Air Fryer Chicken: Corn Starch Coating, Good Or Bad?

Corn starch is a great ingredient to use when cooking chicken in an air fryer. It helps to create a crispy, crunchy texture and is a healthier alternative to deep-frying your chicken. Corn starch is usually mixed with flour to create a coating for the chicken, and can be seasoned with spices such as paprika, cayenne pepper, garlic powder and onion powder. The chicken is then placed in the air fryer and cooked for around 15 minutes, or until golden brown. This method can be used for a variety of chicken cuts, including breasts, thighs, wings and drumsticks.

Corn starch as a secret ingredient for crispy chicken

Corn starch is the secret to achieving the crispiest chicken in an air fryer. It is the key to a crunchy, golden brown crust and juicy bites of chicken.

Corn starch is often used as a thickening agent in sauces and soups, and it can also be used as a binding agent in baking. When added to your flour mixture for coating chicken, it helps create a crispy, golden brown exterior while sealing in the juices of the meat.

First, season your chicken pieces with salt and pepper, or a seasoning mix of your choice. Then, prepare a basic mixture of flour and corn starch in a bowl. You can also add some seasonings to this mixture to enhance the flavour. In a separate bowl, whisk an egg or two, depending on the quantity of chicken.

Now, for the magic part! Dunk the chicken pieces first in the flour-corn starch mixture, then in the egg, and finally back in the flour-corn starch mixture. Make sure each piece is well coated.

Arrange the chicken pieces in the air fryer basket in a single layer, spritz or brush with oil, and you're ready to air fry!

Tips for the crispiest chicken:

• Don't overcrowd the air fryer. Cook in batches if needed to ensure proper air circulation and even cooking.
• Cover the air fryer basket with foil before heating and then place the chicken on it. This makes it easier to remove the chicken after cooking and prevents the crispy crust from sticking to the basket.
• Be generous with the cooking spray or oil to ensure an even, golden brown colour and to prevent dry flour spots.
• For extra crispiness, flip the chicken pieces halfway through the cooking process.

Customisations:

The beauty of this method is that you can customise it with different seasonings, dips, and sauces. Here are some ideas:

• Spice it up with cayenne pepper or paprika.
• Make it kid-friendly by using lemon pepper instead of paprika.
• Get fancy by brushing the cooked wings with butter, tossing them in Parmesan cheese, and sprinkling with parsley.
• Toss the cooked wings in buffalo sauce and serve with blue cheese dressing for a classic buffalo wing experience.

So, the next time you're craving crispy, juicy chicken, reach for that corn starch and let the air fryer work its magic!

How to make a basic flour and corn starch mixture

Corn starch is a great option for making crispy chicken in an air fryer. It is naturally gluten-free and can be used as a thickening agent in sauces, soups, and gravies, as well as a binding agent in baked goods.

Ingredients:

• 3/4 cup all-purpose flour
• 3/4 cup corn starch or potato starch
• 2 teaspoons kosher salt, divided
• 1 1/2 teaspoons black pepper, divided
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
• 1/2 tablespoon Italian seasoning
• 3 tablespoons Parmesan cheese

Method:

• Combine the flour, cornstarch, 1 teaspoon salt, 1 teaspoon pepper, garlic powder, cayenne pepper, Italian seasoning, and Parmesan cheese in a medium bowl. Mix well and set aside.
• Season the chicken pieces with the remaining salt and pepper.
• Dunk the chicken pieces in the flour mixture, ensuring they are completely coated. Shake off any excess flour.
• Place the coated chicken pieces in the air fryer basket, leaving a little space between each piece to allow for proper air circulation.
• Spritz or brush the chicken pieces with oil. This step helps prevent the flour from tasting raw and ensures an even, golden brown colour.
• Air fry at 380-400°F for 15-18 minutes, flipping the chicken pieces halfway through.

You can also add an egg wash step to this recipe for a thicker coating. Simply dunk the chicken in a bowl of whisked eggs after the initial flour coating, and then coat with the flour mixture again before placing in the air fryer.

