How to Reheat General Tso Chicken (8 Best Methods)

Are you tired of having soggy and tasteless reheated Chinese takeout?

Do you want to know how to reheat General Tso chicken without sacrificing its crispy texture and bold flavors?

In this post, we’ll share with you some tips and techniques on how to reheat General Tso chicken like a pro.

Reheating Food: The Basics

Before we dive into the specifics of reheating General Tso chicken, let’s review some basics about reheating food.

When reheating any leftover food, it’s important to follow these general guidelines:

1. Use shallow containers or plates for even heating.
2. Cover the food with a microwave-safe lid or wrap it in plastic wrap to prevent drying out.
3. Use a lower power setting on your microwave and stir the food periodically for even heating.
4. Use a thermometer or “test bite” method to make sure the internal temperature of the food is at least 165°F (74°C) before serving.

Now that we’ve covered those basics, let’s move on to reheating General Tso chicken in different ways.

How to Reheat General Tso Chicken

1. In a Conventional Oven

Reheating General Tso chicken in a conventional oven is ideal if you have a larger quantity of leftover Chinese takeout. Here are the steps you need to take:

1. Preheat your oven at 350°F (175°C).
2. Spread out your leftover General Tso chicken onto an oven-safe dish and cover it with aluminum foil.
3. Bake it for about 10-15 minutes until heated through.
4. Remove from the oven, discard the foil covering, and serve hot.

2. In the Microwave

Reheating food in the microwave is probably one of the most common methods people use during busy weekdays when time is limited but delicious food is still desired.

Here’s how to reheat General Tso chicken in the microwave:

1. Transfer your leftover General Tso chicken into a microwave-safe container.
2. Add 1-2 tablespoons of water to help create steam and prevent it from drying out.
3. Cover the container and microwave it on high for 30 seconds intervals, stirring in between until heated through.
4. Test with a meat thermometer, making sure its internal temperature reaches 165°F (74°C).
5. Enjoy!

3. In a Skillet

If you want to retain the crispy texture of your leftover General Tso chicken, you can use this method of reheating it on a skillet.

1. Heat up your skillet with some oil over medium-high heat.
2. Add your leftover General Tso chicken to the hot skillet, making sure they are well-spaced out without crowding up each other; alternatively, divide them into small pieces if necessary.
3. Cook for around two minutes or until there is a nice golden-brown color forming on each side (use tongs to flip them constantly).
4. Cover the skillet and lower the heat slightly so that enough steam is created to complete heating throughout.

4. By Searing

A similar method to reheat in a skillet is searing it while cooking/adding some more things, such as vegetables or sauces.

1. Spray some oil or coat your pan with vegetable oil over high heat before adding your Chinese food leftovers.
2. If desired add chopped burdock root or sliced onions for extra taste and nutrients—Stir fry all ingredients evenly within two minutes while applying frequent stirring intervals
3. Serve hot!

5. In an Air Fryer

Reheating General Tso Chicken through an air fryer has been one of many popular methods as it combines heat along with vibrant air circulation that can give fried foods their initial crunchiness.

1. Turn on your air fryer and preheat to 350°F (175°C)
2. Arrange the General Tso Chickens in a single layer in the basket or tray
3. Air fry for 4-5 minutes by frequently checking for any visual cues until heated through.
4. Serve hot and crispy!

6. Using a Toaster Oven

Toaster ovens have become multi-functional utensils that can reheat leftovers just as well as cooking them fresh. Here’s how you can effectively use a toaster oven to reheat Chinese food:

1. Preheat your toaster oven at 375°F (190°C).
2. Place your General Tso chicken on an oven-safe dish, drizzling some oil over it; alternatively, you can add some broth or soy sauce to keep it moist
3. Toast for around five minutes depending on the thickness of chicken until fully reheated.
4. Remove from the toaster oven and serve hot.

7. In a Broiler

If none of these previous methods appeal to you, another option is using this quick broiling method.

1. Move an oven rack to be notched closest to the top heat source of the broiler
2. Place leftover General Tso chicken onto a foiled-lined baking sheet with only one layer covered
3. Set on broil mode for two-three minutes until reaching nice browning that will make your chicken taste like new!
4. Remove and enjoy!

8. In A Slow Cooker

A slow cooker serves many purposes, including reheating leftovers with ease! The trick is slow-cooking over low heat where food retains its texture and combination while being heated/softened throughout.

For General Tso Chicken using a Slow Cooker:

1. Place cooked General Tso dish directly into slow cooker ceramic pot container
2. Add enough water or stock to submerge all parts evenly; generally around 1/2 cup
3. Set heat to low temperature
4. Leave General Tso for at least two hours so that everything can be uniformly heated and the flavors can meld together evenly
5. Serve directly from the slow cooker and enjoy a hot, fresh, and flavorful reheat!

Food Safety

It’s crucial to follow proper food safety guidelines when reheating leftover takeout like General Tso chicken.

It’s recommended that you only reheat leftovers once, so go ahead, choose your preferred reheating method, and enjoy your delicious meal straightaway!

By practicing basic safety protocols such as using a thermometer before consuming indicated best internal temperatures are reached or separating out small portions as necessary during reheating then promptly refrigerating any unused portions; you will make sure you maintain a safe environment when preparing them.

Overall, there is one agreement among culinary experts – reheating is an essential part of meal prep.

With these steps outlined above using a conventional oven or microwave cooking or an air fryer/slow cooker/ skillet combinatory way to get that crispy texture for your Chinese cuisine leftovers; the flavor of General Tso Chicken will never suffer again!