Can You Reheat McDonald’s Chicken Nuggets? (It Is Safe + More)

McDonald’s is known for several menu items, including chicken nuggets, which are a favorite among children and adults alike. 

However, you may be wondering if you can reheat McDonald’s chicken nuggets if you have some leftovers from your meal.

Keep reading because we have the answer to this important question and other questions related to reheating McDonald’s chicken nuggets!

Can You Reheat McDonald’s Chicken Nuggets?

You can reheat McDonald’s chicken nuggets, and it’s perfectly safe as long as the chicken nuggets haven’t been sitting out at room temperature for more than four hours. If you’ve left them out, then it’s best to throw them away. There are several ways that you can reheat the chicken nuggets from the microwave to the air fryer. 

We know you have a ton of questions about the best way to reheat McDonald’s Chicken Nuggets, so more on that below!

How To Reheat McDonald’s Chicken Nuggets? 

You can reheat McDonald’s Chicken Nuggets in a variety of ways depending on which you prefer or which appliance you own. 

In the Oven

You can reheat the nuggets in the oven using a non-stick pan with parchment paper or aluminum foil at 350 degrees for 10 minutes, and they taste great! 

Air Fryer

Reheating McDonald’s Chicken Nuggets in the air fryer is a delicious option, and it keeps the nuggets really crispy, just like you ordered them from the restaurant! 

Furthermore, they only need to be in the air fryer for 3 or 4 minutes at 400 degrees!

Toaster Oven

Using the toaster oven to reheat McDonald’s Chicken Nuggets is easy and takes only a few minutes. 

Further, just place them on a parchment or aluminum foil-lined pan, set the toaster oven to broil, and cook them for two minutes per side. 

Microwave

Using the microwave to reheat the nuggets is an option, but you will first need to remove the nuggets from their container and transfer them onto a plate since the box isn’t a microwave-safe option. 

Additionally, you want to add a paper towel to the plate so that any moisture from the nuggets doesn’t ruin the texture and taste while reheating. 

Furthermore, make sure that you’ve allowed the nuggets to sit at room temperature for a few minutes before you put them in the microwave if you’ve stored them in the refrigerator. 

Lastly, you don’t want to overcook the nuggets, so only use the 30-second button and check them after each 30-second interval, as you only want them warmed up a bit.

Is It Safe to Reheat McDonald’s Chicken Nuggets?

Is It Safe to Reheat McDonald’s Chicken Nuggets?

It’s safe to reheat McDonald’s Chicken Nuggets later on that day, so long as you’ve put the nuggets in the refrigerator if you don’t plan to eat them right away. 

Further, the USDA considers chicken nuggets to be a perishable food item, which means they shouldn’t sit out for more than four hours at room temperature. 

Can You Reheat McDonald’s Chicken Nuggets the Next Day?

You can reheat the nuggets the next day using whichever method you prefer, whether that’s the microwave, oven, or air fryer. 

However, you do not want to reheat or eat the McDonald’s Chicken Nuggets if they’ve been sitting out for longer than four hours or if they were accidentally left out overnight.

What Internal Temperature Should McDonald’s Chicken Nuggets Be?

When you reheat the McDonald’s Chicken Nuggets, you want to ensure that they have been thoroughly cooked to an internal temperature of 165 degrees Fahrenheit. 

Additionally, you want to check each nugget individually since it’s possible that the reheating was uneven, and some will be cooked to safe temperatures while others may need more time.

What’s the Best Way to Reheat McDonald’s Chicken Nuggets?

The best way to reheat the McDonald’s Chicken Nuggets is either using the oven or air fryer, depending upon which appliance you have at your house, since they keep the nuggets crispy.

Moreover, if you don’t have an air fryer, you should contemplate getting one since it does the best job of reheating fried foods such as nuggets and French fries! 

Can You Get Food Poisoning From McDonald’s Chicken Nuggets?

You could get food poisoning from McDonald’s Chicken Nuggets if you don’t cook them to the appropriate temperature when you reheat them. 

Furthermore, if you’ve let the nuggets sit out on the counter for more than four hours and then try to eat them, your risk of salmonella food poisoning increases substantially. 

How Can You Tell if McDonald’s Chicken Nuggets Have Gone Bad?

It’s important that you look for clues that the chicken nuggets have gone bad before you choose to reheat them and eat them. 

Furthermore, you want to look at the nuggets to ensure they look healthy and don’t have any bad spots that look black, brown, or substantially discolored.

In addition to that, you also can smell the nuggets to make sure they don’t have a foul odor, which might indicate that they sat out too long and should be discarded. 

Lastly, you shouldn’t taste-test the nuggets to check since that could make you sick if they have spoiled. 

Can You Reheat McDonald’s Chicken Nuggets Twice?

It’s perfectly safe to reheat McDonald’s Chicken Nuggets twice, but you want to ensure that each nugget has been cooked once again to 165 degrees Fahrenheit before consuming.

However, if you reheat the nuggets twice, even if you use the air fryer, there is a risk that you’ll dry them out, and they won’t be nearly as good as the first reheat. 

Additionally, make sure they have been stored in an air-tight container and put in the refrigerator in between reheating for optimal taste and food safety. 

To know more, you can also read our related posts on whether or not McDonald’s cheese is real, if you can buy McDonald’s toys, and if McDonald’s fries are vegetarian

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Marques Thomas

Marques Thomas graduated with a MBA in 2011. Since then, Marques has worked in the retail and consumer service industry as a manager, advisor, and marketer. Marques is also the head writer and founder of QuerySprout.com.

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