Air Fryer Chicken Wings: Safe To Fry Raw?

Chicken wings are a beloved snack, but the process of deep-frying them can be time-consuming and messy. Air fryers offer a healthier, faster, and less oily alternative to cooking raw chicken wings, resulting in a crispy exterior and tender meat. The circulating hot air in the air fryer makes the skin super crisp, which is challenging to achieve in a conventional oven. With a variety of seasonings and sauces, you can easily make juicy and delicious chicken wings at home.

Chicken wing preparation

Chicken wings are a delicious snack and can be cooked in an air fryer with minimal prep time and ingredients. The air fryer method is a healthier alternative to deep frying and can produce crispy, juicy wings in less than 30 minutes.

Preparation:

Firstly, ensure your air fryer is clean before you begin. You can also spray the air fryer basket with non-stick cooking spray. Then, pat the chicken wings dry with paper towels. This step is essential to achieving the desired crispiness as it removes excess moisture.

Seasoning:

Next, you can season the chicken wings. You can use a variety of seasonings, but a simple combination of salt, pepper, garlic powder, paprika, and baking powder is popular. Mix the seasonings in a small bowl and then sprinkle over the wings, tossing to coat them evenly. You can also add a little oil to help the wings crisp up during cooking. Alternatively, you can marinate the chicken wings in olive oil, paprika, garlic powder, salt, and pepper.

Cooking:

Place the wings in the air fryer basket, ensuring they are not overlapping. Skin-side up is recommended. Depending on the size of your wings, they will take around 15-20 minutes to cook at 400°F. Shake the basket or flip the wings halfway through to ensure even cooking. You can also increase the temperature towards the end to get a crispier finish.

Serving:

Once cooked, remove the wings from the air fryer and allow them to rest for a few minutes. You can then serve them as they are or toss them in your favorite sauce, such as buffalo sauce, BBQ sauce, or ranch dressing. Don't forget to serve with carrots and celery sticks on the side!

Air fryer temperature

Yes, you can cook raw chicken wings in an air fryer. The air fryer method is a healthier way to prepare chicken wings without deep-frying or a long oven cook time. The speed and temperature of the circulating air create a very crisp skin that cannot be achieved in a conventional oven.

To cook raw chicken wings in an air fryer, first, pat the wings dry with a paper towel to remove excess moisture. Then, season the wings with salt, pepper, baking powder, and a neutral oil such as avocado, canola, or vegetable oil. Mix the ingredients until the wings are evenly coated.

When cooking chicken wings in an air fryer, it is important to ensure that the wings are not overlapping or touching. This is to allow air to circulate freely around the wings, ensuring that they become crispy. Depending on the size of your air fryer, you may need to cook the wings in batches.

For the air fryer temperature, you can start by preheating your air fryer to 360ºF. Then, place the wings in the air fryer and cook for 10 minutes. After 10 minutes, increase the temperature to 400°F and cook for another 6-12 minutes, or until the wings are golden brown and crispy. The total cooking time may vary depending on the size of the wings, so be sure to adjust the time accordingly. To ensure doneness, use a thermometer probe to make sure the internal temperature of the chicken wings reaches at least 165°F.

If you have leftovers, you can store them in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. To reheat, place the wings back in the air fryer at 360°F for 4 minutes or until heated through.

Chicken wing seasoning

Chicken wings are a versatile dish that can be seasoned in a variety of ways to suit different tastes and preferences. Here are some ideas for seasoning chicken wings to be cooked in an air fryer:

Spicy Wings

For those who enjoy a spicy kick, a blend of chili powder, cayenne pepper, paprika, garlic powder, salt, and pepper can be used. This combination will result in wings with a nice reddish hue and a spicy flavor. You can also add some hot sauce to the marinade or toss the cooked wings in hot sauce or buffalo sauce.

Lemon Pepper Wings

A simple yet refreshing option is to season the wings with lemon pepper. This combination adds a zesty and tangy flavor to the wings. You can also add some extra virgin olive oil and a pinch of salt to enhance the flavor.

