The Prep Step You Can't Skip For The Crispiest Reheated Air Fryer Wings

Whether your favorites are Buffalo wings, lemon pepper, or plain with a side of Alabama white barbecue sauce, chicken wings are an American staple. Available almost everywhere, from a dive bar down the street to a chain restaurant, they typically come in a variety of flavors and are a major crowd-pleaser. When you order too many wings and have to heat them up the next day, however, they don't often taste quite as good.

If you want delicious next-day wings, the trick is to reheat them in the air fryer, but only if you don't skip this simple step: Before you throw your wings into the basket, be sure to spritz them with oil. The oil helps the wings reach a higher temperature, which can help them achieve that nice crispy texture on the outside that you're looking for in a reheated wing. For best results, try an oil with a high smoke point so it doesn't burn. Be sure to avoid commercial cooking sprays in your air fryer, however, instead opt for a spritzing bottle designed for oil.

Before you even begin reheating your wings, it's important to preheat your air fryer. This will help you achieve that higher temperature you need to get a good crisp because the air fryer will already be nice and hot when you put the wings in. As for the cooking temperature, you'll want to go higher rather than lower. Try reheating at 350 degrees Fahrenheit. If that doesn't get your wings crispy enough, you can try bumping it up to 375 or 400 degrees Fahrenheit.

When you put your wings in the basket, you'll want to avoid one of the most common air fryer mistakes: overcrowding the basket. Instead, leave some space between each wing. This allows for the hot air to circulate and prevents uneven cooking. It's always better to reheat in two smaller batches than to try to cram everything in and end up with sub-par wings. Finally, be sure to check the temperature of your wings before eating them to ensure they're safe to eat. Chicken should be heated to 165 degrees Fahrenheit when reheated.