The Best Way To Reheat McDonald's Chicken Nuggets With An Air Fryer

For many of us McDonald's fans, the phrase "leftover McNuggets" is a bit of an oxymoron. Leftovers don't exist when you simply inhale the whole box — preferably with some sweet and sour, although the discontinued Szechuan sauce lives forever in our hearts — along with a large fry and one of those inimitable fountain Diet Cokes. If something crazy happens, however, and you end up with too many McDonald's chicken nuggets, there's a trick to reheating them. And, no, it's not the microwave, which is convenient but can also toughen the texture of the meat and its breading.

Unlike various other McDonald's ordering and eating hacks, this one is simple: ditch the microwave and use your air fryer. Besides the toughness issue, nuking nugs also potentially makes them soggy and heats them unevenly, which, in turn, makes you sad. Your air fryer comes in clutch for revitalizing leftovers of all sorts (you can also easily reheat your pizza this way). With a small time investment, you can balance both the need for relatively quick reheating and optimal texture and taste.

For best results, air fry your nuggets at 375 degrees Fahrenheit for between three and four minutes. This method, however, requires a bit of hovering, as you'll want to take a peek to make sure your nuggets are just right. Too short a time in the air fryer, and the McNuggets won't get hot and crispy enough. A few moments too long, and you may well have chicken-flavored hockey pucks. 

If you don't have an air fryer — counter space can get limited, after all — you can turn to another common kitchen resident, though it may take longer and could do more to heat up the kitchen. In that event, you may wish to turn to the oven to revitalize your McNuggets. While it will likely pull more power and requires a somewhat larger time investment, the beauty of using your oven is that it is a relatively hands-off way to warm up nuggets. It is true that the air fryer works fast and requires less time, but you will likely have to pay closer attention to the process. That's fine if you have a few minutes and little distractions, but don't discount the oven for busier periods.

For a return to the crispy, juicy McNuggets you originally bought, first preheat the oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit. Then, get out a nonstick baking sheet and pop those bad boys in for about 20 minutes. You can also try crisping up the nuggets in a low- to medium-heat pan with a bit of oil, though this may be the most intensive method of all, as it requires near-constant hovering and flipping to ensure proper cooking.