Do you love wings as much as I do? It doesn’t matter whether they are southern fried, covered in barbecue sauce or simply roasted in the oven with a sprinkle of salt and pepper, I’m eating them and I’m loving them. I’ll eat them with fries, with a salad or even on their own. I’ll eat them for breakfast, lunch, and for dinner. Have I made my point?
Now, this doesn’t happen very often, but sometimes I do end up with a few of those meaty treat’s leftover. And I know I could eat them cold (I have done, and it is rather pleasant), but to get the most out of my leftover wings I prefer to heat them up.
So, what is the best way to reheat wings? The best way to reheat wings is in the oven. Reheat wings in the oven at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for 15-20 minutes.
There are other ways of reheating wings but reheating them in the oven is by far the best way.
There’s no need to throw your leftovers away, just follow the steps below and you can enjoy your leftover wings as much as you did when you had them fresh.
Best Way to Store Wings before Reheating
It is important not to let your wings sit out at room temperature for any longer than 2 hours. If your wings are exposed to temperatures between 40 and 140 degrees Fahrenheit for any longer than this, the bacteria levels will become dangerous.
The best thing to do is let your wings cool down to room temperature, then transfer them immediately to an airtight container before putting them in the refrigerator. If you want to keep them extra fresh, then you can consider wrapping them in aluminum foil before putting them in their container. Once they are in the refrigerator, they will be edible for up to 4 days. However, the sooner you eat them the better!
If you would like to keep them for longer than 4 days, you can consider freezing them. They can be kept in the freezer for up to 6 months. However, please make sure to defrost them correctly before reheating them. When it is something that has been previously cooked, you should always thaw it out in the refrigerator rather than on the counter.
Best Way to Reheat Wings – Steps
As I’ve already mentioned, the best way to reheat wings is in the oven. If you reheat your wings in the oven, they are likely to come out crispier and more succulent than if you were to reheat them any other way. Here’s how to do it:
Step 1: Preheat your oven
For best results, make sure you preheat your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
Step 2: Let them sit
Whilst your oven is preheating you should leave your wings out at room temperature for up to 20 minutes. This will let the outside of the wings dry slightly which will help to make them crispier once they are in the oven.
Step 3: Line your baking tray
Make sure to line your baking tray with aluminum foil. This will prevent the wings from sticking to your tray.
Step 4: Spread them out
Make sure to spread your wings out equally on the tray and try not to let any of them overlap. This way they will be reheated equally, and you will be more likely to get that yummy crispiness you are after.
Step 5: Put them in the oven
Make sure your oven temperature is 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Put your tray in the middle of the oven and cook the wings for 15 to 20 minutes turning them over halfway through.
Step 6: Time to Eat!
Once the wings have a lovely crispy outside and are heated all the way through it is time to take them out of the oven. Make sure to let them cool down a little before serving and then enjoy!
Will Reheating Wings Affect their Taste?
If you follow the steps above, then your wings should taste almost as good as when you first had them. But, if you choose one of the other methods of reheating, such as using a microwave, then your wings are likely to be rubbery in texture and are not going to be as tasty as they would be if you cooked them in the oven.
Other Ways to Reheat Wings
Whilst reheating your wings in the oven is the best way to get good results, there are other successful ways of reheating wings that you might want to consider.
Fry them in a pan
This is a good alternative if you are in a hurry as it only takes a few minutes and all you need is a pan and some oil.
Again, let your wings sit at room temperature for up to 20 minutes before cooking. Put your pan on a low to medium heat and add a tablespoon of oil. Once the oil is heated, evenly spread your wings across the pan. Cook them for 5 to 7 minutes making sure you turn them halfway through.
The downside to reheating them this way is that you might not get that crispiness you are looking for.
Microwave them
This is another alternative for if you need your wings to be reheated quickly but be warned, your chicken is likely to come out a bit soggy with a rubbery texture.
Once you have let your wings sit at room temperature for up to 20 minutes, all you need to do is put them in a microwaveable container and put them in the microwave for 2 minutes. If when you take them out and they are not piping hot you can put them in for an extra minute.
Grill them
You can do this indoors or outdoors, but it might take a little longer than some of the other methods. All you need to do is spread your wings out evenly across a tray and put them under the grill for around 15 minutes. Make sure to turn them over halfway through. You will know they are ready to eat when the skin starts turning brown and they are piping hot all the way through.
Top Tip
Try to only reheat the number of wings you intend to eat. Whilst you can reheat wings several times (if they have been stored and reheated properly) it is best to reheat your leftover wings only once.