Every time I make orange chicken or go to a restaurant to eat orange chicken, I cannot eat all of it. So I noticed a significant amount of leftover orange chicken on my plate. When I was wondering how to stop wasting my orange chicken dish, I came up with an excellent idea of reheating them. So you have come to the right place if you were searching for how to reheat orange chicken.
Who isn’t in love with Chinese dishes? I know that almost every one of you adores Chinese cuisine. If you didn’t know, orange chicken is a popular Chinese dish. If you haven’t tried this delicious dish yet but hope to do it soon, you must know how to reheat orange chicken. And those who have already tasted it also are welcome here because reheating orange chicken might come in handy for all of you.
Key Facts!
| Method | Temperature | Time Taken |
|---|---|---|
| Stove | Medium Heat | 2 Minutes |
| Air Fryer | 390 0 F | 2-3 Minutes |
| Microwave | Medium Heat | 3-4 Minutes |
| Oven | 325 0 F | 6-10 Minutes |
[wpsm_toplist]
Is Orange Chicken Good Reheated?
A big yes to this commonly asked question. Many food lovers ask this follow-up question when searching for how to reheat orange chicken. Here is my experience. Reheated orange chicken is way better than non-heated orange chicken. Moreover, there is no harm in doing so. So why don’t you reheat it and try this sweet and savory dish? Apart from that, when you reheat the orange chicken, it becomes better than its normal status. Besides, the taste doesn’t change even when it is reheated.
So reheating orange chicken is an excellent option to save leftovers. And also, it is way tastier. The only downside is you will also become a reheated orange chicken addict like me!
Best Way to Reheat Orange Chicken!
The best thing you find when searching for how to reheat orange chicken is that you have multiple methods to reheat. As a result, you can select from these options according to your wishes. For example, if you are in a hurry to taste it, the best method I recommend is the air fryer. And if you want it crispy, the go-to option is again the air fryer.
Likewise, the best way depends on what you need at that moment. But according to my experience, either the air fryer or the stovetop are the best method. In the following sections, I will leave all the options available. And you can find the answers to the question “How do you reheat orange chicken?” in easy steps.
But before jump in to the methods, I suggest you to read complete guide on how to reheat General Tso Chicken.
How to Reheat Orange Chicken on Stove?
This is my favorite way to reheat the orange chicken. And also, reheating Chinese food on the stove is a different vibe and this is how I keep it for long time. It would be best if you tried this by yourself to get the experience. The reason why I love this method so much is that you can’t say that it is reheated. It is exactly as same as you first cooked it. You will see the steps to follow when you reheat orange chicken on the stove in the following list.
- First, heat your pan in medium heat (2 minutes)
- Then, add some (2 tablespoons) oil
- Let the oil heat for about 2 minutes.
- Add orange chicken and heat until it comes to your preferred condition. Don’t forget to stir!
How to Reheat Orange Chicken in Air Fryer?
I used to ask myself, ‘can I reheat orange chicken in the air fryer?’ And to see the results myself, I reheated orange chicken in an air fryer. Then I found another secret. Let me share it with you guys too. I was searching for how to reheat orange chicken crispy. And the answer is the air fryer.
I don’t have to waste time telling you how tasty the crispy chicken is. Everyone knows it. So air fryer is the perfect reheating option if you love to eat orange chicken with a crisp texture. And keep reading to see the step-by-step method to reheat orange chicken in the air fryer.
- Set your air fryer to 390 0 F
- Dry out orange chicken using a paper towel
- Put the chicken in the fryer and cook it for 2-3 minutes
- Meanwhile, reheat your source too. After 2-3 minutes, take orange chicken out of the fryer, and you are all set to taste it!
If you are truly enthusiast about chicken tenders, I suggest you to read complete guide on reheating chicken tenders.
How to Reheat Orange Chicken in Microwave?
When you search for how to reheat Chinese orange chicken, think of reheating orange chicken in the microwave. It is no wonder why the first thing that goes to everyone’s mind is the microwave. It is the most common option to reheat any leftover food.
