What could be more comforting than a slice of chicken pot pie enjoyed with your loved ones? Yes, traditional chicken pie is one of those holiday meals that are appetizing and fulfilling and bring warmth to the whole room.
The perfect scenario would be to eat the whole pie on the day while it is still fresh. Unfortunately, that’s not always the case. Or, perhaps you intentionally bake more, so you can enjoy the savory pie even when the holiday is over.
In that case, you might want to reheat chicken pie to taste like day one. However, as you might have known, leftover pastry tends to become soggy.
But, do you know that there is a proper way to reheat leftover chicken pie, so it doesn’t turn soggy?
Check our step-to-step guide below on how to reheat this classic comfort food, so it tastes as phenomenal as a freshly-baked one!
Is It Safe To Reheat Chicken Pie?
As long as the pie is cooked, stored, and appropriately thawed, the leftovers should be safe to eat. When you cook the pie, make sure that the center reaches a safe temperature of 165 °F.
Likewise, leftovers should also be thoroughly heated to 165F to kill off any bacteria. (*)
For frozen leftovers, they can be safely thawed in the refrigerator. Alternatively, you can also defrost them in a microwave for immediate serving.
So, does reheating chicken kill bacteria?
Keep in mind that leftovers should be stored in the fridge immediately or within 1 to 2 hours to prevent bacterial contamination.
In only a couple of hours left at room temperature, harmful bacteria can grow exponentially and produce toxins that are resistant to heat. That means, if the chicken pie has been sitting out of the fridge longer than 2 hours, reheating might not make it safe to eat, even after being reheated to 165 °F. (*)
How To Heat Up Chicken Pot Pie In An Oven
As usual, reheating in an oven is the best method to bring back leftover baked dishes to life.
Oven reheating is effective in preserving the crispiness of the crust and heating up the fillings thoroughly. Well-heated pie will turn perfectly flaky on the outside and moist on the inside.
Here is how to reheat leftover chicken pie in an oven.
Set your oven to 300 °F.
Place the pie in an oven-safe dish or use the original baking dish or aluminum foil pan.
Cover with aluminum foil to help retain the moisture and prevent the crust from burning as the pie reheats.
Bake for 10 to 20 minutes until the center is thoroughly heated and reaches a safe temperature of 165 °F.
Once ready, remove from the oven and serve immediately!
How To Warm Up Chicken Pie in a Microwave
If you don’t feel like wasting electricity just to heat up a single portion, reheating in a microwave is a great option. Here is how to warm up a slice of chicken pie in a microwave without making it soggy.
Place a slice of chicken pie on a microwave-safe dish or plate.
Microwave for around 2 minutes on low settings. After the 2-minute mark, check if the pie has been thoroughly warmed up. Make sure the center is also hot, not cold. It should also reach at least a safe temperature of 165 °F. If not, keep reheating for 15 to 30 seconds; repeat if necessary. Keep a watchful eye so you don’t overheat it.
When it’s ready, remove it from the microwave and serve immediately!
How to Reheat Chicken Pot Pie in an Air Fryer
Here’s how to use an air fryer to warm up your chicken pie:
Set your air fryer to 300 °F.
Place the pot pie in the basket and heat for 5-8 minutes until the filling inside is hot. You can cover the pie with foil paper to avoid burning the edges.
Serve
FAQs
Can you reheat chicken pie twice?
Technically, you can reheat leftovers as often as you wish as long as they are stored and reheated correctly. However, keep in mind that food quality decreases after each reheating.
Therefore, it is only recommended to reheat leftovers once to enjoy the best taste and flavors. (*)
How do you store leftover chicken pie?
Chicken pie is a perishable food and needs to be refrigerated within 2 hours after cooking to prevent food poisoning.
Transfer any leftovers to an airtight container and keep refrigerated. If you want to keep it in the baking dish, make sure to wrap it tightly in aluminum foil.
Can you freeze chicken pie?
Absolutely yes. Wrap tightly in aluminum foil and package in a heavy-duty freezer bag. For extra protection, wrap in a double layer of foils. It freezes well for up to 4 to 6 months before it starts to lose its quality.
In A Nutshell
Whether you have some leftovers or intentionally bake more chicken pies, rest assured that you can reheat them and still achieve a desirable result.
The best way to reheat pies would be in the oven. But, if you only reheat one slice or two, your microwave is also a decent option.
Check our tips and instructions above on reheating leftover chicken pie safely and adequately for a quick and comforting meal!
Rosa graduated with a master degree in Food Safety from Wageningen University and Research, The Netherlands. Recently, she started a consulting agency to facilitate the improvement of food safety, quality, and sustainability.
