As one of the most popular McDonald’s menu items, chicken nuggets are a go-to fast food option for many Americans. The convenience of being able to dump these fried morsels into a paper bag and run out the door with them makes it all too easy to include them as part of your regular diet
. But have you ever wondered whether or not you can microwave McDonald’s chicken nuggets?
Can You Microwave McDonald’s Chicken Nuggets?
You can microwave McDonald’s chicken nuggets! In fact, many people prefer to heat them up that way because it cuts down on the time they have to spend in a hot kitchen.
Here’s the short instruction on how to properly heat up your nuggets with the microwave:
Put the nuggets in a microwavable dish. Arrange them in a single layer. Microwave for one minute. Let them sit for an additional 30 seconds inside the microwave. After that, check if they have been warmed to your liking. If they aren’t, put them back in the microwave for another 30 seconds at a time until you’re happy with the temperature.
It is true because of the way microwaves work; most often, they won’t be able to penetrate through thick pieces of meat very well. But, McDonald’s chicken nuggets are thin enough that they will be heated all the way through when microwaved for a few minutes on high power.
One potential drawback to microwaving chicken nuggets is that they may turn out soggy. Fortunately, if this is the case, it’s an easy enough issue to fix. You can avoid this slightly by heating the nuggets for a short amount of time – just enough to warm them through.
Is it Safe to Microwave McDonald’s Chicken Nuggets?
Provided you store the nuggets in the right way, then the answer to this question is yes.
Since McDonald’s chicken nuggets are considered perishable food, according to the USDA, you should only reheat them once. If you try to reheat them more than once, the safety will be compromised, and you could end up with a case of food poisoning.
Furthermore, perishable food should not be left out at room temperature for more than four hours. This means if you accidentally left your chicken nuggets out on the counter overnight, you should throw them away.
When properly stored in the refrigerator or freezer, things like McDonald’s chicken nuggets are safe to eat for up to two days. Of course, you should always check for signs of spoilage – such as mold or an off smell before consuming them.
The general rule is that food safety comes down to common sense. If something smells bad or looks funny, then it’s probably not safe to eat.
How Long Do You Microwave McDonald’s Chicken Nuggets?
As mentioned above, you run the risk of your chicken nuggets becoming soggy if you microwave them for too long. It’s best to keep them in for between one and three minutes. Depending on how many nuggets you are heating up, this should be more than enough time to reach the center of the nugget.
Here is a general rule of thumb to follow:
- 5 nuggets – 1 – 1 1/2 minutes
- 10 nuggets – 2 – 2 1/2 minutes
- 15 nuggets – 2 1/2 – 3 minutes
You may need to experiment a little with the exact cooking time that works best for you or what microwave model you have.
When microwaving chicken nuggets, you’ll want to make sure they are thawed before heating them. If they are frozen, then any time spent in the microwave is just going to be a waste because it won’t have been long enough to get the center cooked.
How to Microwave McDonald’s Chicken Nuggets
Follow the steps below to microwave McDonald’s chicken nuggets:
- Prepare a microwave-safe plate for the McDonald’s Chicken Nuggets.
- Place the chicken nuggets on the plate and microwave on high for one minute.
- Let the chicken nuggets rest for 30 seconds after microwaving.
- Check to make sure they are heated through. If not, microwave for 30 more seconds.
- Serve and enjoy!
1. Put The McDonald’s Chicken Nuggets into a Plate
Take a microwave-safe plate and lay down a single layer of nuggets. Don’t let them overlap, or they will heat unevenly. If you have a lot of nuggets that you need to heat up, it’s better to do two batches rather than try to fit them all on one plate.
If you want to retain the crispness of your nuggets, I would recommend using a microwave crisper pan instead of the plate. This pan can help you achieve a bit more crunch and will keep your nuggets from becoming soggy during the cooking process.
2. Microwave on High for One Minute
Place the plate in the microwave and set it for between one and three minutes (depending on how many nuggets you’re heating up) on high power.
3. Allow the Nuggets to Rest for 30 Seconds
After microwaving the nuggets, you need to wait at least thirty seconds before taking them out of the microwave. This will allow the heat to spread throughout the nuggets, heating them all the way through.
4. Continue Microwaving Until It Is Reheated
Check the center of the first nugget you take out. If it’s still cold, continue microwaving in thirty-second increments until the nuggets are warmed to your liking.
5. Serve and Enjoy
After heating, remove your plate from the microwave carefully using oven mitts. Carefully inspect each nugget to make sure they are heated all the way through. You can also use a food thermometer to check the internal temperature of your nuggets if you’d like. The internal temperature should be at 165 degrees Fahrenheit.
Once the nuggets are done, you can serve them with ketchup or another dipping sauce of your choice.
Tips to Remember for Microwaving McDonald’s Chicken Nuggets
Here are some more tips to keep in mind when microwaving McDonald’s chicken nuggets:
- Bring the McDonald’s chicken nuggets to room temperature before heating them up. This will ensure that they heat evenly inside and out.
- Don’t stack your nuggets on top of each other. This will result in uneven heating, and your nuggets could end up soggy. Instead, the best thing to do is to lay them out flat on a plate.
- Consider using microwave crisper pans to help you achieve a bit more crunch.
- Microwave in short increments and flip the nuggets after each time period to help them heat evenly.
- Let the nuggets rest for 30 seconds after microwaving. This will help them cool down a bit.
- Always be careful when removing the plate from the microwave as things can get very hot inside of it. Use the mitten or towel to protect your hands.
Is Reheating Fast-Food Healthy?
Naturally, many people ask how to reheat a full meal from a fast-food joint in a microwave, but they seldom ask whether it’s safe to eat reheated fast food in the first place.
In my opinion, it’s probably safe to eat fast food after it’s been microwaved, but I would be cautious about it. The reason is that fast food companies do not typically use high-quality ingredients in their food, to begin with.
I don’t know too much about the specific health effects of reheating fast food in a microwave because I don’t have any scientific studies to refer to, but I think it’s safe to say that reheating fast food is probably not very healthy.
Conclusion
So can you microwave McDonald’s chicken nuggets? It seems that they are pretty safe to eat after being microwaved, but you might want to reconsider whether or not it’s actually a good idea to eat them at all.
It is definitely better for your health if you can limit your consumption of fast food in general.
If you’re looking for more information on microwaving other McDonald’s products, be sure to check out our other articles on the subject. I have tips on microwaving their French fries, burgers, apple pies, and coffee so that you can get the most out of your meal.
