If you've ever wondered how to reheat orange chicken, we got you covered with this simple step-by-step article. Featuring 4 different ways to reheat your favorite food to make it taste that much better!
Over the past several decades, Chinese food has become deeply embedded into American food culture. Even some major American cities like San Fransisco and New York City are now famous for it. After a long, busy day and no energy left to cook, Chinese takeout is always one of the top choices for an easy, effortless dinner.
Out of all of the dishes that Chinese cuisine boasts, orange chicken might be the most popular dish. With its tender chicken meat, crispy batter, and sweet orange zest, the iconic flavor of orange chicken is hard to beat.
But what happens when you have leftover orange chicken and want to eat it the next day? You don't want to sacrifice that fresh flavor just because you got full the night before. In this article, we will show you how to reheat orange chicken every which way no matter what equipment you're using.
How to Reheat Orange Chicken with an Air Fryer
The absolute best way to reheat orange chicken is by using an air fryer. This is the closest you can get to that crispy texture reminiscent of your favorite Chinese restaurants.
Things you will need:
- Air Fryer
- Non-stick Spray
- Leftover orange chicken chicken
Instructions:
- Pull the chicken out of the fridge 10-15 minutes prior to reheating to allow it to get to room temperature. This will help it heat more evenly throughout.
- Grease the air fryer basket with the non-stick spray. Since the orange sauce has sugar in it, heating it up will cause the chicken to stick to the rack unless there is an oily protective coating on it.
- Place the chicken in the air fryer and heat at 390-425 degrees for 5-7 minutes depending on how many chicken pieces are in there. More time for more, and less time for fewer pieces. Check periodically to ensure that it doesn't burn.
- Let it cool for 1 minute and enjoy!
- (Optional) the air fryer may dry out the sauce on the outside, so we suggest tossing it in an extra sauce layer or grabbing some on the side for dipping.
How to Reheat Orange Chicken with an Oven
Air Fryers are separate appliances and not included when you move into a new place. If you don't have an air fryer and you're just working with standard household appliances, then the oven is the next best option.
Things you will need:
- Oven
- Baking sheet or oven-safe dish
- Non-stick spray, parchment paper, or aluminum foil
- Leftover orange chicken chicken
Instructions:
- Preheat the oven to 400 degrees and pull the chicken out of the fridge to allow it to get to room temperature. This will help it heat more evenly throughout.
- Grease the baking sheet with a coating of non-stick spray. If you don't have any, line the baking sheet with a single layer of aluminum foil or parchment paper. Parchment paper is the healthier option because of the potential chemicals released while cooking on aluminum foil.
- Place the baking sheet in the oven and bake for 10-15 minutes. Check the outer layer for crispiness and how much more time it needs.
- Once done, take the sheet out of the oven and let the chicken cool for 1 minute, then enjoy!
- (Optional) the oven may dry out the sauce on the outside, so we suggest tossing it in an extra sauce layer or grabbing some on the side for dipping.
How to Reheat Orange Chicken with a Microwave
Although the microwave is not the best method, it can be a great way to save time when you're in a rush.
Things you will need:
- Microwave
- Microwave-safe container
- Damp paper towel
- Leftover orange chicken chicken
Instructions:
- Place the chicken in a microwave-safe container and cover with a damp paper towel.
- Place it in the microwave a heat for 1 minute.
- Take the container out and stir or shake the chicken around the bowl to redistribute the pieces.
- Put the container back in the microwave for another 30 seconds to 1 minute.
- Let it sit for at least 30 seconds and enjoy.
How to Reheat Orange Chicken on a Stove Top Pan
Reheating orange chicken on a stovetop pan requires a little more attention to the chicken but is a great option for preserving crispiness.
Things you will need:
- Skillet or non-stick pan
- A small amount of oil
- Leftover orange chicken chicken
Instructions:
- In a large skillet, drizzle a little oil and warm it up on medium heat.
- Place the orange chicken in the pan and cook for 2-3 minutes.
- Flip each piece over and cook for an additional 2-3 minutes.
