Use Flour In Your Air Fryer Chicken?

Air fryers are a great alternative to deep-frying or pan-frying chicken, using a fraction of the oil to create a crispy, juicy, and tender texture. However, can you put flour on chicken in an air fryer? The answer is yes, but there are a few things to keep in mind to ensure your chicken comes out perfectly. Firstly, it is recommended to use skin-on and bone-in chicken pieces as they tend to be more flavourful and juicy. Secondly, marinating the chicken in buttermilk helps to tenderize the meat and adds a tangy flavour. Finally, when coating the chicken with flour, ensure there is enough moisture for the coating to stick, but not too much that the flour can't absorb it. With these tips in mind, you can enjoy delicious air-fried chicken with a crispy flour coating!

Marinade the chicken in buttermilk

Marinating chicken in buttermilk is a great way to tenderise the meat and add flavour. The lactic acid in buttermilk helps to break down the proteins in the chicken, allowing the marinade to penetrate the meat more effectively. This results in a more tender and flavourful final dish. Buttermilk also adds moisture and richness to the chicken, preventing it from drying out during cooking.

To use buttermilk as a marinade, soak the chicken in a mixture of buttermilk and your preferred seasonings for several hours or overnight. The longer you marinate the chicken, the more tender and flavourful it will be. For example, one recipe recommends marinating chicken in buttermilk and hot sauce for anywhere from one hour to 24 hours. The buttermilk helps keep the chicken juicy, and the hot sauce adds flavour without making it spicy.

When you are ready to cook the chicken, remove it from the marinade and coat it in a layer of flour or breadcrumbs. You can also add other seasonings to the flour, such as garlic powder, onion powder, Italian seasoning, and cayenne pepper. Place the chicken in the air fryer basket, ensuring that the pieces are not overlapping or touching. Set the air fryer to 350-390 degrees Fahrenheit and cook for 25-30 minutes, flipping the chicken halfway through.

Using an air fryer to cook buttermilk-marinated chicken is a quick and easy way to get delicious, juicy, and tender chicken with a crispy skin.

Use a meat thermometer to check the internal temperature

Using a meat thermometer is a great way to ensure your chicken is cooked to perfection. It's important to monitor the internal temperature of your chicken while it's cooking, especially if you're aiming for that juicy, tender texture. Here's how you can use a meat thermometer to check the internal temperature of your air-fried chicken:

Choosing the Right Meat Thermometer:

Firstly, you'll need to choose a meat thermometer. There are two basic categories:

• Leave-in Meat Thermometer: This type of thermometer has a probe that remains in the meat while it cooks. These thermometers often feature customizable alarms, so you don't have to worry about overcooking your chicken.
• Instant-Read Meat Thermometer: This type of thermometer is inserted into the meat after removing it from the air fryer to get a temperature reading.

Inserting the Probe:

If you're using a leave-in probe, place it in the thickest part of the chicken, ensuring it's close to the bone if your cut has one. For an instant-read thermometer, insert it into the thickest part of the meat, as you're trying to find the coolest section. Watch the temperature reading as you push the probe in. The temperature should drop as the probe goes deeper into the meat. When it starts to rise, you've gone too far. The lowest temperature you see is the reading you should follow.

Target Temperature:

The target temperature for your chicken depends on the type of cut and your preferred doneness. For chicken strips, aim for an internal temperature of 165° to 170 °F in the thickest part to ensure they're cooked through without drying out. For bone-in pieces, the dark meat (thighs and legs) might require a slightly higher temperature, around 175°F.

Checking the Temperature:

If you're using a wireless meat thermometer, you can conveniently monitor the internal temperature of your chicken via an app or a physical device. Some thermometers even provide estimated completion times. When the thermometer indicates that your chicken has reached the desired temperature, remove it from the air fryer and let it rest.

Using a meat thermometer is a foolproof way to ensure your chicken is cooked just right. By following these steps, you can confidently cook juicy and safe-to-eat chicken in your air fryer.

