You don’t know how to reheat chicken parm, but your stomach is craving it? If that is the case, reading this article is a must. I will guide you through every possible way to reheat your chicken parm dish without losing its quality.
With just some basic kitchen appliances and ingredients, you will be able to enjoy your chicken parm just like it was the first time, or even better.
Your Chicken Parm Is Totally Reheatable
You wonder whether cold chicken can be eaten or if your chicken parm still tastes well after reheating it. Are you scared that it will not be able to make it to round 2 of the game? Don’t bother so much because it can taste better after reheating.
As the sauce is seasoned with garlic and different ingredients along with the bread crumbs atop, the chicken has time to meld together while reheating. Once all these things are combined, you will most likely experience an explosion of taste.
How To Reheat Chicken Parm Without Losing Any Bit Of Its Original Taste
Generally, reheating your chicken parm will follow the following process. You will start by thawing the dish by putting it in the fridge overnight and then setting it at room temperature before reheating.
When it has been fully thawed, assemble the necessary appliances and follow the detailed guideline of each reheating method below.
General Steps On Reheating Chicken Parm
Below is the general guide on reheating your chicken parm. There will be some fixed steps and some steps varying according to whichever method you want to use. All the following steps are easy to do and do not require specific expertise, so you don’t have to worry about it.
Step 1: Defrosting Leftover Chicken Parm
This is the main step if you want to achieve the best result from reheating your chicken parm. If you skip this step and start the reheating process when the dish is frozen, you will waste a lot of time.
Step 2: Bringing Back The Moist
Your chicken parm will be dried out throughout the thawing process as the moisture will evaporate while it is in the fridge; accordingly, you should moisten it by having some tiny drops of water land on the surface of the chicken parm.
Step 3: Fortifying The Breading And Ingredients
After the reheating process, you can put the pan of chicken parm on the cooker for a few minutes (1-2 minutes) to bring out the best dish with enlivened breading and ingredients.
Step 4: Ensuring Your Chicken Parm Is Evenly And Thoroughly Cooked
Having finished all three aforementioned steps, you can use a thermometer to check the internal heat of your chicken parm. If the number registers around 74℃ (165.2℉) throughout.
A Brief Comparison Between The 4 Reheating Methods
With the table below, I believe that you will be able to steer clear of any difficulties in choosing a suitable method to reheat your chicken parm. You will learn the differences between each method in terms of reheating time, suitable quantity, and output quality.
Reheating Chicken Parm With An Oven
Oven is quite a common device in almost every household, so if you have one in your kitchen and still have not experienced much with it, reheating chicken parm will be an interesting thing to try out.
Preparation
- Wire rack
- Drip tray
- Aluminum foil
- Oven
- Cheese (Optional)
Step 1: Preheat Your Oven
Get your oven ready at 175℃.
Step 2: Put Chicken Parm On A Plate
Put the chicken parm on an oven-safe plate, on the wire rack with a tray under it to keep all the drip.
Step 3: Cover Your Chicken Parm
Cover the top of your chicken parm with aluminum foil.
Step 4: Start Heating
Heat the dish for 10-15 minutes, then take off the foil and continue heating the chicken parm for another 5-10 minutes.
Step 5: Check The Internal Heat
Check the internal heat of the dish using a thermometer to see whether it has reached 74℃ (165℉).
Reheating Chicken Parm With An Air Fryer
If you are in a hurry and still want to enjoy some chicken parm that you still have from yesterday, an air fryer will be the most convenient device for you to do it. However, the quality will suffer quite a bit, but I am sure it will still taste fine.
Preparation
- Air fryer
- Baking tray/Rack
- Plastic wrap
Step 1: Preheat The Air Fryer
Preheat your air fryer to 175℃ (around 5 minutes).
Step 2: Put Your Chicken Onto A Tray
Put the dish onto a baking tray and cover it with a thin plastic wrap to avoid the sauce from splattering. Remember to create a hole to let the steam and heat escape.
Step 3: Start Heating
Heat the dish for 4-5 minutes.
