I know what it’s like. You have some leftover chicken from when you reheated it yesterday, after cooking it the day before. You hate to waste any food and that chicken dinner was very tasty…..it’s been in the fridge….but is it safe to reheat it again? Can you reheat chicken twice?
Can You Reheat Cooked Chicken?
Yes, but you need to make sure that it’s piping hot all the way through. It needs to be thoroughly heated to an internal temperature of 165F or 75C.
Can You Reheat Chicken Twice?
The short answer is yes, but why would you need to reheat chicken twice? Each time you’re reheating chicken, don’t reheat the whole pile of leftovers, only reheat what you plan to eat!
Reheating chicken twice or more reduces the quality of the meat every time you reheat it. Not only that, but the more times you reheat food, the more you’re risking food poisoning. Bacteria grows when food is cooled too slowly or when it’s not heated to the right temperature.
How Many Times Can You Reheat Chicken?
In theory, there is no limit to the number of times you can reheat chicken, BUT keep these points in mind:
- The quality will be diminished every time it is reheated.
- The internal temperature MUST be at least 165F or 75C using a meat thermometer.
- The chicken must be completely cooked.
- The answer is to only reheat what you plan to eat, then you won’t need to reheat more than once.
How Long Should You Reheat Cooked Chicken?
There is more than one way to reheat cooked chicken, and they have varying times for reheating. Please refer to How Do You Reheat Leftover Chicken? below.
What Temperature Should You Reheat Chicken To?
The internal temperature of the reheated chicken must be 165F (75C) or above. It needs to be checked with a cooking thermometer.
Is It Safe To Reheat Cooked Chicken?
Chicken needs to be treated carefully through the prep, cooking and reheating phases.
Can You Get Food Poisoning From Reheated Chicken?
It is possible for reheated chicken to cause food poisoning. When you’re cooking with chicken you need to be vigilant.
Source: Centers for Disease Control and PreventionAccording to the CDC, you can avoid food poisoning by following these tips:
- Use a meat thermometer to check the internal temperature of cooked or reheated chicken to ensure it is at least 165F or 75C.
- Be wary of raw chicken.
1. When you buy raw chicken, make sure it is in a sealed bag, so it won’t contaminate other foods.
2. Wash your hands before and after handling raw chicken.
3. Keep utensils and food preparation boards, bowls and plates that you’re using for raw chicken separate to those food prep tools that you’re using for other foods in that meal. (If someone complains about the amount of washing up, tell them why!)
4. Don’t wash raw chicken because the juices can spread contamination in your food prep area.
5. Clean your work surfaces thoroughly after preparing the raw chicken.
Does Reheating Chicken Kill Bacteria?
If the chicken is reheated to the safe internal temperature of 165F or 75C and is completely cooked then yes, reheating should kill the bacteria.
Can You Get Salmonella From Reheated Chicken?
Your chicken can be contaminated with Salmonella after it’s cooked. One way that Salmonella can be prevented is by ensuring that the chicken you eat is thoroughly cooked and reaches the safe internal temperature of 165F or 75C.
Can You Eat Defrosted Cooked Chicken Without Reheating?
Yes, but you need to have thawed the cooked chicken correctly.
- Never leave the frozen cooked chicken on the counter to thaw.
- Place the frozen cooked chicken on a dish and put it in the bottom of your fridge.
- Leave it there overnight if it’s a small serving, or 5 hours for every pound.
- Stir the chicken dish or cut the chicken pieces to inspect the inside.
- Make sure it is completely thawed before serving or using in a recipe.
Never trust chicken!
How Can You Tell If Cooked Chicken Is Spoiled?
Hopefully you are not an expert on when chicken has gone bad….
The chicken will start to change its form (like an alien) in any of these ways:
- Becoming slimy to the touch
- Smelling to high Heaven
- Changing color to gray or the green-yellow spectrum
However, chicken can be dangerous long before any of these changes have occurred. If you have chicken that has passed these dates, toss it out, no matter how hungry you are.
The chicken is dead-meat when:
- It’s been out of the fridge for 2 hours (If it’s in a warm room, less than 2 hours.)
- It’s been out of the fridge for 1 hour on a hot day (I wouldn’t trust it even then.)
- It’s been in the fridge in its raw form for 2 days.
- It’s been in the fridge in its cooked form for 3 days.
How Long After Eating Bad Chicken Do You Get Sick?
It depends on how much you ate and how “bad” it was. You can expect to start feeling unwell in 12-24 hours.
How Do You Reheat Leftover Chicken?
Heating up cooked chicken is perfectly safe and easy; you just need to take the proper precautions.
The Best Way To Reheat Chicken Is In The Oven
Your kitchen oven will allow even and thorough cooking of the chicken at the correct temperature.
How To Reheat Chicken In The Oven?
- Preheat the oven to 325F
- Only reheat the amount of chicken that will actually be eaten
- If the chicken is in a big chunk, cut it into smaller pieces to allow the heat to get through
- Place the chicken in a baking dish or wrap it in foil
- Add some liquid such as oil or stock
- Place the baking dish in the oven
- Consider putting a cup of water in the oven to create steam to assist with the moisture level
- The chicken should be reheated without interruption for 25 to 30 minutes
- Test the internal temperature of the chicken with a meat thermometer
- If the temperature is at least 165F or 75C, it is safe to eat
How Long Should I Reheat Chicken In The Oven?