BBQ Wings

If you're looking for a more classic flavor, go for a BBQ seasoning. A blend of smoked paprika, brown sugar, garlic powder, salt, and pepper will give the wings a sweet and smoky taste. You can also add some BBQ sauce to the cooked wings for extra flavor.

Dry Ranch Wings

For something different, try a dry ranch seasoning. This can be made by combining a ranch dressing mix with spices like paprika, garlic powder, and pepper. The ranch dressing mix will add a creamy and tangy flavor to the wings.

Baked Wings

To achieve crispy baked wings, a simple seasoning blend of paprika, garlic powder, salt, and pepper can be used. Coating the wings with flour before adding the seasoning will help build texture and create a crispy skin. Baking powder can also be added to ensure the wings brown nicely and form a crispy coating.

Cajun Wings

For a Cajun kick, a dry rub with a blend of spices including thyme, cayenne pepper, cumin, and black pepper can be used. This combination will result in wings with a spicy and earthy flavor.

Remember, when seasoning chicken wings, it's important to pat them dry before adding the seasoning. This will help the seasoning stick to the wings and ensure they get nice and crispy in the air fryer.

Chicken wing cooking time

For larger wings, you may need to increase the cooking time at 360°F to render the fat and cook the wings thoroughly. Similarly, for smaller wings, you may need less time at 360°F. It is important to ensure that the internal temperature of the wings reaches 165°F to guarantee food safety.

Some recipes suggest cooking the wings in two stages, starting at a lower temperature to render the fat and then increasing the temperature to ensure a crispy exterior. For example, cooking the wings at 360°F for 18 minutes and then increasing the temperature to 390°F for another 5 to 6 minutes.

It is worth noting that the cooking time may also depend on the number of wings being cooked and the size of the air fryer. If you are cooking a large batch of wings, they may require additional time to ensure even cooking.

Additionally, the cooking time can be adjusted to achieve the desired level of crispiness. If the wings are not crispy enough after the initial cooking time, you can add a few more minutes until they reach the desired texture.

Chicken wing sauces

Yes, you can cook raw chicken wings in an air fryer. The air fryer method is a healthier way to prepare wings without deep frying or a long oven cook time. The speed and temperature of the air circulating in the air fryer create a very crisp skin that you can't get in an oven.

Now, for the fun part—sauces! Chicken wing sauces can be sweet, spicy, sticky, or savoury, and everything in between. Here are some mouth-watering options to try:

Classic Buffalo Sauce

This famous sauce is a combination of Louisiana-style hot sauce, butter, molasses, and cayenne pepper. It's a finger-lickin' good experience.

Spicy Apricot Sauce

This sauce is a delicious blend of sweet and spicy. Marinate the chicken wings in this sauce for four hours, or brush it on before grilling. The result will be the same—tender, juicy, and full of flavour.

BBQ Sauce

A classic BBQ sauce is always a good option for chicken wings. Try a traditional BBQ sauce, or get creative and blend it with ranch dressing, bleu cheese, or other ingredients to make it your own.

Sweet and Sticky Sauce

This sauce is perfect for those who want a balance of sweet and spicy. It uses pepper, garlic, and soy sauce to balance out the sweetness from the maple syrup. For extra sweetness, glaze the wings with melted brown sugar.

Honey Mustard Sauce

This sauce is a delightful combination of sweet and tangy. Mix honey and mustard with butter, garlic, Worcestershire sauce, apple cider vinegar, and your choice of seasonings.

Chinese-Style Sauce

This sticky-sweet sauce is packed with flavour. Combine soy sauce, molasses, and brown sugar, with rice wine, ginger, and citrus peel to create a unique and delicious sauce.

Garlic and Herb Sauce

For a savoury and sophisticated option, try a garlic and herb sauce. Marinate the chicken in fish sauce, sugar, and garlic before frying. You can also add fresh herbs like parsley or rosemary to taste.

Lemon-Pepper Sauce

This sauce is perfect for those who want a tangy and peppery kick. Combine lemon juice, black pepper, and butter to taste. You can also add other spices like paprika or cayenne pepper for an extra kick.

The options for chicken wing sauces are endless, and you can always experiment with different ingredients to create your own signature sauce. Enjoy experimenting with these sauces and discovering new flavours!

Frequently asked questions