiches with your favorite condiments and toppings.
• Wraps: Use a tortilla and your choice of toppings and sauces to make a wrap.
• Mid-week salads: Use the chicken as a topping for your salad.
• With a side of mashed potatoes: Serve the chicken with a batch of mashed potatoes.

Remember, it is best not to reheat the chicken more than once, as this can increase the risk of foodborne illness.

Frequently asked questions