According to what I have experienced over the past years, sometimes the microwave is not very good. The reason is sometimes it results in giving you pulpy reheated food. But those with a microwave at home can still choose to reheat orange chicken. To avoid the sogginess when you reheat orange chicken in the microwave, do as follows.
Accordingly, I place a wet paper towel over the cooking pot. That can help you to take the orange chicken out of the microwave as fresh as it is from the first cooking. Moreover, do you coat your orange chicken with sesame? Then microwave sesame orange chicken as same as the usual orange chicken. It will double the taste of your dish. The step by step process to reheat orange chicken in a microwave is in the following list.
- Arrange the orange chicken cubes in a bowl that is suitable to put in a microwave. And don’t overcrowd the bowl with chicken.
- Take a wet paper towel. Drape it to cover the bowl’s top.
- Let it heat for three to four minutes. And don’t forget to stir.
- Finally, take the orange chicken bowl out and serve as you wish!
How Long to Reheat Orange Chicken in Microwave?
The microwave takes three or four minutes on average to reheat orange chicken. It is quicker than the time taken by an oven. However, it is slower than the time taken by an air fryer.
How to Reheat Orange Chicken in Oven?
According to my past experiences with reheating orange chicken, the oven is another good option. But I should warn you about the time it takes. If you are in a hurry, don’t go for this option because it takes six or eight minutes to reheat orange chicken.
Even though it takes longer than the microwave and air fryer, I go for it because it comes out so good. Basically, it is worth the wait. Particularly when you reheat an orange chicken freezer meal. Read the list below to learn the step-by-step process of reheating orange chicken in the oven.
- Before everything, heat your oven to 325 0 F.
- Find a safe container, put the chicken therein, and cover it with aluminum foil.
- After six or eight minutes of reheating, take off the foil and reheat for another 4 minutes.
- Finally, take the dish out of the oven. And serve it with noodles or white rice!
How to Safely Store and Freeze Leftover Orange Chicken to be Reheated Later?
When searching for how to reheat the orange chicken, storing and freezing are two essential things you must know. Temperature is a vital fact to be considered when storing cooked food. One of the common mistakes I have seen people make is storing hot food in your refrigerator. Be careful not to do so. The reason is you must cool hot food to at least 70 0 F before the food goes to the refrigerator. I have been doing this for years as I get used to reheating leftover food.
Moreover, you must store leftover chicken in a sealed container. And when it comes to orange chicken, when you store it that way, you can keep it for another 3 days! Isn’t that amazing? So make sure you store cooked orange chicken correctly.
Furthermore, if you have leftover orange chicken to last more than 3 days, you have to keep it in your freezer. And follow the same process as mentioned above. First, cool it down and keep it in your refrigerator. Do you know how long you can keep frozen orange chicken? It lasts up to 6 months. And don’t forget to store the chicken in a sealed container.
I recommend to read step by step guide on how to reheat chicken pot pie before jump in to the FAQ section.
FAQ
How to reheat Panda Express orange chicken in the microwave?
The best way to reheat Panda Express orange chicken is to microwave. In that way, you can save orange chicken without it getting overcooked. And many Chinese food leftovers are reheated in short one-minute bursts. That is to avoid food being overcooked.
Is it safe to eat orange chicken sitting out for a day?
No. Eating orange chicken that has been exposed to air for hours is not recommended. Once cooked, you must eat them within a few hours. Approximately less than two hours is the correct time.
Final Thoughts!
Finally, those who are searching for how to reheat orange chicken have come to the right place. I have reheated orange chicken using all the possible methods. If you follow the proper guidelines, each method will give you excellent results. Flash reheating chicken is something you will get addicted to when you realize how tasty the reheated orange chicken is.
The oven, microwave, stove, and air fryer methods are all equally good. But if you want orange chicken reheated quickly, the best option is an air fryer. But my favorite go-to option for reheating orange chicken is the stove because it tastes so good that way. And most food reviewers are all in love with the stove method. Finally, don’t forget to follow the guidelines when you store leftover orange chicken in your refrigerator.
