Chicken parmesan is a dish that often tastes better the second time around. This is because tomato sauce absorbs into the chicken and clings to the starch on the pasta, intensifying the flavor. It matters not whether you are reheating leftovers from your refrigerator or thawing and then reheating frozen chicken parmesan. Because chicken parmesan includes both poultry and dairy products, it is important to observe safe food handling procedures when reheating.
Step 1
Transfer the chicken parmesan from your freezer to your refrigerator if it is frozen, and let it thaw with the cover in place. The time it takes depends on how much chicken the dish contains, but an average thawing time is about 4 hours per pound of chicken.
Step 2
Take the chicken parmesan out of your refrigerator and give it about 30 minutes to come to room temperature before reheating
Step 3
Preheat your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
Step 4
Reheat the chicken parmesan, covered, for 15 to 20 minutes. If the cover for your dish is not oven proof, remove it and cover with a sheet of aluminum foil.
Step 5
Insert a meat thermometer near the center of the dish, and make sure it reads 165 degrees Fahrenheit before removing from your oven.
Tips and Warnings
- Always thaw foods with high moisture content or one containing dairy products, such as chicken parmesan, in your refrigerator. Giving your chicken parmesan time to come to room temperature before reheating balances the internal and external temperature of the ingredients and ensures even cooking. Although reheating in your oven is the best option, an alternate reheating method is to heat the chicken parmesan in your microwave. Replace the cover for your dish with a sheet of wax paper or plastic wrap, leaving a corner free to allow steam to escape. Microwave on HIGH until the contents of the dish reach 165 degrees Fahrenheit. If you need to stir the ingredients to even reheating, begin stirring at the outside edges of the dish, working your way towards the center.
Things You'll Need
- Aluminum foil
- Meat thermometer
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