How To Reheat Chicken Strips

When you think of chicken strips, something crispy, juicy, and flavorful likely comes to mind. Chicken strips can be an easy, game-day ready meal, but poorly reheating leftover chicken strips will turn them soft and soggy. Learning how to reheat chicken strips will make it so that they can be enjoyed just as much the next day. 

To reheat chicken strips, either place them in a 400° (204°C) oven for 10-15 minutes, or refry them over the stove. To refry your strips, heat canola or vegetable oil in a pan on high and drop them in a few at a time.  For convenience, an air fryer or toaster oven will also do the trick. 

How To Reheat Chicken Strips 

In The Oven

To reheat chicken strips in the oven, you will first need to preheat the oven to 400°C (204°C). Arrange the chicken strips in a single layer on a baking sheet lined with a wire rack. It will only take 10 -15 minutes to achieve an internal temperature of 120° (49°C). 

Tips 

The reasoning behind the wire rack is to keep the bottoms, where the chicken would touch the baking sheet, from getting stodgy. Check on your chicken strips after 10 minutes. Overcooking could lead to burnt, tough chicken. 

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On The Stovetop 

Another method of reheating leftover chicken strips is by refrying them over the stove. Heat an inch of a neutral oil in the pan, before carefully adding in your chicken piece by piece. Refrying your chicken strips will guarantee that the finished product will be wonderfully crispy and juicy. 

Tips

Go slowly when adding your chicken; hot oil can reach temperatures of 350° (177°C) on the stove. Being hasty can cause oil splattering or spillage. Additionally, be mindful of not crowding your chicken, as packing every piece in at once will end in uneven crisping. 

In An Air Fryer 

When reheating chicken strips in an air fryer, arrange your strips in the fryer basket. Set the basket into your preheated air fryer and cook on high for 3-4 minutes after spraying lightly with cooking oil. Since the air fryer circulates hot air in the basket, your strips should be evenly cooked. 

Tips 

It is possible to stack the strips in more than a single layer and still produce a crisp coating. The trick to doing so is to shake and rearrange the chicken part way through the cooking cycle. As well, do not stack them more than two strips high, to prevent overloading the basket. 

In The Toaster Oven

Reheating chicken strips in a toaster oven is very similar to using a conventional oven. Preheat to 400°C (204°C) and set the chicken strips on a foil lined baking sheet. The difference lies in the time required: only reheat your chicken for 3-5 minutes in the toaster oven. 

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Tips

The reason that you will only need 3-5 minutes is because toaster ovens place food closer to the heat source. Since you are not using a wire rack, turn your chicken strips halfway through reheating to avoid sogginess. 

Can You Reheat Chicken Strips In The Microwave? 

There’s definitely nothing stopping you from reheating chicken strips in the microwave. It’s simple, fast, and will avoid creating any extra dishes. However, this isn’t the best possible way to go about it, as it will likely render the coating soggy. 


The reason microwaves often leave food soggy is because the electromagnetic radiation makes water molecules in the food move. When this occurs, the moisture heats your food, but also has nowhere else to go. What this means for your chicken is that the moisture stays in the coating, causing that unpleasant damp texture. 

Is It Safe To Eat Cold Chicken Strips? 

Yes, as long as the chicken was previously cooked to a safe internal temperature. Eating cold chicken is safe, but steer clear of strips that have been left at room temperature for 2+ hours. Even cooked chicken can enter into the bacterial danger zone when left out to sit. 

In fact, cold chicken strips would make a fine addition to a salad, wrap, or sandwich. This is a perfect way to put a spin on your leftovers, as long as they have been stored properly. 

Conclusion

Everyone has their own methods for how to reheat chicken strips. The ideal end goal is a product that is just as crunchy and delicious as it was the day prior. While it is not recommended to use a standard microwave, there are still plenty of ways to revive your chicken strips. 

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In a pan with oil will replicate the frying process that the chicken has already endured. Reheating chicken strips in the oven, toaster oven, or air fryer are all similar techniques that will reach similar ends. The oven will take the longest, but the extra effort is worth it for delectable, juicy chicken strips.