- Take the chicken off the hot pan and let it cool for 1 minute on a plate before eating. If you want to remove some of the excess oil, place a dry paper towel on the plate before adding the chicken.
How to Make Orange Chicken from Panda Express Taste Better
- Sesame Seeds: pour a handful of sesame seeds into a small pan and cook on medium-high heat. Toasting the seeds helps bring out the flavor. Cook the seeds until they develop a golden brown color.
- Herb Garnish: chopped herbs such as cilantro, parsley, and even green onions will give an incredible freshness to this delicious dish!
- Make It Spicy: add a sprinkle of red pepper flakes or red chili flakes to give your chicken a kick!
- Combine Sauces: add extra flavor to that tangy orange sauce by adding soy sauce or hoisin sauce.
What to Serve on the Side with Orange Chicken
White rice is the most common side dish served with orange chicken. If you're looking for more flavor, drizzle some rice vinegar over the top to give it a nice sweet and sour taste. A healthier alternative to white rice would be brown rice or cauliflower rice. Brown rice has more protein and fiber than white rice. Cauliflower rice has significantly less calories.
What is Chinese Orange Chicken?
Orange chicken is a popular Chinese dish and a fan favorite among many people. It starts by deep frying boneless chicken pieces with a crispy batter. Then it is tossed and covered with an orange sauce that consists of sugar, vinegar, soy sauce, orange juice, and zest. It is truly a unique and delicious meal and definitely worth trying for the first time if you haven't already!
How to Store Orange Chicken
Let's say you weren't able to finish your leftover chicken again and are wondering what the actual proper way to store it is. Start by throwing away or recycling that to-go box you got from the restaurant, you aren't going to need that anymore.
What you're going to focus on is using a method that gets out as much air as possible. Whether that's wrapping the chicken in plastic wrap and using an airtight container of the smallest size possible. Note: glass containers work best because they have a sealed lid.
Store in the fridge for a few days or store in the freezer for a few weeks. Note: keep track of how many times you reheat and refrigerate your food. The more times you do, the more dangerous it becomes and the faster it spoils.
How to Reheat Orange Chicken from Frozen
The reheating process for frozen chicken is still going to be easy, it will just take a little longer. The most recommended method for this is by air fryer or convection oven.
Instructions:
- Preheat the oven or air fryer to 350 degrees. Thaw the chicken if you have time.
- Place the chicken in an oven-safe dish or in the air fryer basket and cover with aluminum foil if using the oven. The aluminum foil is essential for keeping in moisture during the long cook times.
- Cook for a minimum of 10-20 minutes depending on the size of the chicken nuggets.
- Take the chicken out, shuffle and flip the pieces over, and assess how much more time should be added.
- After the second heating period, check the temperature with a meat thermometer. You'll want the internal temperature to be about 165 degrees. If you do not have a food thermometer, cut a piece down the middle and assess the color and temperature visually. You should see steam coming out.
- Once the chicken is fully reheated and at a safe internal temperature, you can enjoy it. Pour in some extra sauce to compensate for any moisture lost during the reheating process.
How to reheat orange chicken 5 ways!
Equipment
- Air Fryer
Ingredients
- Non-stick Spray
- Leftover orange chicken
Instructions
- Pull the chicken out of the fridge 10-15 minutes prior to reheating to allow it to get to room temperature. This will help it heat more evenly throughout.
- Grease the air fryer basket with the non-stick spray. Since the orange sauce has sugar in it, heating it up will cause the chicken to stick to the rack unless there is an oily protective coating on it.Non-stick Spray, Leftover orange chicken
- Place the chicken in the air fryer and heat at 390-425 degrees for 5-7 minutes depending on how many chicken pieces are in there. More time for more, and less time for fewer pieces. Check periodically to ensure that it doesn't burn.
- Let it cool for 1 minute and enjoy!
- (Optional) the air fryer may dry out the sauce on the outside, so we suggest tossing it in an extra sauce layer or grabbing some on the side for dipping.
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