HOW TO REHEAT FRIED CHICKEN & KEEP IT CRISPY

Take your fried chicken out of the refrigerator. For even heating, allow at least 30 minutes for the chicken to come to room temperature.

While your chicken is reaching room temperature, preheat your oven to 400°F. For a convection bake setting, reduce the temperature to 375°F to account for the circulating air. To bake in an air fryer, reduce the original bake temperature by 25°F and reduce the cook time by 20%. Some Maytag^® ranges offer an Air Fry feature that allows you to make your favorite fried foods with a crispy-on-the-outside, juicy-on-the-inside taste using little to no additional oil.

Place a wire rack on a baking sheet and place a single layer of fried chicken on the rack. This allows air to fully circulate around each piece. Staggering the pieces so they don’t touch also helps with air circulation and even reheating.

Place your baking sheet, uncovered, into the oven and bake for 15 minutes (or as long as your recipe directs) until the chicken skin looks crisp. The cooking time will vary depending on the size of each piece of chicken, but generally, smaller pieces will take less time to reheat vs. larger pieces. If you’re air frying in the oven, flip or shake your food halfway through cooking to improve air circulation and boost crispiness—just like with a countertop air fryer. For even better results, add a light drizzle of oil or a quick spray of cooking oil.

If your chicken skin isn’t as crispy as you’d like after baking, try finishing it under the broiler. This high-heat setting is perfect for quickly adding color and crunch. To use the broiler, press the “Broil” button on your oven and let it preheat for about 5 minutes. Then place the chicken back in the oven, positioning it closer to the top heating element if it’s already cooked through—just far enough to avoid burning. Keep a close eye on food, as this high-heat method usually only takes a few minutes but will burn food if left for too long.

A microwave is a convenient way to reheat fried chicken. Power levels generally vary between models, so you can refer to your appliance’s owner’s manual for your model-specific levels. The 90% power level is recommended for cooking small, tender pieces of meat.

For the best results, put a paper towel on a plate and then put the pieces of chicken on top. The paper towel will help absorb excess moisture and help preserve the crispness of the skin. Heat in 30-second intervals, flipping the pieces each time until they’re warmed through. 

If you have a convection microwave, you don’t need to flip the pieces since the microwave circulates hot air for you. When using this method, use the microwave setting in short intervals, so you can check the chicken and the paper towel frequently. Do not use recycled paper towels or towels with printing.

An oven with air fry is perhaps one of the best ways to help recreate the crispness of fried chicken. To use this method, preheat the oven to 375°F and place a single layer of room-temperature fried chicken in the basket. Cook for about four minutes.

The circulating hot air helps remove excess moisture from the outside and restore its crispy texture. Learn more about how to use an oven with air fry or find a selection of Maytag^® ranges with Air Fry Settings.

The best way to reheat fried chicken on a stovetop or cooktop is to briefly fry it again. Heat olive oil in a cast-iron pan until it reaches 300°F. Cook a few pieces of chicken at a time until they are crispy, or about two to three minutes on each side. Make sure to cool the chicken for five minutes on a wire rack before eating.