How to Reheat Mcnuggets

You might have heard that mcnuggets are not to be reheated as they can turn rubbery and chewy. It is true if you go about the heating, the wrong way. There are ways in which you can reheat your mcnuggets and still maintain their flavour. Mc nuggets are McDonald nuggets which are made of small pieces of reconstituted boneless chicken meat, battered and deep fried. McNuggets are 57% fat, 280g calories, 18g carbohydrates 1g dietary fibre and 0 sugar. All this comes from the chicken tenderloin, rib and breast meat used in making mcnuggets for flavour.

Contents

In the oven

The oven will work, but if you are not careful, your mcnuggets might become stone hard and unchewable.

Preheat the oven at 350 degrees.

Place your mcnuggets on the baking sheet covered with parchment paper.
Sprinkle water on them.
Make sure there is enough space between your mcnuggets.

Reheat the mcnuggets for 10 minutes. Your mcnuggets should be warm, tender, juice and crunchier than when you bought them.
If not crispy enough, remove the parchment paper.
Spritz you mcnuggets lightly with cooking spray.

Grill at 350 degrees for a minute.
Flip them and grill for another minute.
After, they should be crisp enough. The oven is the best way to heat your mcnuggets as the heat is distributed evenly when you properly space them out on the baking tray. However, using the oven to reheat takes a bit longer.

Conventional oven

Reheating your mcnuggets in a conventional oven is also doable. It’s almost the same as using an oven.

Preheat your conventional oven to 400 degrees.
If the mcnuggets are frozen, there is no need to defrost them first.

Place the mcnuggets on a baking sheet.
Bake for 11 to 13 minutes.
Flip them half way through baking

Once heated, your mcnuggets will be crispy on the outside and juicy on the inside.

Microwave

Using the microwave takes the shortest amount of time, though the mcnuggets won’t turn out crispy.

Place your mcnuggets into a microwave safe tray.

Set your microwave to high heat
Heat your nuggets for a minimum of 60 seconds to 3 minutes depending on the quantity of your mcnuggets. 5 nuggets require 1 minute, 10 require 2 minutes and 15 require 3 minutes.
Mind not to overheat the mcnuggets

Keep checking them at 30 second intervals.
Allow the mcnuggets to stand for a minute before you serve them. This is done so as to allow equal distribution of heat.
If you check and find them a little cold, repeat the process until they are warm enough the when you break them you find them steaming hot.

Stove top

Using the stove top is quite tricky, you have to avoid putting too much oil as it will turn your mcnuggets a bit too oily. On the other hand, too little oil will cause your mcnuggets to stick and burn. Using the stove is fairly quick and your mcnuggets will turn out crumbling crispy on the outside, moist and soft on the inside, just the way you want them. You have to be alert when using the stove as your mcnuggets will burn if you forget about them even for a minute.

Heat up a non-sticking pan with a touch of olive oil
When the oil is heated, add the mcnuggets and allow them to heat for 3-5 minutes.

Flip them in between minutes so that both sides are heated.
Check if they are heated through, if not keeping heating them until you are satisfied.

Air fryer

An air fryer is a convenient and healthier alternative to reheating mcnuggets. It is convenient because it needs no oil, it works by circulating hot air around the mcnuggets. The air fryer is able to crisp the outside of your nuggets, keeping the inside juicy and tender. You might need to wait for the air fryer to heat up but that does not take long; so you get to warm your mcnuggets quicker with it. The air fryer is possibly the best option to reheat mcnuggets, that’s if you are in possession of one.

Preheat your air fryer at 360 degrees
Place a layer of mcnuggets in the air fryer basket. Avoid stacking them, rather, reheat them in batches if you can’t fit them all in one layer.
Heat them for 2minutes.

Pull out the basket and shake it.
Heat them for an additional 2 minutes.

Whichever way you choose to use to reheat your mcnuggets, make sure to reheat them on high. By so doing, you inhibit the growth of bacteria in the mcnuggets, making them safe for consumption. If your mcnuggets are frozen and you decide on thawing them, leave them in the fridge overnight, that is the safe way of defrosting them.

Tips on how to store mcnuggets

How long mcnuggets last in the fridge depends largely on the storage conditions.

Bacteria grows rapidly at room temperature, which is between 40 and 140 degrees, therefore, mcnuggets should not be left at room temperature for more than two hours. McNuggets should be discarded if left out at room temperature for more than two hours. Tasting the mcnuggets to find out if they are bad is not a good idea; smell them or study their appearance.
Refrigerate mcnuggets within two hours of purchasing. Place them in a shallow air tight container or wrap tightly with a thick aluminium foil or a plastic wrap. If you store the mcnuggets properly, they will last for 1 to 2 days.

To extend the shelf life of mcnuggets, freeze them at 0 degrees. Freeze them in an air tight container, in a thick freezer bag or in a thick freezer wrap. They will maintain best quality for 2-3 months, but will remain safe after that time. One you thaw your mcnuggets, you can actually keep them in the fridge for an additional 1 to 2 days before cooking. If you happen to have thawed your mcnuggets in the microwave or in cold water, you should eat them immediately.