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How To Reheat Vegan Chicken?

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Whether you’re vegan or non-vegan, we can all agree that reheated chicken doesn’t taste as good as when it was freshly made. Yes, it’s certainly possible to reheat chicken, but some methods leave a lot to be desired, and the same is true for vegan chicken.

That’s why we wanted to do something about it. Our goal is to make sure you know the best ways to reheat vegan chicken for optimal results. Below, you’ll learn our favorite methods and why they made the list.

What Is Vegan Chicken?

To the uninitiated, vegan chicken probably sounds like a bear to make. This is usually the case when new vegans are tasked with preparing one of the many vegan chicken recipes. However, it isn’t nearly as difficult as you might think.

And best of all, you can still get the high protein content of chicken — without the chicken! Check out this recipe to get an idea of what vegan chicken entails.

Recipes vary, but popular ingredients include tofu and chickpeas. Both ensure that you get a good amount of protein in your vegan chicken. What’s more, you can look forward to avoiding all of the unhealthy preservatives and additives found in many chicken products.

Let’s take a closer look at the differences between real chicken and vegan chicken, so you can see how they stack up against one another.

Real Chicken vs. Vegan Chicken

When it comes to the real deal, chicken has health benefits that have been well-documented. That said, how the chicken is prepared plays a big role in these benefits.

For example, the dark meat from chicken contains more calories compared to light meat. And if the skin is left on the meat, you’re ingesting more saturated fat.

The healthiest option is to eat chicken breast. And substituting chicken for red meat will ensure plenty of protein intake. It’s this protein that contains amino acids, which help to build strong muscles and bones.

The amino acids strengthen the tissue in the body, thus allowing for a healthier aging body. What’s more, getting plenty of protein supports bone mineral density. Thus, those who regularly consume chicken are at less risk of injury related to muscle and bone.

Other benefits related to eating chicken include better mood, balanced nutrition and weight management, as well as heart health.

But what about chicken’s vegan counterpart? While there are benefits to eating vegan chicken, they’re not the same as those discussed in real chicken.

In fact, it turns out that vegan meat alternatives, chicken included, tend to have high sodium content. As such, there’s a potential for getting too much salt in one day, which could put you at risk of high blood pressure. And as most people know, high blood pressure can lead to stroke or heart attack.

Depending on the recipe you choose, you may get more or less salt than what’s considered reasonable for a day’s intake. We also found that caloric content is pretty even between real chicken and vegan chicken.

However, vegan chicken has far less fat compared to real chicken. The same holds true for cholesterol and sodium. Moreover, vegan chicken tends to have nearly twice the carbs but more protein.

As such, you’ll want to keep a close eye on the ingredients and make adjustments if necessary. There are certainly pros and cons to both. But if your primary goal is to protect animals and the planet, you can go wrong with vegan chicken.

The Best Ways to Reheat Vegan Chicken

Like regular chicken, you can microwave vegan chicken and call it a day. However, you’re not going to get the best results in doing so. That’s why we recommend avoiding the microwave if at all possible.

Air Fryer

Our favorite reheating method is in an air fryer. It’s fast, effective, and a breeze to do. To reheat your vegan chicken in an air fryer, begin by preheating your unit. Set your air fryer to 400°F and allow it to heat up.

Once it reaches 400°F, place your vegan chicken in the basket. If you have several pieces of vegan chicken, be sure to avoid piling them on top of each other. Instead, spread them out in a single layer.

Then, let the air fryer do its thing for approximately seven or eight minutes.

Oven

Our second-favorite reheating method is via the oven. It takes a bit longer compared to the air fryer, but the results are equally good.

To reheat your vegan chicken in an oven, begin by preheating your unit. Set your oven to 400°F and allow it to heat up.

Once it reaches 400°F, place your vegan chicken on a baking tray. If you have several pieces of chicken, be sure to avoid piling them on top of each other. Instead, spread them out in a single layer.

Lastly, let your vegan chicken bake for approximately 20 minutes.

If you have no other recourse but to use a microwave, you can reheat vegan chicken in as little as one minute. If you have more vegan chicken pieces, you will need to increase your time slightly, but you shouldn’t need any more than three minutes.

Again, we’re not the biggest fans of this method, as you don’t get the same crispy results that air fryers and ovens afford you. But if you’re in a pinch and microwaving is the only option you have, go for it.

Is Vegan Chicken a Good Choice for Vegans?

There are definitely some beneficial qualities of vegan chicken. It makes an excellent source of protein — more so than real chicken, in fact. You will need to keep an eye on your sodium intake, however.

But as long as you are good about monitoring your diet, you can enjoy vegan chicken without issue. If you would like to hear more vegan-related insights on various foods, we invite you to check out our info page here. We discuss everything from restaurants to ingredients and more.


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