It’ll take about half an hour to reheat the chicken. It needs to reach an internal temperature of at least 165F or 75C.
Runner-Up Choice: Reheating Chicken On The Stove
- Decide how much chicken will be eaten, only reheat that amount
- Cut the chicken into small pieces
- Add butter to the pan
- Perhaps add a couple of teaspoons of stock for extra moisture
- Cook 5 minutes, stirring frequently
- Ensure that the chicken is cooked to 165F or 75C; it should be steaming hot
Can You Reheat Chicken In The Microwave?
Reheating by microwaving should be your last choice if you want your chicken to taste the best that it can. Your microwave oven is not as effective at cooking meat all the way through as your standard oven. Microwaving cooked chicken safely requires some care.
Best Way To Reheat Chicken In Microwave
- Cut the chicken into small pieces before placing it in the microwave-friendly dish
- Add some moisture and stir the pieces
- Cover the dish, you can use kitchen wrap (not foil); in this case, I like to put an upturned plate or saucer on top of the dish
- Cook on high for 1.5 minutes
- Remove it and give it a stir
- Cook on high for another 30 seconds
- Check the internal temperature of the chicken; it should be above 165F or 75C
- Cook in bursts of 30 seconds until the chicken is safely cooked
Ensure that the chicken is evenly cooked, that is, make sure there are no cold spots! That’s where the bacteria hides!
How Long Should I Reheat Chicken In The Microwave?
The length of time for microwaving your chicken depends on the amount that you are reheating and your microwave oven.
Start with 1.5 or 2 minutes for a small amount of chicken and then do bursts of 30 seconds until the chicken is cooked through and to the right temperature. Stirring each time you check it will allow more chicken to be properly heated.
Is It Safe To Reheat Chicken In The Microwave?
It is safe to use the microwave to reheat chicken if you make sure it is cooked all the way through and is piping hot.
What Is The Right Way Of Storing Cooked Chicken?
After the chicken has cooled, store it in the fridge.
- It can be wrapped tightly in foil or plastic kitchen wrap.
- Or it can be stored in an airtight container, preferably a container that’s not too deep that allows the chicken to be in one layer.
Can You Reheat Chicken After 2 Days In The Fridge?
You can reheat cooked chicken that’s been in the fridge up to 3 days later.
Can You Freeze Cooked Chicken?
Yes, you can definitely freeze cooked chicken. It’s a great way of saving money and time by cooking more than one batch of a dish, and then you’ll have meals in the freezer for some time in the next couple of months.
- Allow the chicken to cool completely
- Cooked chicken needs to be in the fridge or the freezer within 2 hours, or less if it’s a hot day; don’t leave it sitting on the bench
- When it’s cooled, divide it into the portions that you want to freeze
- Put each portion in a freezer container or bag
- Place in the freezer
- If I’m using a freezer bag, I put them into the freezer in 2 steps. I hate it when things freeze all wrapped up in each other. It makes it very hard to defrost just the amount I’m aiming for if they’re all stuck together!
1. Put the bags on a metal oven tray, ensuring they are not touching each other
2. Put the oven tray in the freezer for a couple of hours or overnight
3. Put the bags where you want to store them in the freezer, return the oven tray to the kitchen
How Long Can You Freeze Cooked Chicken?
According to the USDA, “cooked chicken will taste best if kept frozen up to 4 months.” The USDA also has other recommendations about freezing chicken.
Can You Reheat KFC Chicken?
Yes, you can reheat Kentucky Fried Chicken.
Best Way To Reheat KFC
Follow one of the methods above in How Do You Reheat Leftover Chicken? and ensure that the chicken is cooked thoroughly and to a temperature of 165F or 75C.
How To Make Reheated Chicken Taste Good?
The main thing to remember to make reheated chicken taste good is to add back some moisture. It’s up to you with whichever liquid suits the chicken dish. It could be butter, oil, broth, or stock. Was the chicken cooked in a sauce? Add some moisture that is similar or complements it, for example, wine or cream.
How To Make Reheated Chicken Moist?
When any food is reheated, it loses some of its quality and it becomes drier than the original dish. You need to add that moisture back, ensure that the chicken is cooked through and stir it during the reheating.
How To Make Reheated Chicken Crispy Again?
Cooking the chicken in the oven and brushing it with oil prior to cooking will aid in crispiness. If you use another method, crispiness is unlikely.
Well, I hope you’re not feeling sick as you’re reading this. (It made me feel a bit ill writing it.)
Don’t trust any chicken that you cook, and you and your guests should be safe.
- Love Bacon? But Does Undercooked Bacon Love You? - March 22, 2022
- Is It A Good Idea To Reheat Chicken Twice? What To Know - March 17, 2022
- How To Get Good Bark On Brisket In An Electric Smoker - February 20, 2022
