Air Fryer Frozen Wings: Quick, Easy, And Delicious

Cooking frozen chicken wings in an air fryer is a quick and easy way to make a tasty snack or meal. It's a convenient method that doesn't require any thawing, making it perfect for impromptu gatherings or when you're feeling too lazy to cook something complicated. The air fryer's ability to crisp up food with minimal oil makes it a healthier alternative to deep frying, and the cleanup is minimal.

To make frozen chicken wings in an air fryer, simply season the wings, arrange them in a single layer in the air fryer basket, and cook for about 25-30 minutes at 400°F (200°C). Halfway through the cooking time, open the air fryer and flip the wings to ensure even cooking and crispiness. The wings are done when they're golden brown and crispy, with an internal temperature of 165°F (74°C). You can then toss the cooked wings in your favourite sauce and serve with celery and carrot sticks on the side.

Cooking times and temperatures

You can cook frozen chicken wings in an air fryer at a temperature of between 350°F and 400°F. The cooking time will vary depending on the type of wings you are cooking and the model of your air fryer, but you can expect it to take anywhere between 10 and 30 minutes.

If you are cooking plain frozen wings, you can simply place them in the air fryer in a single layer and cook them for 20 minutes at 400°F. There is no need to flip them or move them around during cooking.

If you are cooking fully cooked frozen wings, place them in the air fryer basket at 350°F and cook for 12 minutes. If you are cooking more than 12 wings, you may need to increase the cooking time to 14-16 minutes.

For breaded frozen wings, add about 16 wings to the air fryer and cook at 400°F for 14 minutes. There is no need to shake or redistribute the wings during cooking.

For sauced frozen wings, add about 16 wings to the air fryer and cook for 18 minutes at 400°F.

If you are cooking raw frozen wings, you can place them in the air fryer basket and cook at 400°F for 9-10 minutes to defrost them. Then, remove the wings and drain any liquid from the basket. Next, toss the wings with oil and seasonings before placing them back in the air fryer and cooking for a further 10-12 minutes at 400°F. Flip the wings halfway through cooking. The wings are done when they are crispy and golden brown, and have an internal temperature of 165°F.

Defrosting and preparing the wings

Defrosting the Wings:

• If your frozen chicken wings are stuck together, it's best to defrost them slightly before air frying. Place them in the microwave for about 30 seconds to thaw them just enough to separate. This step ensures that they cook evenly and prevents them from sticking to the air fryer basket.
• Alternatively, you can let the wings thaw on the counter for about 15 minutes. This makes it easier to remove the packaging, especially if it's frozen and stuck to the wings.
• If you have more time, you can also defrost the wings by placing them in cold water for a couple of hours. This method ensures that the wings are completely thawed before air frying.
• For food safety, it's important to note that the safest way to defrost chicken is by leaving it in the fridge overnight, still wrapped up.

Preparing the Wings:

• Preheat your air fryer to 400°F (200°C). This step is crucial for ensuring the wings cook evenly and get a crispy exterior.
• While the air fryer is heating up, take out your frozen wings and season them with your chosen spices and dry rub. You can use a variety of seasonings like salt, black pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, or lemon pepper. You can also add a little oil to help the seasonings stick better.
• Place the seasoned wings into the air fryer basket in a single layer. Make sure they are not overcrowded to allow proper air circulation, which ensures even cooking and crispiness.
• Cook the wings for about 25-30 minutes. If you are using pre-cooked frozen wings, reduce the cooking time to 15-20 minutes since you're mainly aiming to reheat and crisp them.
• Halfway through the cooking time, open the air fryer and flip the wings to ensure even crisping on all sides.
• Your wings are done when they are golden brown and have reached an internal temperature of 165°F (74°C). You can use a meat thermometer to check the temperature and ensure they are fully cooked.
• Once cooked, toss the wings with your favorite sauce in a bowl to coat them evenly.

Remember, every air fryer model is different, so cooking times may vary slightly. Always check your wings a few minutes before the recommended time, especially when trying a new recipe or using a different air fryer.

Reheating wings

Reheating chicken wings in an air fryer is a great way to get crispy-on-the-outside, tender-on-the-inside perfection every time. Here is a step-by-step guide:

Preheat the Air Fryer

Firstly, preheat your air fryer to 350-360°F (182°C). Preheating ensures that the air fryer is hot enough to crisp up the chicken wings quickly. You can lightly spray the basket with cooking spray.

Prepare the Wings

You can add extra salt or pepper at this point for fresh seasoning and taste. If your wings are plain, you can lightly coat them with a small amount of cooking oil using a brush or spray bottle for extra crispiness.

Arrange the Wings

Arrange the wings in a single layer in the air fryer basket or on the tray. Make sure there is some space between each wing to allow for even air circulation. If your wings are overlapped or touching, add an extra 2-3 minutes to the cooking time.

