What’s the best way to reheat fried chicken?

Q: Fried chicken that is so crunchy and scrumptious is usually not so after spending the night in the fridge. Would reheating in the oven crisp them up? We don’t have an air fryer.

A: Fried chicken is one of the finest foods on the planet, in my humble opinion, with its tender, juicy meat encased in a crispy, crunchy shell of skin, flour and spices. Whether frying chicken at home or ordering it from a restaurant, it’s easy for one’s eyes to be bigger than their stomach and find themselves with leftovers.

Unfortunately, after refrigeration, the once-crisp skin tends to turn flabby and sad. For lovers of cold fried chicken, this is not an issue. But for those who prefer their birds hot, you can easily return those wings, breasts, legs and thighs to their former glory.

Though this reader didn’t bring it up, it’s worth mentioning that the microwave is the worst way to reheat fried chicken, as the appliance will do nothing to resuscitate the skin’s texture. Instead, an oven or air fryer can make it seem as if the chicken is fresh out of the frying pan.

To reheat fried chicken in the oven: Preheat it to 400°F, set a wire rack inside a sheet pan, arrange the chicken on top in a single layer and bake for 10 to 15 minutes, until crisp and heated through. (An instant-read thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the chicken without touching the bone should register at least 165°F.)

For those who do own an air fryer, you can enjoy leftover fried chicken even quicker.

To reheat fried chicken in an air fryer: Preheat it to 350°F, arrange the chicken in a single layer and air fry for 5 to 10 minutes, until crisp and heated through. (An instant-read thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the chicken without touching the bone should register at least 165°F.)