Discover how to warm up Buffalo Wild Wings to keep them crispy and delicious with easy, step-by-step reheating methods at home.
Let’s be honest: there’s nothing like eating a fresh batch of Buffalo Wild Wings. The zesty Mango Habanero, the fiery Blazin’ Carolina Reaper, or my favorite, Parmesan Garlic, all make those saucy, crispy wings taste different. But what do you do when you have a to-go box full of cold wings and your eyes are bigger than your stomach? It would be almost illegal to throw them out, but eating them soggy? Just as sad.
I used to put mine in the microwave. (I know, I know, a beginner’s mistake.) They were rubbery, the skin was soft, and the sauce was strangely divided. It felt like a bad breakup with a cuisine I liked. But after a lot of trial and error, and a lot of late-night snack cravings, I have found the best ways to heat up Buffalo Wild Wings without losing the taste or texture that made you love them in the first place.
If you’re wondering how to warm up Buffalo Wild Wings so they stay crispy and delicious, you’re in the right place. In this article, I’ll show you the best ways to reheat wings, give you suggestions on how to do it for different kinds (sauced vs. dry rub, boneless vs. traditional), and even share some of my own tips that will make your leftovers taste like they just came out of the fryer.Let’s make their wings return back to life!
What You'll Discover:
How Do You Best Warm Up Buffalo Wild Wings?
The air fryer is definitely the finest way. Set the oven to 375°F and let it heat up for 5 to 7 minutes. The wings are hot, crispy, and wonderfully saucy, just like they would be if you got them from a restaurant.
This is the best way to quickly reheat up Buffalo Wild Wings without losing their texture.
Don’t worry if you don’t have an air fryer, though. The oven works excellent too, and I’ll teach you exactly how to use each method.
🗂 Table of Contents
- Why It’s Hard to Reheat Wings (But Worth It)
- How to warm up Buffalo Wild Wings
- Using an air fryer
- Method for the oven
- Method for the Microwave (Only if You Have To)
- Using a skillet or stovetop
- Advice for Wings with Sauce vs. Wings with Dry Rub
- How to Reheat Boneless Wings and Bone-In Wings
- How to Warm Up Fries, Onion Rings, and Other Sides
- Common Mistakes to Avoid
- The Real Talk About My Wing Reheating Journey
- FAQs
- Final Thoughts
Why It’s Hard to Reheat Wings (But Worth It)
Wings are a game of texturing. That crunchy outside? It’s a fragile thing. If you don’t reheat it well, the wings will be chewy, greasy, or just plain unhappy. But if you know how to do it well, you can bring them back to life, and to be honest, they sometimes taste even better the next day. Like leftover pizza. There is magic in wings that are a day old, but you have to know how to find it.
The Best Ways to Heat Up Buffalo Wild Wings
You’re not the only one who has searched for “how to warm up Buffalo Wild Wings” at midnight when you are staring at a chilly container of leftovers. Let’s look at the four best ways to reheat food, starting with the one I like best.
The Best Way to Do It Is with an Air Fryer
Why it works: The hot air that moves around keeps the skin cool while evenly warming the inside. It doesn’t take long, is easy, and doesn’t dry them out.
🔄 Steps:
- Set your air fryer to 375°F (190°C) to warm it up.
- Put the wings in a single layer. Don’t put them on top of each other; let them breathe.
- For 5-7 minutes, shake the curve with halfway.
- One wing should be heated all the way through and crispy on the outside.
- If you want a “fresh” taste, add some extra sauce after heating.
Note: If your wings are already sauced, you can cover them gently in foil to keep the sauce from burning. This may make them less crispy, though.
The Oven Method (Great for Making a Lot at Once) <a name=”oven”></a>
Don’t have an air fryer? Not an issue. The oven is a great second choice, especially for reheating a lot of food.
Steps:
- Set the oven to 375°F.
- Place the foil and a thread rack on a baking sheet (if you have one). This allows air flow around the food so it crisps up evenly.
- Spread wings out in one layer.
- Fry for 10 to 12 minutes, bend the food more than half.
- Want more crunch? At the end, broil for 1 to 2 minutes, but keep an eye on it.
📝 Personal Note: Before I discovered how to warm up Buffalo Wild Wings the right way, I used to rely on this method solely. It takes a little longer, but believe me, it works.
The Microwave Method
Okay, listen to me. You are sometimes fatigued. Or maybe it’s 2 a.m. and you feel like turning on the oven is a big deal. If you know how to use it, the microwave will work..
Steps:
- Place the wings on a plate that can go to the microwave.
- Put a wet paper towel over it. This stops them from drying out.
