How To Reheat Frozen Fried Chicken? - The Best Way

Fried chicken is one of the most authentic American dishes you can eat. There’s something about it that makes it lick your fingers every time you eat it.

Fried chicken can take a lot of work and effort to make, but it’s often worth it.

One of the nice things about fried chicken is that you can freeze it after frying and save it for later. It’s a great way to preserve leftovers or even make a big batch of fried chicken and have some for a later meal.

How do you reheat frozen fried chicken without making it soggy?

The best way to reheat frozen fried chicken is through a two-step process that uses the microwave and oven. However, you can get by using just the oven or microwave, with some sacrifice of quality.

In this guide, we’ll walk you through the best options for reheating frozen fried chicken. There is more than one way to do this and you may find that you have a preference or learn something new about your reheating options.

Read on to find out all about how to reheat frozen fried chicken and much more.

Complete Guide to Reheating Frozen Fried Chicken

When fried chicken is frozen, it’s always agonizing to think about how it’s going to heat up again. The fried chicken is made with some kind of layers that hold the breading and the immediate thought is how can you maintain the quality when you reheat it?

Even when you reheat fried chicken that hasn’t been frozen, it can be a little tough, right?

It’s true. It can be complicated.

But, with the right tips and process, you can successfully reheat fried chicken and not worry as much about horrible side effects. Some of the more common side effects are loss of breading and soggy breading.

Reheat Frozen Fried Chicken - The Best Way

This is our recommended process for reheating frozen fried chicken. This is the best way to reheat frozen fried chicken for the best results. However, we will also share a couple more options that you can try.

For the best reheated frozen chicken, follow these steps:

1. Thaw frozen fried chicken in the microwave. Bring the chicken to an internal temperature of 165 degrees using this method.
2. Once this part is done, transfer the chicken to a baking dish of some kind. We recommend lining the baking sheet with aluminum foil for best results. It is not necessary to cover the chicken at this point in the game.
3. Bake the fried chicken in the oven at 375 degrees Fahrenheit for about 10 minutes.

This process is the best way to reheat chicken without having to deal with the soggy breading of the process.

This will reheat and crisp the chicken to maintain the same flavor and texture we all love from fresh fried chicken.

Alternative Options for Reheating Frozen Fried Chicken

There are a couple of different options you can try if you don’t want to microwave.

What we have found though is that microwaving in this way, as explained above, actually produces the best overall results and you don’t have to wait for defrost time.

We think this works best because the main reason breading is soggy is moisture that builds up during the thawing process. For this reason, we recommend that you do not completely thaw the chicken before reheating it.

If you want to use the oven or microwave to reheat fried chicken, here are the best steps.

Please note that the reheating time may be longer because the chicken is frozen in the following cases. Check the chicken often and check the internal temperature of the chicken to make sure it is fully cooked before serving again.

Reheat Frozen Fried Chicken Only in the Oven

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit.
2. Line an oven tray or a mold with aluminum foil.
3. Place the frozen fried chicken in the pan.
4. Cover the tray with another layer of aluminum foil.
5. Bake at this temperature for about 30 minutes. Check on the chicken often and don’t hesitate to flip it halfway through.
6. When the chicken has reached 165 degrees, remove the foil and bake another 5-10 minutes for a final crisp effect.

Reheat Frozen Fried Chicken in the Microwave

With the microwave, we want you to know that meat is more likely to dry out using this method. You definitely won’t get the crispy skin and breading you’re used to with fried chicken.

Instead, you’ll get slightly dry chicken with a slightly moist breading . Overall, the taste is still delicious, but we want you to know that the results may not be as desired.

To reheat frozen chicken in the microwave, follow this process.

1. Leave the chicken at room temperature for 30-60 minutes after you take it out of the freezer. This will help bring the chicken closer to room temperature.
2. Cover the chicken with a paper towel, this will help remove excess moisture that causes the breading to be soggy.
3. Microwave fried chicken initially for 1 full minute.
4. Then, microwave in 30-second intervals, turning chicken at each interval.
5. Heat until desired heat is reached. Remember that it is best that the internal temperature reaches 165 degrees.

With this method, it’s best if you’re only reheating a couple of pieces of chicken. If you’re reheating multiple pieces, we recommend trying another method. 

How Reheating Affects Frozen Fried Chicken

This is what happens. We want you to be fully informed and fully aware of how each of these methods can affect your chicken.

If you are going to reheat the chicken, the best method is the two-part process that thaws in the microwave and then crisps in the oven. This will provide the best results giving you the closest fried chicken to when it was fresh.

Microwaving is a last-resort option, but it’s available when you need more than just a reheating process in the oven.

Let’s look at some pros and cons of reheating frozen fried chicken.

Advantages of Reheating Frozen Fried Chicken

• You can make large batches of fried chicken and freeze some for later.
• You can enjoy that delicious dish whenever you want.
• Freezing is a great preservation option.
• Reheating does not require hours of time.
• You can reheat chicken without defrosting it.

Cons of Reheating Frozen Fried Chicken

• It’s a challenge to combat soggy breading.
• It is also a challenge to combat dry chicken.
• The best method requires a two-step process.
• Some care and technique is needed to get good results.

Fried chicken that has been frozen can be easily reheated. After all, what’s the point of freezing it if you can’t reheat it?

We want you to know that we don’t advise against this process, but we also want to be real with you and make sure you understand that there are risks to the quality of chicken when you reheat it. 

However, on a more positive note, if you’re able to use the oven or 2-step process we highly recommend, you shouldn’t have any major issues .

When it comes to worrying about soggy breading or extra dry chicken meat, this is the best process that will help you prevent these problems from occurring.

If you decide to use an alternate method, be aware that the risks of dry chicken or soggy breading are slightly higher.

Related questions

We hope you find this guide to reheating frozen fried chicken a valuable resource to get the job done. It’s a little more complicated than some reheating processes, but the results are worth it.

We invite you to review the following section of questions and answers to see if there is any additional information that you may find useful.

How long can fried chicken be frozen?

Fried chicken freezes well, but it is recommended to eat it within 6 months of freezing for best results. Frozen food can last indefinitely in the freezer if it’s well packaged, but the longer it’s frozen, the more its quality can decline.

How long can fried chicken be kept in the fridge?

When you put your fried chicken in the fridge, it’s best to keep it like that for only 3-4 days. You can put it in the freezer, where it will keep for months, or eat it within that time.

Can reheated fried chicken be frozen?

We do not recommend that you refreeze fried chicken . If your fried chicken was reheated after a day or two in the fridge, you can probably freeze it. But keep in mind that the reheating process also lowers the quality, so it probably won’t be the same.

Can frozen fried chicken be thawed in the fridge?

Yes, you can thaw frozen fried chicken in the fridge if you prefer. Be aware, however, that the thawing process often includes excess moisture and this could cause the breading to become slightly soggy.