It’s a common conundrum to find yourself with leftover Chinese takeout. Maybe you over-ordered because everything sounded delicious. However, Chinese food can make for incredibly delicious leftovers.
If you’ve been wondering how to make your leftovers just as delicious the next day, then look no further. By following a few simple tips and tricks, you’ll be able to enjoy your reheated Chinese food. You can even get your sesame chicken crispy again.
You have a few options for reheating your sesame chicken. You can opt for the oven, the stovetop, the microwave, or the air fryer. The microwave will be the quickest but may offer the most disappointing results.
How to Reheat Sesame Chicken in the Oven
To reheat your leftover sesame chicken in the oven, you’ll need a lined baking sheet. You’ll want to line it with parchment paper so your pan doesn’t become a sticky mess. This method is relatively fast and offers great results.
- Preheat your oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Place your sesame chicken on the baking sheet, spacing it out evenly.
- Bake your sesame chicken for 6-7 minutes, depending on the amount you’re reheating.
- Remove the sheet from the oven and check the chicken to make sure it’s heated through.
- Allow the chicken to cool before trying a bite, as it’ll be very hot.
If you want crispy sesame chicken the second night, you can leave it in the oven for an extra minute. However, make sure you don’t overcook and dry out the chicken.
How to Reheat Sesame Chicken in the Microwave
This is a popular method for reheating leftover Chinese food because it’s quick and easy. However, you may have to sacrifice the end result compared to the other methods. If you’re hungry and need a quick lunch, then this is still a good choice.
- Place your leftover sesame chicken on a microwave-safe plate.
- Heat your chicken for 45-60 seconds, checking to see if it’s warmed up.
- Continue heating in increments of 10 seconds if the sesame chicken needs more time.
- Remove from the microwave and serve.
You won’t get the crispy texture back using the microwave. However, the benefit of reheating the sesame chicken in under 3 minutes may outweigh that for you. You’ll want to make sure you don’t heat it for too long or else it may become chewy.
How to Reheat Sesame Chicken on the Stove
This is another great option for reheating your leftover sesame chicken. The process is straightforward and you’ll be happy with the end result.
- Heat your pan or wok over medium heat.
- Place a small amount of oil inside of the pan and allow it to heat up.
- Toss your leftover sesame chicken into the pan and stir fry.
- Remove from the stove once the chicken is heated through.
- Place onto your plate and allow it to cool before consuming the chicken.
By using a small amount of oil, you’re giving the chicken the chance to crisp up again. You don’t want to turn the heat too high because that may burn the exterior while the interior is still cold. Overall, the texture of your reheated sesame chicken should be delicious and nearly as good as it was the first night.
How to Reheat Sesame Chicken in the Air Fryer
The air fryer does exceedingly well at reheating fried foods. Due to the high heat of the air, you don’t even need any extra oil to get the chicken crispy. You’ll hardly know that you’re eating leftovers.
- Heat your air fryer to 400 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Line the basket of the air fryer, so the chicken doesn’t make it sticky. Be careful if using aluminum foil.
- Place your chicken inside of the air fryer and heat for up to 7 minutes, flipping halfway through.
- Remove the chicken from the air fryer and enjoy with sides of your choice.
You want to take steps to make sure you don’t leave your air fryer a sticky mess from the sauce. However, this method is really one of the best ways to reheat leftover Chinese food. It will allow the breading to get crispy and crunchy again.
Can You Reheat Frozen Sesame Chicken?
Absolutely! A lot of Chinese dishes freeze very well and sesame chicken is no exception. You don’t even have to let the sesame chicken thaw before you reheat it.
Simply remove the frozen sesame chicken from the freezer and place it onto a baking sheet. Once your oven is preheated to 375 degrees Fahrenheit, bake according to the oven method. You will likely need to add several minutes to the baking time since the chicken was frozen.
You can also follow the air fryer method for frozen sesame chicken. Again, just increase the heating time until the chicken is fully warmed through. You may need to take a piece out to test it.
In Conclusion
Chinese food leftovers are some of the best leftovers you can have. They reheat very well and can be just as appetizing the next day. For the best quality, you’ll want to consume your leftovers within a day or two.
It doesn’t matter if you have refrigerated or frozen sesame chicken, as they both reheat well. You can use the oven, the microwave, the stove, or even the popular air fryer. All methods are quick and have a relatively easy clean-up.