- Microwave in 30-second bursts, checking after each one.
- Don’t go overboard; the whole thing should take about 1.5 to 2 minutes.
❌ Cons:
- The texture will be soft.
- The sauce might turn strange.
- They’ll cool off quickly.
Real Talk: Microwaving isn’t my first choice for heating up Buffalo Wild Wings, but if you follow these procedures, it will work in a hurry.
Skillet/Stovetop Method (For People Who Like Things Crispy)
This one doesn’t get enough credit. The skillet approach is great if you want a “pan-fried” feel.
Steps:
- Put a nonstick skillet on medium heat.
- Put in a little bit of oil, such as avocado or canola.
- Place the wings in the pan, put in some places between them.
- For around 6 to 8 minutes, turn them every 1 to 2 minutes.
- Cover for the last two minutes to make sure it heats all the way through.
📝 Tip: This process works really well for warming up dry-rubbed Buffalo Wild Wings that need to be crunchy again.
What to Know About Sauced and Dry-Rubbed Wings
This is where things get hot (literally):
- Sauced wings are harder to make. If you cook the sauce too much it can burn or be different. I suggest wrapping it in foil or gently reheating it, then adding a little fresh sauce at the end.
- Wings with dry rub: easier to make crispy. Without sauce, they make less of a mess, and they reheat perfectly in air fryers or skillets.
Boneless vs. Bone-In: Any Difference?
Yes. They reheat in different ways:
- Boneless wings (sometimes known as glorified chicken nuggets) dry out faster. To keep them juicy, cook them for less time and maybe brush them with some oil or butter.
- Bone-In Wings: The bone keeps the wings moist. They are less likely to get rubbery and heat up better overall.
I’m a bone-in gal myself. Always have been. Will always remain.
Don’t Forget the Sides! (Fries, Onion Rings, and More)
You probably didn’t just order wings. So how do you heat up the rest?
- Fries: Air fry at 375 ° F for 3 to 5 minutes.. Afterward, sprinkle it with salt.
- Onion Rings: Use the same way. Re-crisp perfectly.
- Mozzarella Sticks: Only use the oven or air fryer! Cheese lava bomb in the microwave.
- Veggies: Eat celery and carrot sticks cold or throw them away.
Things You Shouldn’t Do
If you don’t use a damp towel when microwaving, you’ll have a dry disaster.
- Uneven reheating happens when you stack wings.
- Using excessive heat makes the outside burn and the inside stay cool.
- Reheating food more than once might make it taste strange and be unsafe to eat.
The Real Story of My Wing Reheating Journey
This wasn’t always second nature, you know. I’ve messed up in the kitchen before. I once tried to reheat sauced wings in a toaster oven without using foil. The sauce burnt, my smoke alarm went off, and my cat looked down on me for days.
But every time I tried something that didn’t work, I got closer to the right way. I learned what works and what doesn’t, and that sometimes you have to get dirty to figure it out. What now? My pals have named me the “leftover wing whisperer.”
The lesson is to not throw away your leftovers. You and they both deserve a second opportunity.
Buffalo Wild Wings Reheating Questions and Answers
Q: How long can you place Buffalo Wild Wings in the fridge?
No more than four days. Put it in a container that won’t let air in. The sooner you consume them, the better.
Q: Is it okay to freeze wings that are left over?
Yes! Wrap it up tightly in foil, then put it in a freezer bag. You may reheat it frozen in an oven or air fryer.
Q: Should I add more sauce before or after I heat it up?
Better after. First, heat it up, and then add a bit more sauce to bring out the taste.
Q: Is it okay to consume wings that have been reheated?
You’re fine as long as they are put in the fridge right away and heated up to at least 165°F.
Key Takings
- You don’t have to be disappointed when you reheat Buffalo Wild Wings. If you know how to warm up Buffalo Wild Wings well, you can bring your leftovers back to life and taste them again.
- Whether you’re a team air fryer, oven aficionado, or microwave realist, there’s a way to keep your wings crispy, juicy, and worth savoring.
- Don’t sigh when you see that half-eaten box of BWW in your fridge next time. Smile instead. In just a few minutes, you’ll get your second round of excellent wings.
- Now you know just how to warm up Buffalo Wild Wings like an expert.
Additional Resources
- The Best Way To Reheat Chicken Wings – Southern Living: Southern Living’s test kitchen experts break down the top ways to reheat wings , air fryer, oven, and stovetop , with practical tips to preserve crispiness and flavor.
- How to Reheat Fried Chicken – EatingWell: This guide covers best practices for reheating fried chicken safely, including recommended internal temperatures, moisture control, and microwave caveats , all relevant to wings.