Step 4: Flip Your Chicken Parm
Flip the chicken breast half-time to ensure every spot is reheated evenly.
Step 5: Check The Internal Heat
Check the internal temperature to make sure that it has reached at least 74℃ (165.2℉).
Try this method if you are in a hurry and still want to enjoy the meal with leftover chicken parm.
Reheating Chicken Parm With A Stovetop
If you don’t want to use such a big device as an oven and want to resort to a smaller one and still be able to keep the crisp texture, reheating chicken parm with a stovetop is a great choice for you.
Preparation
- Skillet/Frying pan
- Lid/Baking sheet
- Oil
- Stovetop
Step 1: Oil Your Skillet
Put a small amount of oil onto the skillet to avoid stickiness when putting in chicken parm.
Step 2: Heat The Oil
Set the stove on medium heat and wait until the oil is hot enough to put in chicken parm (You can test the oil by putting the head of a chopstick or some bread crumbs in. There will be bubbles sizzling around the chopstick’s head or the bread crumbs will sizzle right away).
Step 3: Put In Chicken Parm
Put in your chicken parm with the cheese side facing up so the cheese won’t get burnt. Heat it for around 3-5 minutes.
Step 4: Cover The Skillet
Cover the skillet with a lid or a baking sheet and volume down your stovetop to low, medium heat. Heating for around 2 more minutes.
Step 5: Check The Internal Temperature
Check the internal heat of the chicken parm. It is ready for serving when the temperature reaches at least 74℃ (165.2℉).
Reheating Chicken Parm With A Microwave
This is a great alternative for an air fryer if you want something quick; however, this method will bring out a much better result than that of an air fryer. For a lot of people, including me, this usually results in the tastiest reheated chicken parm among all the methods.
Preparation
- Microwave-safe plate
- Plastic wrap
- Microwave
Step 1: Put Chicken Parm On A Plate And Cover It
Put your chicken parm on a microwave-safe plate and cover the whole thing with a thin plastic wrap (Create a hole or leave a small corner on the wrap open to let the steam and heat escape).
Step 2: Start Heating And Check The Internal Heat When Finish
Set the microwave to medium heat and start heating for 30 seconds to 1 minute. After that, check if the internal heat has reached 74℃ (165.2℉), if not, continue heating in 30-second intervals until the dish is heated evenly.
Overview Of The Results Coming Out Of Each Method
You have a wide range of choices to choose from regarding the chicken parm reheating methods. So to help you better understand and find out which method suits you the most, I will now guide you through the overall results that each method often registers.
Reheating Chicken Parm With An Oven
Chicken parm reheated in an oven will usually give you a decent taste. Although this method is not the best one, it will still be one the greatest to go among all the methods.
- Chicken parm reheated by this method will taste relatively good, but this result is usually achieved with large quantities used.
- Your favorite crisp texture will be kept intact, and the pasta will not get wet and soggy.
Reheating Chicken Parm With An Air Fryer
An air fryer may bring out the best result, though it will usually be used with a small amount of chicken parm to ensure the expected quality.
- It may depend on your delicacy and appliances, but this method usually brings out the most satisfactory result
- Following the right guideline, bread crumbs will properly maintain their crunchiness, the cheese will melt without being burnt, and most importantly, your staple – the chicken, will be still as moist as ever.
Reheating Chicken Parm With A Stovetop
If you don’t have the two above devices, you can use a stovetop to reheat your chicken parm. This will not ensure that you will have the best taste, but the result must be acceptable.
- Chicken parm will come out at an acceptable result, as the chicken may still be crispy from the bottom downwards, but the top will most likely be wet and soggy.
Reheating Chicken Parm With A Microwave
This will be a match for you if you want something quick and easy; however, the result will suffer quite a bit, and this can bring the worst result out of all the methods.
- The results of this method are the worst among all, as chicken parm coming out of a microwave will be most likely to lose its crisp and fresh flavor.
- Bread crumbs will get softer and mushy as the whole dish cools down, associated with the rubbery-tasted cheese.
How To Make The Most Out Of Your Reheated Chicken Parm
There will be a chance that you have too little chicken parm or side dish left, so below are some interesting leftover chicken recipes you can do to enjoy every bit of this dish.
