How to Make Your Fried-Chicken Leftovers Crispier Than Ever With an Air Fryer

If you haven’t cooked or reheated fried chicken in an air fryer yet, we’re here to tell you that you absolutely should. The air fryer will eliminate the amount of oil you need to use while keeping the chicken crispy on the outside and juicy on the inside – just like it was when first cooked. Leftovers often taste limp and flavorless, especially if you use the microwave; however, thanks to an air fryer, your fried-chicken leftovers will be so crispy that they won’t even taste like leftovers anymore.

When reheating the fried chicken, preheat the air fryer to 375°F. Wait to put the chicken in until it’s at room temperature to ensure maximum crispness. Once the chicken reaches room temperature, space the pieces out evenly in the air-fryer tray. Don’t stack the chicken on top of each other or let the air fryer get too crowded, or the chicken won’t get as crispy. Let it reheat for three to four minutes, shaking the basket periodically.

Air fryers are great for several reasons, having many logistical and health benefits. To reheat foods quickly while maintaining the taste and texture, they push hot air around the food, and the bottom of the container catches extra grease. In addition, air fryers lower the amount of acrylamide, a carcinogen, by about 90 percent. Lastly, you can buy an air fryer for under $100, and in fact, one of our favorite air fryers is only $72.

Fried chicken isn’t the only food you can reheat in the air fryer, either; many family-friendly recipes can be cooked quickly with an air fryer. Dietitian Ariana Cucuzza suggests using it to make sweet-potato fries and other vegetables, especially since kids are more likely to eat vegetables that are crisp from an air fryer rather than ones that are plain.