Although chicken wings are one of our favorite Super Bowl snacks to make, sometimes our eyes are bigger than our stomachs. Luckily, any extra wings are just as delicious on day two or three when you know the best method for reheating them. The secret? Use your oven, which does wonders for warming up every part of the meat without drying it out. This allows you to savor those wings in all of their crispy and saucy glory a second time around. Keep reading as we asked three chefs to share their tricks for heating up leftover chicken wings from your game-day spread!
The basics of chicken wings
While Buffalo wings are a classic finger food, there are many ways to dress up this cut of chicken. You can try cooking methods like frying, grilling or baking it, or flavor the wings by tossing them in a sauce or seasoning. However you choose to make your wings delicious, just know they’ll be even better once you reheat them.
Why the oven works best for reheating wings
If you’re looking to capture the wings’ original taste, the oven will do the trick. “This method will yield you a nice crisped outside, while [the meat is] still moist and juicy on the inside,” Joseph Rizza, executive chef of Prime & Provisions, says. In addition to the best flavor and texture, the oven gives you enough room to evenly heat a large batch of wings. This way, each area of the wing will be piping hot, and none of the sauce or juices will spill uncontrollably. Before placing them in the oven, you’ll want to do a key step to make sure they stay moist.
Chef’s secret to juicy reheated wings
To prevent the wings from drying out in the oven, chef Claudia Sidoti recommends “spritzing them with water” first. This adds moisture to the meat so it maintains its succulent and tender texture while still crisping up nicely. Don’t have a spray bottle? Use 2 tablespoons of water for every 6 chicken wings and gently pour it onto the meat. Then, bake the wings until they’re fully heated.
How to reheat chicken wings in the oven
Whether for a starter or dinner, warming up leftover wings is a quick and delicious option. Below, Chef Rizza shares six steps to follow when reheating chicken wings in the oven.
Bonus: For added flavor, Thomas Wenrich, chef and director of Culinary at Tyson Foods, says to “always toss [the wings] in sauce or seasoning after the heating.” This way, the warm wings will absorb even more of your favorite sweet or savory ingredients!
2 mouthwatering wing recipes worth reheating
Our test kitchen has plenty of wing recipes that you’ll look forward to reheating another day. Try these two recipes for a mouthful of spicy or tangy flavors! (Click through for a boneless chicken wings recipe that’s a mess-free version of this party favorite.)
Air Fryer Hot Wings
A sprinkling of cayenne adds an extra kick to these finger-lickin’ good bites — simply omit it if you prefer less heat.
Ingredients:
- ⅓ cup buffalo wing sauce
- ¼ cup unsalted butter
- 2 lbs. chicken wings
- 2 Tbs. olive oil
- ½ tsp. salt
- ⅛ tsp. cayenne pepper
- Ranch dressing (optional)
Directions:
- Active: 10 mins
- Total time: 1 hr.
- Yield: 4 servings
Honey Dijion Wings
These crispy oven-baked bites come together in mere minutes and cook up without the mess and additional fat that come with deep-frying.
Ingredients:
- ¼ cup honey
- ¼ cup Dijon mustard
- 2 Tbs. butter, melted
- 1 to 2 Tbs. cayenne pepper sauce
- 1 tsp. garlic powder
- 3 lbs. chicken wings, halved at joint
Directions:
- Active: 20 mins
- Total time: 1 hr.
- Yield: 8 servings
Continue reading to learn more tips for reheating your favorite foods!
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