Air Fryer Wings: Cornstarch Coating, Should You Try It?

Cornstarch is a great ingredient to use on chicken wings in an air fryer. It is the secret to achieving that crispy texture and fried taste without the need for a lot of oil. To use cornstarch on chicken wings, you can toss the wings in a mixture of cornstarch and your desired seasonings before air frying. The cornstarch creates a light and crunchy coating on the wings, enhancing their overall texture. It is important to dry the wings thoroughly before tossing them with cornstarch and seasonings, and to ensure optimal airflow while cooking.

Cornstarch vs. flour

Cornstarch is a key ingredient in making ultra-crispy chicken wings in an air fryer. But how does it compare to flour?

Thickening Properties

All starches, including cornstarch and flour, have thickening properties. They act like sponges, absorbing liquid and expanding. Cornstarch, being pure starch, has twice the thickening power of flour, which also contains fibre, protein and gluten. Therefore, twice as much flour is needed to achieve the same thickening as cornstarch.

Usage in Sauces

Cornstarch is combined with cold water to form a slurry, which is added towards the end of a recipe. Flour, on the other hand, is cooked with fat to make a roux, which is made at the beginning of a recipe. The floury taste of flour needs to be cooked out, whereas cornstarch needs a shorter cooking time and a higher heat to activate its thickening properties.

Using flour as a thickener will make a sauce opaque and cloudy, whereas cornstarch leaves a shiny, more translucent finish—a desirable feature for fruit pie fillings and certain sauces, especially in Chinese stir-fries.

Usage in Frying

Both flour and cornstarch are used to coat chicken, fish and vegetables before deep-frying. Cornstarch typically makes for a crispier finish than flour. It absorbs moisture from the food and expands, giving deep-fried foods a crispy coating. When the food is fried, the moisture cooks out of the cornstarch, leaving a crackly, puffy coating on the outside. This is why most Asian fried recipes call for cornstarch instead of flour.

Usage in Baking

Cornstarch and flour play very different roles in gluten-free baking. Cornstarch is a 'starchy' gluten-free flour that gives bakes their fluffiness and airiness, but it doesn't contribute much to their taste or structure. Corn flour is a 'protein' gluten-free flour that adds flavour and structure to gluten-free bakes.

Baking is where a complete swap won't work. A cake recipe, for example, will not turn out if cornstarch is used in place of flour. Baked goods rely on the proteins in the flour (gluten) to help create their body and texture. However, adding cornstarch to a cookie or cake recipe will help to make the finished product more tender.

Oven vs. air fryer

Size

Air fryers are countertop appliances that can usually cook one dish at a time, while ovens are full-sized appliances that can handle multiple dishes or larger portions.

Function

Air fryers rapidly circulate heated air to cook and crisp up a range of foods. Conventional, non-convection ovens use still air to cook food. Different types of ovens may offer various functions like broil, bake, and roast, and even air fry.

Speed

Air fryers cook food faster than ovens. They also have a stronger fan, which helps give things a crispy texture.

Temperature

Air fryers have a higher speed fan than standard convection ovens, which helps food cook quicker and get crispier.

Crispy Food

Air fryers can make food crispier than ovens. They are especially good for reheating pizza and leftover fried foods.

Clean-up

Air fryers are easier to clean than ovens.

The importance of drying wings

Drying the wings is an important step in the cooking process. This is because the air fryer uses rapidly circulating hot air to crisp the food, and this result is best achieved with fresh wings. If the wings are too moist, they will steam more than they will crisp. Therefore, it is important to pat the wings dry before adding any oil or seasoning. This will ensure that the wings come out crispy and not soggy.

Additionally, it is important to note that if you are using frozen wings, it is best to thaw them first before drying and cooking them. This is because air frying works best with fresh wings, as the rapid circulation of hot air can more effectively crisp the skin.

How to season wings

Ingredients

First, you will need to gather your ingredients. For the wings themselves, you will need:

• Chicken wings (fresh or frozen)
• Cornstarch
• Oil (avocado, olive, or another neutral-flavoured oil)

For the seasoning, you can use a variety of spices, including:

• Smoked paprika
• Garlic powder
• Onion powder
• Chipotle powder
• Cayenne pepper
• Salt
• Pepper
• Lemon pepper
• Cajun seasoning
• Chili powder
• Adobo
• Garlic salt
• Accent
• Parsley

Method

Now that you have your ingredients, it's time to start seasoning! Here's a step-by-step guide:

• Mix your chosen spices and cornstarch in a small bowl. You can also add salt and pepper to the cornstarch if you plan on saucing the wings.
• Place your raw chicken wings in a large bowl. If using frozen wings, you can add them directly to the bowl, but you may need to increase the cooking time.
• Toss the chicken wings with oil. Make sure they are well coated.
• Pour the cornstarch and spice mixture into the bowl with the wings. Toss again until the wings are thoroughly coated.
• Preheat your air fryer to 400 degrees Fahrenheit.
• Place the chicken wings in a single layer in the air fryer basket. Avoid overcrowding the basket, as this will affect the crispiness of the wings. Cook in batches if necessary.
• Cook the wings for 13-15 minutes, turning them once halfway through. For frozen wings, cook for 20-30 minutes, checking and turning them regularly.
• Remove the wings from the air fryer when they are golden brown and crispy. You can use a meat thermometer to check if they are fully cooked.
• Serve with your favourite dipping sauce!

Tips

• For extra crispy wings, pat dry your raw wings with a paper towel before tossing them with the seasoning.
• If you want to add sauce to your wings, it is best to do so after cooking. Some sauce options include buffalo sauce, barbecue sauce, or garlic parmesan wing sauce.
• If you have any leftovers, store them in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to three days.

How to store leftovers

Cornstarch is a great ingredient to use if you want to achieve crispy chicken wings. You can use it to make wings in an air fryer, but it is recommended to first bake the wings in the oven and then finish them in the air fryer.

If you have leftover chicken wings, you can store them in an airtight container or zip-lock bag and place them in the refrigerator within two hours of cooking to prevent bacterial growth. They will keep in the fridge for around five days.

If you want to freeze the wings, they can be stored for up to three months. However, make sure to thaw them for at least 24 hours before reheating.

Reheating Leftovers

When reheating chicken wings, it is important to follow food safety guidelines to prevent the risk of foodborne illnesses. The USDA recommends that poultry should reach a minimum internal temperature of 165°F (74°C) to ensure that harmful bacteria are destroyed.

• Preheat the air fryer to 360°F (182°C).
• Prepare the wings by adding extra salt or pepper for seasoning.
• Arrange the wings in a single layer in the air fryer basket, leaving some space between each wing for even air circulation.
• Lightly coat the wings with oil for extra crispiness (optional).
• Place the basket into the air fryer and cook for 5-6 minutes.
• Shake or flip the wings to ensure even cooking.
• Continue cooking for another 5-6 minutes, keeping an eye on them to prevent overcooking.
• Check the internal temperature of the wings using a meat thermometer. It should reach 165°F (74°C).

It is important to note that reheating times may vary depending on the size of the wings, the air fryer model, and your desired level of crispiness. Boneless wings will generally take less time to reheat than bone-in wings.

Additionally, if you are reheating sauced wings, it is recommended to line the air fryer basket with parchment paper or aluminum foil to prevent sauce spills from leaking into the appliance.

Frequently asked questions