The importance of oil when cooking with an air fryer

Air fryers are a healthier, cheaper, and more versatile alternative to deep fryers. While they don't require oil to produce great results, a little goes a long way in improving the texture and flavour of the food.

The role of oil in cooking

Cooking oil lets food cook at higher temperatures than water, distributes heat faster, and adds flavour and depth to food. It provides a crispy finish while locking in moisture, resulting in juicy bites.

Using oil in an air fryer will allow the exterior of the food to form a rich brown colour and provide crispness. Putting the oil in the air fryer basket will keep your food moist and add a subtle hint of flavour.

Tips for using oil in an air fryer

• Use a small spray bottle or measuring spoon
• Use the correct type of oil (with a proper smoke point)
• Only use a few sprays in the basket
• Cook in a well-ventilated area
• Do not overcrowd the air fryer basket
• Do not allow the cooking oil to touch the heating element
• Always preheat the air fryer
• Shake the air fryer basket halfway through the cooking process to ensure even coating

Common mistakes when using oil in an air fryer

• Using lower smoke point oils
• Touching the heating element with the oily brush
• Not preheating the air fryer

Oil alternatives for air fryers

Although most manufacturers recommend using a little oil while air frying, it is unnecessary. Air fryers will produce crispy results without oil because of the small space and hot circulating air. If you want to add extra moisture or crispiness, you can spray your food or the air fryer basket with a little cooking spray.

Final thoughts

While air fryers don't require oil, using a small amount can enhance the flavour and texture of your food. Oils such as avocado oil, organic virgin sesame oil, and grapeseed oil are good choices due to their high smoke points and neutral flavour.

How to make a corn starch slurry

Cornstarch is a great way to give your chicken a crispy exterior when using an air fryer. However, it is not as simple as sprinkling cornstarch onto your chicken. To get the best results, you need to make a cornstarch slurry.

A cornstarch slurry is a mixture of cornstarch and water (or another room-temperature liquid). The ratio is typically 1:1, with one tablespoon of cornstarch mixed with one tablespoon of cold water. You can scale this up or down depending on how much chicken you are cooking. It is important to whisk the mixture together until it reaches a smooth consistency.

You can add the slurry to your chicken in a few different ways. One method is to coat the chicken pieces with the slurry and then add your other seasonings or breading. Another method is to first coat the chicken in the slurry and then dunk it into beaten eggs before coating it in flour or another breading.

Once you have coated your chicken, you can place it in the air fryer. Be sure not to overcrowd the basket, as the air needs to circulate properly. You may need to cook the chicken in batches. Spray the chicken with cooking spray or oil, and then cook at 375-400°F for 11-15 minutes, shaking the basket halfway through.

The difference between using corn starch and flour

Corn starch and flour are both used to coat chicken in an air fryer, but they have different effects on the final product.

Corn starch is a secret ingredient for achieving the crispiest chicken. It is a common ingredient in Asian cooking, used to quickly crisp up meats and vegetables. When used in your batter to fry chicken, it will leave you with an audibly crunchy and beautifully browned exterior while sealing in the juices of the chicken. Argo® Corn Starch is a popular brand used for this purpose. Corn starch is also naturally gluten-free.

Flour, on the other hand, will do just fine as a breading, but it won't get as golden, and it doesn't quite achieve the same level of crispiness as corn starch. Many recipes, such as fried chicken, will call for a 50-50 mix of flour and corn starch to achieve the ultimate crisp.

When paired with all-purpose flour, corn starch helps prevent gluten development, which makes the flour coating crispier, and it absorbs moisture, resulting in a crispier coating. If you already have a favourite fried chicken recipe, try replacing a quarter of the flour with corn starch.

In summary, corn starch is ideal for achieving an extremely crispy and golden coating on fried chicken, while flour produces a slightly less crispy and golden result. For the best of both worlds, a combination of the two is recommended.

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