You can either add some ingredients to fortify the chicken parm itself better or turn it into a brand-new dish. Consider my following suggestions below now.
Make Some More Pasta Or Even Cook Up Different Side Dishes
One thing about pasta is that it is super easy to make, so if you still have too much chicken parm left, but the portion of pasta can not satisfy you and your family, go and cook as much pasta as you want to enjoy your chicken parm fully.
In case you don’t feel like eating pasta, consider some new side dishes that can go really well with chicken parm.
Classic Caesar Salad
This is an easy-to-make summer side dish that can fit well for chicken parm. The flavor explosion from the creamy dressing and the crunchy lettuce will be a great factor in balancing the sourness of a typical Italian dish like chicken parm.
Learn how to make this delicious side dish right here, and you will be able to happily and fully enjoy your chicken parm.
Mashed Potato
This is a versatile side dish that can go well with various staples, one of which is a beefsteak. Chicken is not an exception; it can taste a lot better with mashed potato. They can be stored easily and thus is a great leftover to serve with your chicken parm later.
Look for a way to fully enjoy your chicken parm with a delicious serving of mashed potato. This video is for you.
Green Beans
There are tons of recipes that can go well with green beans, making it an ideal side dish to serve with chicken parm. You can either steam it, fry it or roast it, it can always go well with your chicken parm as long as you add a little bit of Italian flavor to it.
Do you want something that can be flexible and tasty enough to carry the taste of your chicken parm? The following video is right here for you to explore.
Cooking Up A Brand-New Dish From Your Reheated Chicken Parm
In case you crave chicken parm that was already satiated the last dinner and yet, there is still quite a lot leftover, explore some cool recipes below to make your chicken parm into something brand new but still satisfy your palate.
Chicken Parm Sandwich
If you still have too much chicken parm left but no pasta, a chicken parm sandwich would be a great alternative. As long as the chicken parm is reheated, the quality of the bread will determine whether the sandwich tastes good or not.
Don’t hesitate to try out new things from your reheated chicken parm. This video on how to make a chick parm sandwich will not make you regret it.
Marsala
This is a more high-end but easy-to-make dish you can make out of your leftover chicken parm. If you want to experience something totally different, this is a great choice you should head towards.
Explore this if you want a good-looking dish for a formal night using your reheated chicken parm.
How To Store Your Chicken Parm
Before putting your chicken parm into the fridge, ensure you have zipped it into an airtight container, and then let it stay for about 3-4 days.
In case you want to store it longer, you can consider storing it in a freezer. You should divide the chicken into 2 parts and put them into a freezer zip-lock bag. This will enable you to store your chicken parm for up to 2-3 months. (1)
How Long You Can Keep Your Chicken Parm In The Fridge
Leftovers are a blessing when it comes to something that you can grab for a quick and simple supper. But how long can your chicken parm last in the fridge before it spoils?
You should embed this rule in your mind that if your chicken parm is kept in an airtight container, it shall last 3-5 days in the refrigerator.
You may want to store the sauce and the chicken separately so the chicken parm can maintain its crispy texture for a little longer. And, of course, this will only work if the sauce and the chicken have not been roasted together.
FAQs
Although reheating chicken parm doesn’t require much expertise, there are sometimes difficulties popping up along the way, especially with those who barely get in the kitchen. The section below may help you by answering some of the most asked questions.
Now, Reheating Your Chicken Parm Must Be Easier Than Ever
Well, these are some typical ways that you can call on to reheat your chicken parm when you are craving it. None of the methods mentioned above requires kitchen equipment that is hard to find in the markets near you, so don’t be hesitant and start reheating the dish as you wish.
If you are reading this and bound to enjoy your delicious reheated chicken parm, share your experiences and interesting tips during the process, if any, with the other readers and me via the comment section. Thank you, and have a nice day!
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- Lead Author: Julie Garden-Robinson and Lead Author: Julie Garden-Robinson (2022) Food Freezing Guide, NDSU Agriculture, and Extension.
