If you've ever been confronted with the question of how to reheat McDonald's nuggets correctly, you are not alone. Many late-night or next day cravings have come, and people have been left trying to figure it out for themselves.
But good news! You no longer need to worry. In this guide, we will show all of the ways you can reheat your nuggets from the absolute best way to the easy and quickest. Scroll down to the section that fits exactly what you're looking for.
Not sure which one to choose? Read through all of them first if you want and decide which one suits your situation the best. Continue reading to discover all of the methods you could try.
How to Reheat McDonald's Nuggets in the Air Fryer (The Best Method)
If you have an air fryer, you're in luck. This is hands down the best way to reheat leftover chicken nuggets due to its thorough and even heating, finishing texture and crispiness, and quick cook time. If you don't have an air fryer, a newer toaster oven can be used the same way. Most modern toaster ovens will have an air fry setting you can use.
Air fryers work the best because the hot air is blasted at the food in a swirling, circulating motion. It works the same as a convection oven but improves the heating power and efficiency because it has a smaller surface area it has to cover, and it does it in a fraction of the time. Follow the steps below to learn how to use it.
- Take out your leftover nuggets from the fridge and put them in the air fryer basket in a single layer. Make sure they are not overlapping or stacked on top of each other.
- Put the basket in the air fryer and turn on the "air fryer" mode. Set the temperature at 375-400 degrees F. The amount of time needed will depend on how many nuggets you are heating. Start with 3 minutes, check, and continue with 2-minute intervals if it needs more. You will know they are done when the outer layer has darkened to a golden brown color and the oil is sizzling, or by using a food thermometer and seeing the internal temperature at 165 degrees F. Make sure you are close by and watching. The nuggets have a fairly thin shell so they can burn easily if you're not careful.
- Once they are done, pour them onto a plate with a paper towel to remove the excess oil and to cool for a minute. Serve with leftover sauce or make a fresh one and enjoy!
How to Reheat McDonald's Nuggets in the Oven
If you don't have an air fryer, don't worry. You can still reheat your nuggets and make them taste as good as new by using a standard conventional oven that everyone has in their kitchen. It just requires a little extra patience to wait for it to preheat.
- Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F. Pull out a baking tray and line it with aluminum foil or parchment paper.
- Once the oven has preheated, spread your nuggets out evenly on the baking sheet and throw it in the oven. Bake for 10-15 minutes depending on your desired level of crispiness.
- Carefully pull them out and let it cool on the sheet for a minute or two to cool down and enjoy!
How to Reheat McDonald's Nuggets in the Microwave
Using the microwave definitely does not give the best results, but it is without a doubt the quickest way out of all of the reheating methods. You should only use this method as a last resort if you have no other options or if you are running short on time.
- Start by pulling out a microwave-safe plate, most likely a paper or porcelain plate. You could even keep it in the cardboard packaging from the restaurant if you want. Just make sure they are laid out flat and not stacked on top of each other.
- Microwave your leftover nuggets on high for 30-45 seconds, shuffle them around on the plate, then microwave for another 30 seconds. The ones in the center of the plate will get less heat than the ones on the outside so you want to move them around, so they heat evenly.
- After the two heating intervals, break one open in half and check its temperature. Be very careful of the hot steam. Make sure to blow on it or wait a couple seconds before taking a bite. If you want it hotter, do another 15-30 second interval. If it's ready, then pair with your favorite sauce and enjoy!
How to Reheat McDonald's Nuggets on the Stove
Using a stove top pan to reheat your leftover nuggets isn't the first option that comes to mind, but it can be one of the best methods to give you excellent results. It will require a little extra attention and cooking time, but it will be totally worth it in the end.
Without Oil
- Start by heating a non-stick pan on medium heat on the stove. You don't need to put any vegetable or olive oil on the pan, since the outer shell of the nuggets already has some.
- Put the nuggets on the hot pan and cook for 3-4 minutes. Then flip each one and cook for another 3-4 minutes on the other side. If you want it extra crispy, cook for an additional couple of minutes on each side.
- Pour the reheated nuggets onto a plate with a sauce on the side and enjoy!
With Oil / Deep Fry
- Cover the pan with 1/2-1 inch of cooking oil and heat on high heat. Your oil will be hot enough when you put the handle of a wooden spoon in the oil and bubbles start to form.
- Gently drop the nuggets into the oil and cook for 3-4 minutes on each side.
- Pull them out with a fork, metal tongs, or metal perforated spoon. Place them on a plate that has a paper towel on it. Wrap the paper towel around them to absorb the excess oil.
How to Properly Store Your Leftover Nuggets
If you want to keep your leftover McNuggets as fresh as possible, there are a few steps you could take. First and foremost, McDonalds nuggets are a perishable food item, so make sure you keep them in the fridge instead of out on the kitchen counter at room temperature to prevent food poisoning.
Next, transfer them from their original packaging to shallow airtight containers. The airtight seal will keep them fresh in the fridge for up to 3-4 days.
If you are not sure when you will want your leftover McDonald's nuggets again, you should put keep them in the freezer. This will ensure they stay fresh for up to weeks or months. To do so, wrap them in plastic wrap and put them in freezer bags such as a Ziploc.
How to Turn McDonald's McNuggets into a Meal
Your leftover fast food chicken nuggets could easily be turned into a full meal if you have other ingredients lying around. Check out some of the suggestions for ideas.
- Chicken Salad: If you are trying to be healthy, there's no better way to enjoy a lettuce salad bowl than with chopped crispy nuggets. The flavor of meat and a little oil will elevate your veggies and make them much more enjoyable. Drizzle with dressing and put the whole thing in a tortilla and wrap it up to make it even better.
- Orange Chicken Rice Bowl: Went to McDonald's yesterday, and now you're craving Panda Express or P.F. Chang's? This is the perfect thing to do. Go to the store and grab some Chinese Orange sauce. Make a pot of rice, heat up your nuggets, and toss them with the sauce in a mixing bowl. Scoop some rice into a bowl and top with your orange chicken and garnish with green onions or sesame seeds. You could also use this McDonald's Sweet and Sour Sauce Recipe with it!
- Add Side Dishes: With the crispy chicken nuggets being the staple on the plate, you can add tasty sides to go with it such as mac-n-cheese or mashed potatoes, and cooked green beans or other veggies.
Is it Safe to Reheat McDonald's Chicken McNuggets?
Of course it is! As long as you take the right steps in storing them properly, reheating your leftover nuggets should be perfectly safe. Avoid cooling and reheating them more than 3 times for that could create a larger window of harmful bacteria growth.
The Best Guide to Reheat McDonald's Chicken Nuggets
4 Ways to Reheat McDonald's Chicken Nuggets
Ingredients
- McDonald's chicken nuggets
Instructions
- Take out your leftover nuggets from the fridge and put them in the air fryer basket in a single layer. Make sure they are not overlapping or stacked on top of each other.
- Put the basket in the air fryer and turn on the "air fryer" mode. Set the temperature at 375-400 degrees F. The amount of time needed will depend on how many nuggets you are heating. Start with 3 minutes, check, and continue with 2-minute intervals if it needs more. You will know they are done when the outer layer has darkened to a golden brown color and the oil is sizzling, or by using a food thermometer and seeing the internal temperature at 165 degrees F. Make sure you are close by and watching. The nuggets have a fairly thin shell so they can burn easily if you're not careful.
- Once they are done, pour them onto a plate with a paper towel to remove the excess oil and to cool for a minute. Serve with leftover sauce or make a fresh one and enjoy!
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