Reheat the Wings

Place the basket or tray with the chicken wings into the preheated air fryer. For refrigerated wings, cook for 2-3 minutes initially. For frozen wings, cook for 10 minutes initially to defrost them.

Shake or Flip the Wings

After the initial cooking time, carefully shake the basket or flip the wings using tongs to ensure even cooking. This step helps crisp up all sides of the wings.

Continue Cooking

Continue cooking the chicken wings for an additional 5-6 minutes for refrigerated wings, or 10-12 minutes for frozen wings. Keep an eye on them to prevent overcooking.

Check for Doneness

Check the internal temperature of the wings using a meat thermometer. The internal temperature should reach 165°F (74°C).

Tips for Perfect Wings

• Preheat the air fryer to create a hot environment that promotes even cooking and crispy exteriors while locking in moisture.
• Add moisture or oil: Lightly brush the wings with a small amount of cooking oil or melted butter before placing them in the air fryer basket to seal in moisture and promote crispiness.
• Monitor cooking time: Keep a close eye on the chicken wings as they reheat to prevent overcooking and drying out.
• Cover with foil: If the chicken wings are browning too quickly, cover them loosely with aluminum foil during the last part of the reheating process to prevent excessive browning and drying out.

Sauces and seasonings

There are many different sauces and seasonings that you can use to flavour your chicken wings. Here are some options:

Dry Rubs

Dry rubs are a great option if you want to keep things simple. They don't require any oil, and the wings will still crisp up nicely in the air fryer. Some popular dry rubs include:

• Blackening seasoning
• Montreal chicken seasoning
• Creole seasoning
• Lemon pepper
• Chili powder
• Cayenne pepper

Sauces

If you're looking for something more flavourful, then sauces are the way to go. You can either toss the cooked wings in sauce or serve the sauce on the side as a dip. Here are some sauce options:

• BBQ sauce
• Buffalo sauce
• Honey mustard sauce
• Teriyaki sauce
• Garlic butter
• Ranch dressing
• Blue cheese dressing

Tips for Using Sauces and Seasonings

• If you're using a dry rub, add it halfway through the cooking process to ensure it sticks to the wings.
• If you're using a sauce, add it during the last few minutes of cooking or toss the cooked wings in the sauce afterward. Adding sauce too early can prevent the wings from getting crispy and might cause burning due to the sugar content in the sauces.
• If you want to ensure that the seasonings stick to the wings, you can add a light spritz of cooking oil before adding the seasonings. However, this is not necessary, as the air fryer is designed to cook with less oil.

Air fryer models and alternatives

Air fryers are available in two main configurations: basket-style and toaster oven-style. Basket-style air fryers have a handled basket that can be pulled out, similar to a deep fryer, and are good for shaking the food to ensure even crisping. Toaster oven-style air fryers have a front-opening door and slide-in trays, and often have additional functions like toasting, broiling, and dehydrating.

Basket-style air fryers include the:

• Ninja 4-Quart Air Fryer, which is our top pick for small air fryers. It outperformed every other air fryer in our tests with six different foods and is perfectly nonstick for easy cleanup.
• Ninja DZ071 Foodi FlexBasket Air Fryer, a dual-zone air fryer that lets you cook two different items at two different temperatures at the same time.
• Cosori TurboBlaze Air Fryer, a powerful machine with lots of functions at a well-below-average price. It includes a special mode for cooking frozen foods, as well as keep warm and proof settings.
• Philips 3000 Series Airfryer L, which crisps food quickly and evenly and is easy to use and clean. It typically costs around $150.
• Instant Vortex Plus 6-Quart Air Fryer, a user-friendly tool with a reasonable price and strong cooking results. It has a wide, square-shaped basket that can accommodate batches of fries or wings without overcrowding.
• Ninja Max XL Air Fryer, which is similar to the Ninja 4-Quart Air Fryer but with a larger capacity. It delivered excellent results for basic functions and is quiet and easy to store.
• Instant Vortex Plus 10-Quart Air Fryer, a great option for cooking for large groups. It includes trays and a rotisserie insert, and the large trays make it ideal for foods that benefit from cooking in a single layer, like wings and dehydrated goodies.

Toaster oven-style air fryers include the:

• Breville Smart Oven Air Fryer, a huge combination toaster oven/air fryer with smart sensors and heating elements for perfect cooking every time. It's a big investment and takes up a lot of space, but it can toast, bake, roast, and more.
• Instant Omni Plus Air Fryer Toaster Oven, an extra-large toaster oven air fryer with lots of extra functions, including baking, broiling, and dehydrating. It can accommodate a 12-inch pizza, a whole chicken, or a 9-by-13-inch baking dish. It's pretty expensive and cumbersome, so it's not ideal for small households.
• Cuisinart Air Fryer + Convection Toaster Oven, a multifunctional appliance that excels at air frying and is also very good at toasting, baking, and broiling. It has a large cooking surface, making it ideal for foods like chicken cutlets and fish.

Frequently asked questions