Air Fryer Chicken: Cornstarch Coating, Good Or Bad?

Cornstarch is a great ingredient to use when cooking chicken in an air fryer. It can be used to create a crispy coating on the chicken, sealing in the juices and giving it an airy texture. Cornstarch can be mixed with flour to help give your chicken a crispy crust. It can also be used as a thickening agent in sauces, soups, and gravies, and as a binding agent in baking. When cooking chicken in an air fryer, it is important to not overcrowd the fryer, and to coat the chicken with cooking spray or oil to ensure even cooking and to prevent dry flour spots.

Cornstarch and flour mixture

To make a cornstarch and flour mixture for chicken, you can start with a basic combination of equal parts cornstarch and flour. For example, you could mix 1/4 cup of cornstarch with 1/4 cup of flour. You can then add in your desired seasonings to this mixture. Some popular options include garlic powder, cayenne pepper, paprika, and black pepper. You can also add in other ingredients like Parmesan cheese and Italian seasoning to enhance the flavour and crispiness of the coating.

Once you have your cornstarch and flour mixture ready, you can coat the chicken pieces by dredging them in the mixture and ensuring they are evenly coated. It is important to note that you should only coat the chicken pieces right before you are ready to place them in the air fryer, as letting the coated chicken sit for too long can result in a less crispy texture. After coating the chicken, you can then spray them with cooking spray or oil to help the coating crisp up during the cooking process.

By using a cornstarch and flour mixture, you can achieve a crispy and golden brown exterior on your air-fried chicken, locking in the juices and creating a delicious and airy texture.

Cooking spray

Cornstarch is a great way to make your chicken extra crispy when using an air fryer. However, to get the best results, you'll want to use cooking spray as well. Here's a guide on how to use cooking spray to get the perfect cornstarch chicken in an air fryer.

When air frying, the chicken won't come into contact with oil or fat, which can lead to dry spots where the flour or cornstarch mixture hasn't cooked properly. This can result in an unappealing texture and taste. By using cooking spray, you can ensure that the cornstarch mixture cooks and crisps up evenly, resulting in a golden brown and delicious crust.

Choosing a Cooking Spray

You can use a variety of cooking sprays for this purpose. An oil mister or cooking spray with olive oil or vegetable oil is ideal. Avoid aerosol cooking sprays if your air fryer has a non-stick coating, as these can cause the coating to degrade. If you're using an air fryer with an uncoated metal basket, aerosol cooking sprays are suitable.

When to Apply the Cooking Spray

You'll want to apply the cooking spray at two points during the cooking process. Firstly, after you've coated your chicken pieces with the cornstarch mixture, spray them generously with the cooking spray. This will help the coating cook and crisp up evenly. Secondly, after you've placed the chicken in the air fryer, spritz or brush the chicken pieces with the cooking spray again. This will ensure that the entire surface of the chicken is coated, resulting in a crispy, golden brown finish.

Other Tips for Using Cornstarch in an Air Fryer

When preparing your cornstarch mixture, you can mix cornstarch with flour to help give your chicken a crispy crust. Argo® Corn Starch is a popular choice for achieving that extra crispiness. Additionally, don't overcrowd your air fryer. Cook the chicken in batches if needed, as proper airflow is essential for the chicken to cook and crisp up properly.

Marinade

Cornstarch is often used as a thickening agent for sauces and soups, and it is a common ingredient in Asian cooking for stir-fries. It can also be used as a binding agent in baking. When used in your batter to fry chicken in an air fryer, it will leave you with a crunchy and beautifully browned exterior while sealing in the juices of the chicken.

To make a marinade for chicken in an air fryer, you can use a combination of cornstarch and flour. The cornstarch will help create a crispy, golden brown crust. If you only have flour, it is fine to just use that. You can also substitute other starches, like potato starch, for the cornstarch. For the best of both worlds, a combination of flour and cornstarch or potato starch is ideal. Cornstarch or potato starch gives you the crunchiest coating, but flour browns better.

Ingredients:

• 3/4 cup all-purpose flour
• 3/4 cup cornstarch or potato starch
• 2 teaspoons kosher salt
• 1 ½ teaspoons black pepper
• Chicken (a whole cut-up chicken, thighs, breasts, drumsticks, chicken legs, chicken wings, diced thigh or breast, or any combo of the above)

Instructions:

• In a shallow bowl, combine the flour, cornstarch, salt, and pepper.
• Dredge each chicken piece in the flour mixture, making sure it is completely coated.
• Place the coated chicken pieces in the air fryer basket in a single layer.
• Spritz or brush the chicken pieces with oil so that all of the flour is wet.
• Air fry at 400°F for 8 minutes.
• Flip the chicken pieces over, spritz or brush with more oil, and fry for an additional 7 minutes at 400°F.

You can also add other seasonings to the flour and cornstarch mixture to add more flavor to your chicken. Some popular options include paprika, garlic powder, and cayenne pepper.

Oil type

When cooking chicken in an air fryer, you can use a variety of oils, including avocado oil, olive oil, vegetable oil, and cooking spray oil. The type of oil you use will depend on your preferences and what you have available.

Some recipes call for coating the chicken with oil before placing it in the air fryer, while others suggest spraying the air fryer basket with oil instead. Either way, using oil will help to ensure that your chicken comes out crispy and golden brown.

If you're using an air fryer with a non-stick basket, it's important to note that you should not use aerosol cooking spray as it can cause the non-stick coating to degrade and peel off. Instead, use a mister or brush to apply oil to your chicken.

Additionally, if you're marinating your chicken before cooking, you can also add oil to your marinade to help with the crisping process.

Air fryer temperature

The optimal temperature for cooking chicken in an air fryer depends on the type of chicken and the desired level of crispiness.

For chicken tenders, a temperature of 380 degrees Fahrenheit for 15 minutes, followed by an increase to 400 degrees Fahrenheit for an additional 3 minutes, is recommended. This two-step temperature process ensures the chicken is cooked through while achieving a crispy exterior.

For chicken breasts, a higher temperature of 415 degrees Fahrenheit for 10-13 minutes is suggested for thinly sliced pieces. This higher temperature applied to a thinner cut of meat also results in a crispy exterior.

For chicken thighs, a lower temperature of 380 degrees Fahrenheit for 15 minutes, followed by an increase to 400 degrees Fahrenheit for 3 minutes, is recommended. This temperature control allows for the thighs to cook through while developing a crispy exterior.

It is important to note that the cooking time may vary depending on the size and thickness of the chicken pieces, and adjustments may be necessary to ensure the chicken is cooked to the desired level of doneness.

Additionally, it is crucial to avoid overcrowding the air fryer to ensure proper airflow and even cooking. Cooking in batches is recommended if necessary.

Frequently asked questions