Can You Reheat Chicken?

Yes, you can reheat chicken. Of all the common leftovers, though, this is the one where getting it wrong has real consequences. Chicken carries Campylobacter and Salmonella bacteria, both of which survive inadequate reheating and cause serious food poisoning. The good news is that the rules are simple and the methods are straightforward.

Can You Reheat Chicken?

Yes, safely. It just needs to have been refrigerated within two hours of cooking and reheated within three to four days. The non-negotiable rule: the chicken must reach 75°C (165°F) throughout, not just on the surface. This applies to every piece, checked at the thickest point. A meat thermometer is worth using for whole breasts or bone-in pieces, where heat takes longer to reach the centre.

Reheating Chicken in the Oven

The oven is the most reliable method for bone-in pieces and larger portions. It heats evenly and gives you control over the process without a lot of intervention.

1. Preheat the oven to 180°C (350°F).
2. Put the chicken in an oven-safe dish and add two to three tablespoons of chicken stock, water, or leftover sauce. This creates steam and stops the meat drying out.
3. Cover the dish tightly with foil.
4. Heat for 20 to 25 minutes for bone-in pieces or 15 minutes for boneless.
5. Check the temperature at the thickest part. It needs to read 75°C before you serve it.
6. Remove the foil for the last four minutes if you want to crisp the skin.

Reheating Chicken in the Microwave

Quick but uneven. The microwave heats from the outside in, which means the exterior can reach temperature while the centre is still cold. That’s a genuine food safety concern with chicken. Use it for sliced or small pieces only, not whole breasts.

1. Spread the chicken on a microwave-safe plate in a single layer, without stacking pieces.
2. Add a splash of water or stock and cover with a damp paper towel or microwave lid.
3. Heat at 70% power for 90 seconds.
4. Flip each piece and check the temperature. Continue in 30-second bursts until you reach 75°C throughout.

Check the temperature at more than one spot, particularly near any bone. Bones conduct heat poorly and often stay cold long after the surrounding meat is ready.

Reheating Chicken on the Stovetop

Works well for boneless pieces, shredded chicken, and anything cooked in a sauce. Fast and easy to control.

1. Add a small amount of oil, stock, or sauce to a pan over medium heat.
2. Add the chicken and cover with a lid to trap steam.
3. Heat for five to eight minutes, turning occasionally.
4. If the pan looks dry, add another splash of liquid rather than turning the heat up.

Reheating Chicken in the Air Fryer

The air fryer is particularly good for fried chicken or roasted pieces where you want the skin to stay crispy. It circulates hot air around the chicken, which mimics the original cooking environment better than any other reheating method.

1. Preheat the air fryer to 180°C (360°F).
2. Place pieces in the basket in a single layer, with a little space between each.
3. Heat for eight to ten minutes, turning halfway through.
4. Check the internal temperature at the thickest point before serving.

How to Keep It From Drying Out

• Always add liquid when using the oven or stovetop: a dry environment is what turns chicken tough and leathery
• Pull it from the fridge early: 10 to 15 minutes at room temperature before reheating means it heats more evenly and takes less time overall
• Stop at 75°C: every extra degree past that temperature pushes moisture out and toughens the meat
• Shred larger pieces before microwaving: shredded chicken heats far more evenly than a whole breast
• Cover during oven reheating: foil traps steam and is the single biggest factor in keeping the meat moist

How Many Times Can You Reheat Chicken?

Once. This isn’t just a guideline; it’s the advice from the NHS and food safety authorities. Every time chicken cools and reheats, it passes through the danger zone (5°C to 60°C) where bacteria multiply. With chicken specifically, the risk is high enough that a second reheating isn’t worth it. Only reheat what you’re going to eat immediately, and refrigerate the rest.

Reheating Chicken From Frozen

Never defrost chicken at room temperature. Never try to speed-reheat frozen chicken in the microwave either, because the outside overcooks while the inside is still thawing. The right approach: defrost fully in the fridge overnight (allow eight to twelve hours for a large portion), then use the oven or stovetop method above. If you need to cook it from frozen in the oven, use 160°C (320°F) and add roughly 50% extra time, checking the temperature throughout.

Which Method Should You Use?

Chicken is a very diverse meat, as you can prepare in many different ways. With so many options to prepare it, you can typically group your meal into three categories, fried, baked, and grilled. Each has their own special ways to be reheated.

Baked Chicken

Baked chicken is much more able to be dried out when you try to reheat it! When you are reheating your baked chicken, use the oven for best results. Preheat your oven to 300 degrees. Cover with foil and bake for 20 minutes or until warmed through.

Fried Chicken

Fried chicken when improperly heated, can become greasy. To avoid this, you can either refry the chicken, or you can bake it on a baking sheet. To bake it, preheat your oven to 350 degrees and bake the chicken for 8 minutes per side.

Grilled Chicken 

When you are enjoying the grilling season, nothing is worse than having to eat cold chicken! To reheat, simply place in the oven on a baking sheet for 20 minutes at 300 degrees. You can also create a pouch out of foil and place back on the grill over indirect heat.

You should not use the microwave because you can dry out your delicious meal. Not to mention, it can make the meat very chewy. Overall, the oven is the best choice to reheat chicken to ensure a delicious reheated meal!

The other white meat tends to have a bad reputation when it comes to being reheated. So next time you make a chicken dinner, be sure to keep these tips in mind so that way you can treat your family to great leftovers that are just as great as the first night.