Use oil to prevent floury spots

While cooking chicken in an air fryer, you may encounter an issue where certain areas of the chicken remain white with flour. This issue can be prevented by using oil.

Why Oil is Necessary

The purpose of the oil is to cover any dried flour spots on the chicken. Without oil, these spots will taste like dry flour. By spraying the chicken with oil, you ensure that the breading crisps up nicely and doesn't burn.

Type of Oil to Use

It is recommended to use oils with a higher smoke point, such as canola oil or vegetable oil, as they are ideal for frying chicken. Olive oil, on the other hand, has a lower smoke point and is likely to burn.

How to Apply Oil

Use an oil mister or spray bottle to lightly coat the chicken with oil. Make sure to cover all flour spots on the chicken before placing it in the air fryer. You can also spray the air fryer basket with oil to prevent the chicken from sticking.

During the cooking process, check the chicken for any dry spots and mist them with oil. This ensures that the breading crisps up evenly.

Other Tips to Prevent Floury Spots

In addition to using oil, there are a few other tips to prevent floury spots on your air-fried chicken:

• Do not overlap the chicken pieces in the air fryer. Allow space between each piece for proper air circulation.
• Marinate the chicken in a mixture of buttermilk and hot sauce to help the breading adhere better.
• Use parchment paper with holes in the air fryer to prevent the breaded chicken from sticking to the bottom.

Don't overcrowd the air fryer

Yes, you can put flour on chicken in an air fryer. In fact, you can follow a traditional fried chicken recipe and air fry the chicken instead.

However, if you like a very thick breading on your fried chicken, you may run into some issues with an air fryer. If you double-dip your chicken in flour for the coating, it may be hard to hydrate all the flour in an air fryer, and you may end up with floury spots that haven't cooked. Therefore, it is recommended to only dip your chicken in flour once to provide a nice layer of breading that won't be a problem in the air fryer.

Now, on to the topic of not overcrowding the air fryer. When making floured chicken in an air fryer, it is important to not overcrowd the air fryer basket. Circulating air is how the air fryer cooks, and if there is not enough space between the food for the air to penetrate, it won't cook evenly. You'll be left with undercooked spots in your dish. If you need to, cook your chicken in batches to make sure it's not overcrowded in the basket. Keep cooked chicken warm in an oven while you cook the other batches.

Additionally, make sure that the chicken pieces are not overlapping or touching. The more space between the pieces, the better. This will allow the air to circulate and crisp up the chicken, giving it a nice and crispy golden layer.

Finally, remember to spray the chicken lightly with oil. The purpose of the oil is to cover any dried flour spots. Not spraying with oil will result in those spots tasting like dry flour.

Use parchment paper to prevent sticking

Using parchment paper in an air fryer can prevent chicken from sticking to the basket and make cleanup easier. However, there are several precautions to take when using parchment paper in an air fryer:

First, always check your air fryer's user manual for specific instructions and safety guidelines. Different air fryer models may have varying guidelines on the use of parchment paper, so it is important to consult the manual before using it.

Second, avoid excessive overhang. The parchment paper should fit inside the air fryer basket without touching the heating elements. Excessive overhang can result in the parchment paper catching fire or burning, posing a safety hazard.

Third, trim the parchment paper to fit properly inside the air fryer. This ensures that it does not interfere with air circulation, which is crucial for even cooking and preventing fire hazards.

Fourth, use parchment paper designed for high heat. Not all parchment paper is created equal. Some are specifically designed for high-temperature environments like ovens and air fryers, so choose a thicker variety that can withstand the heat without catching fire.

Fifth, avoid placing the parchment paper directly on the heating element. The heating element in an air fryer is typically located at the bottom of the appliance. Always place the parchment paper on the air fryer basket or trays to create a barrier between the food and the heat source.

Finally, ensure that the food is heavy enough to keep the parchment paper in place. If it is too light, the paper can blow upwards towards the heating element, creating a fire risk.

By following these precautions, you can effectively use parchment paper in your air fryer to prevent chicken from sticking and make cleanup easier.

Frequently asked questions