Chicken is considered a staple food for many people around the world as it is a tender protein and versatile item that can be used in many recipes. When you have leftovers, reheating chicken breast in the microwave is the quickest and easiest method.
How to reheat chicken breast in microwave? Place cubed, sliced or whole chicken breast on a microwave-safe plate and cover the plate with a slightly damp paper towel. Set the microwave to high heat and reheat for 1 minute, flip the meat over and continue nuking for 30 second intervals until the internal temperature reaches 74°C or 165°F.
Specifically, chicken breasts are consumed by many health conscious eaters because of its low fat, high protein and overall neutral taste. Reheat chicken breast in microwave appropriately as chicken breast should retain its tenderness and juiciness without drying out and overcooking.
Use chicken breast for several recipes, and reheating it effectively in a microwave is an added advantage. Never have concern about those leftovers as they can be easily reheated if properly stored.
In this article, you will be given some guidelines to safely reheat chicken breast in a microwave to get the best results for your recipe tasty and delicious. Detailed below are the answers to frequently asked questions about reheating chicken breast in a microwave the right way.
Can you reheat chicken breast in a microwave?
Yes, you can reheat chicken breast in a microwave. Place the chicken breast on a microwave-safe plate and wrap with microwavable plastic wrap or cover with wetted paper towel.
Microwave the chicken breast for 1 to 2 minutes with periodic checking and flipping it over in 30 seconds.
Follow these steps to reheat chicken breast:
- Place the whole chicken breast or cut in small pieces.
- Keep it on a microwave-safe plate.
- Do not overcrowd the plate and leave space in-between each piece.
- Cover the meat with a dampened paper towel.
- Reheat it in a microwave on high for one to two minutes.
- Flip the pieces and periodically check the internal temperature.
- Remove the plate and let it sit for 30 seconds.
Is it safe to reheat chicken breast in the microwave?
Yes, it is safe to reheat chicken breast in a microwave. Irrespective of how the chicken breast is cooked, it should be reheated only one time and consumed in a single sitting.
Reheating a chicken breast can be done by adding in a little moisture or by covering it with a damp cloth. Safely store the leftovers in-between initial and secondary feedings by placing it in the fridge and keeping it stored below 40 degrees Fahrenheit.
Follow the steps below for safe reheating:
- Do not leave the meat raw after taking it out of your refrigerator, even if it for defrosting chicken breast.
- Cover the cooked chicken breast after serving.
- Cooked chicken should be refrigerated within an hour or two of serving if you want to keep the leftovers.
- Reheat the chicken breast only once.
- Cook to an internal temperature of 74°C or 165°F.
What is the time taken to reheat chicken breast in the microwave?
Chicken breast in a microwave-safe plate can be reheated for about one and a half to five minutes maximum while flipping in between periodically. Cover the chicken breast using a microwave-safe plate and checking for the chicken to be ready. Flip once in 30 seconds.
For larger amounts of chicken breasts, microwave for about 3 minutes. At the halfway point, flip it once for even cooking.
Do not overcrowd the plate and leave spaces for all-around reheating.
Reheat and check for an internal temperature of 165 degrees Fahrenheit in the thickest part of the chicken breast. If it is not so, then reheat for 30 seconds at a time until the proper temperature is reached.
Remember that some chicken pieces may take more time than others. Reheating also depends on the quantity placed in the microwave and the wattage of your microwave appliance.
How do you know when the chicken breast is reheated in the microwave?
When microwaving the chicken breast, it is best to cover it with another plate, damped towel or microwave safe plastic wrap. Flip it over at the halfway point and microwave it once more.
The chicken breast is fully reheated when the internal temperature reaches 74°C or 165°F. Additionally, there will be steam rising from the chicken breast and the will be a cooked smell in the air.
You can check the internal temperature using a meat thermometer. Insert this thermometer into the thickest section of the chicken breast and read the temperature.
Always check in different spots along the thickest section. Since different microwaves cook at variant temperatures, place it in the microwave and check for 170°F temperature to be sure the break is fully reheated.
How to store cooked chicken breast?
The chicken breast should be stored safely to optimize shelf life and its quality. Cooked chicken can last about 3 to 5 days in the fridge when the cooked chicken is stored in tightly wrapped food-safe wrap, aluminum foil or an airtight container.
Cooked chicken should be kept in the refrigerator as it slows the growth of food borne bacteria. At temperatures lower than 40°F, the growth of bacteria happens at a much slower rate.
If you are freezing cooked chicken, then it can be safely stored for 2 to 6 months. It should be stored in an airtight container at 0°F to keep it safe.
Storage conditions matter when it comes to preserving cooked chicken. It is best to place the chicken breast in the fridge within 2 hours of being cooked.
A poorly stored chicken breast will have a slimy texture or sour smell. If this is the case, then discard it right away and don’t take a chance serving it.
Tips to reheat chicken breast in the microwave
The microwave is a convenient and quick way to reheat chicken breast. However, if not done appropriately, you might end up eating chalk-dry or rubbery chicken.
Tips to reheat chicken breast in the microwave
- Place the chicken breast in such a way that the smaller meat section is at the center while the larger section on the edge of the microwave-safe plate.
- Sprinkling some water on the chicken breast, drizzling olive oil on the top or placing a damp paper towel while microwaving can sustain moisture and enhance the overall flavor.
- Cover the chicken breast with a microwave-safe plate or plastic wrap.
- Flip once after the first minute, and check periodically.
- Reheating should be done only onetime.
- Chicken breast should be reheated until the internal temperature is 74°C or 165°F.
- Microwave small cut pieces rather than a large piece to make it fast and also prevent overcooking.
- Do not overcrowd or overlap the pieces, and leave space for uniform reheating.
Best way to reheat chicken breast in the microwave
Reheating a chicken breast in a microwave is best on high heat when the meat is cut into small pieces. To sustain moisture during microwaving, sprinkle water or olive oil over the chicken breast.
Remove the chicken breasts from the fridge and allow it to come to room temperature for about 15 minutes, then microwave it for efficient reheating.
Moisture keeps the chicken breasts tender and juicy while reheating without turning it dry. The steam due to this moisture reheats the chicken breasts evenly.
Microwave the chicken breast until the internal temperature of the meat reaches 165°F, which can be read using an accurately calibrated meat thermometer.
Reheat Chicken Breast: Conclusion
To reheat chicken breast in microwave, there are couple of techniques to maintain the juicy and moist texture in the meat. Avoid serving dried out or tough chicken breast meat by using these microwave tips.
Cut small sized chunks of chicken breast or put one piece of whole chicken breast on a microwave safe plate.
Place a damp cloth or paper towel over the plate or wrap the chicken with microwave-safe plastic wrap to keep the meat moist while reheating. It will keep the heat trapped and prevent the moisture from escaping the chicken breast.
Set the microwave to high power and reheat for 1 minutes 30 seconds depending on the condition of how chicken breast is stored.
Frequently check the status of the chicken and turn the chicken over to fully reheat on all sides.
If necessary, continue nuking for 30 second increments to fully reheat the inside of the chicken breast.
Do not refrigerate the reheated chicken to save the leftovers a second time. Reheated chicken breast is recommended to consume in a single sitting and not to be reused again.
Preparing leftover chicken breast for your meal is a handy skill to have for a quick and easy meal prep. Utilize these techniques and tips to fully reheat your chicken breast.