Air Fryers: Crispy Chicken Perfection?

Air fryers are a convenient way to make crispy chicken without the mess and health drawbacks of deep frying. While the crust may not be as crispy as with traditional frying methods, air-fried chicken is still tasty and juicy, with a crackly texture. Air-frying chicken is also much healthier than deep-fat frying, as it requires only a light spritz of oil to achieve a golden, crispy exterior. The cooking time is also reduced, and the cleanup is much easier.

The importance of oil in air frying chicken

Air fryers have become a popular alternative to traditional frying methods, offering a convenient and relatively healthier way to cook crispy, juicy chicken. While air fryers reduce the amount of oil needed, a small amount of oil is still essential to achieving the desired results. Here are some key points highlighting the importance of oil in air frying chicken:

Moisture and Flavour

A light coating of oil helps keep the chicken moist during the cooking process. This is especially important when cooking chicken with the bone in and skin on, as it can help prevent the meat from drying out. Oil also enhances the flavour of the chicken by allowing seasonings to adhere better to the surface.

Golden Brown Colour

A light spray of oil can contribute to the desired golden brown colour of fried chicken. This is achieved by the oil interacting with the heat of the air fryer, promoting even browning and a visually appealing final product.

Crispy Texture

While air fryers rely on hot air circulation to create a crispy exterior, a small amount of oil can enhance this effect. Oil helps to hydrate the coating or breading, ensuring it crisps up nicely without burning. This is particularly important for recipes that call for a thicker breading, as the oil helps to cook the flour evenly.

Cooking Spray Alternative

Some recipes recommend using cooking spray instead of oil when air frying chicken. While this can be effective, it's important to note that cooking sprays can damage the non-stick coating of the air fryer basket over time. Therefore, using a light spray of oil directly on the chicken is often a safer and more recommended approach.

Oil Types

When selecting an oil for air frying chicken, consider using vegetable oil, olive oil, avocado oil, canola oil, or neutral oils with a higher smoke point. These oils can withstand the high temperatures of air frying without smoking or burning, ensuring your chicken cooks evenly.

In conclusion, while air fryers significantly reduce the amount of oil needed compared to traditional frying methods, a small amount of oil is still crucial to achieving the desired taste, texture, and appearance when cooking chicken. By understanding the importance of oil in air frying, you can create delicious, crispy, and juicy chicken with the added benefits of reduced oil usage and less messy cleanup.

How to get the perfect golden-brown colour

Getting that perfect golden-brown colour on your chicken is an art, but with a few simple tips, you can achieve it every time. Here's a step-by-step guide to getting that beautiful, mouth-watering colour on your air-fried chicken:

Choose the Right Chicken

Start by selecting the right type of chicken. Skin-on and bone-in chicken pieces are ideal for achieving that golden-brown colour. The skin helps the coating stick to the chicken, resulting in a crispier exterior. Additionally, having the bone in adds moisture and flavour. If you prefer boneless chicken, look for pieces with skin for the best results.

Brine Your Chicken

Brining your chicken in a mixture of buttermilk, hot sauce, and spices is a crucial step. Buttermilk tenderises the meat and adds flavour, while hot sauce enhances the taste without the heat. This step ensures your chicken is juicy and flavourful. Aim for at least 30 minutes, but for the best results, brine for 2 hours or even overnight.

Prepare the Breading

For a golden-brown colour, the breading mixture is key. Combine flour, cornstarch, and a generous amount of your favourite spices. Cornstarch helps create a crispier texture, while the spices add flavour and a deeper colour to the coating. You can also add a small amount of baking powder to help crisp up the skin.

Dredge the Chicken

Now it's time to coat your chicken. Start by seasoning the chicken with salt and pepper. Then, dip the chicken in the flour mixture, followed by buttermilk, and finally, another coat of the flour mixture. This double dredging ensures a thicker, crispier coating. Let the chicken sit for about 10 minutes to allow the coating to adhere fully.

Oil Your Chicken

Before placing the chicken in the air fryer, lightly spritz or brush it with oil. This step is crucial, as oil helps conduct heat more evenly and promotes that golden-brown colour. Use olive oil, avocado oil, vegetable oil, or a quality cooking spray. Don't overdo it; a light coating is all you need.

Air Fry at the Right Temperature

Preheat your air fryer to the right temperature. Cook your chicken in batches to avoid overcrowding, which can lead to uneven cooking. For the first stage of cooking, set the temperature to 300°F to give the chicken time to cook without burning the batter. Then, increase the temperature to 400°F to finish cooking and create that perfect golden-brown colour.

Flip and Spray Again

After the initial cooking, carefully flip your chicken pieces. Spray the top surface with cooking oil again to ensure even coverage. This step helps achieve an even colour and crispiness on both sides.

Cook Until Golden-Brown

Continue cooking your chicken at 400°F until it reaches the desired golden-brown colour. The total cooking time will depend on the size and type of chicken pieces you're using. Use a meat thermometer to ensure your chicken is cooked to the recommended internal temperature of 165°F for white meat and 175°F for dark meat.

Rest and Enjoy

Once your chicken is cooked to perfection, remove it from the air fryer and let it rest for a few minutes. This step helps lock in the juices and ensures your chicken stays moist. Serve your golden-brown, crispy air-fried chicken with your favourite sides, and enjoy!

The best chicken cuts for air frying

Air fryers are a great way to cook chicken, giving a crispy outer layer while keeping the inside moist and tender. You can use any cut of chicken in an air fryer, but some cuts will give better results than others. Here are some of the best chicken cuts for air frying:

Chicken Wings

Wings are a great option for air frying as they have a high skin-to-meat ratio, which means they will get nice and crispy. Air frying wings also helps to reduce the amount of fat in the final dish, as the fat renders off during cooking. You can find many recipes online for air fryer chicken wings, and they usually involve coating the wings in a dry rub or seasoning mix before air frying.

Chicken Thighs

Chicken thighs are another good option for air frying as they have a higher fat content than other cuts of chicken, which helps to keep them moist and juicy. They also have a bone in them, which can add flavour to the dish. Chicken thighs are a versatile cut that can be used in a variety of recipes, from fried chicken to stir-fries or curries.

Chicken Breasts

Chicken breasts are a leaner cut of chicken, but they can still be successfully air-fried. It is best to use bone-in, skin-on chicken breasts for air frying as the skin will help to keep the meat moist and the bone will add flavour. Chicken breasts are a good option if you are looking for a healthier option, as they have a lower fat content than thighs or wings.

Chicken Drumsticks

Drumsticks are similar to wings in that they have a high skin-to-meat ratio, which makes them ideal for air frying. They are also a relatively inexpensive cut of chicken, making them a good option for those on a budget. Drumsticks can be seasoned in a variety of ways, from a simple salt and pepper mix to more complex rubs and marinades.

Chicken Tenders

Chicken tenders are a good option for air frying if you are short on time as they cook quickly and don't require any special preparation. They are also a lean cut of meat, so they are a good option for those watching their fat intake. Chicken tenders can be breaded or unbreaded before air frying, depending on your preference.

The benefits of air frying chicken

Air fryers are a convenient alternative to deep frying or pan frying chicken. Here are some reasons why you might want to use an air fryer to cook your chicken:

Health Benefits

Air frying chicken is healthier than deep frying or pan frying. While a small amount of oil is still needed to achieve the best results, the chicken does not need to be submerged in oil, resulting in less oil absorption and a healthier meal.

Time Savings

Air fryers are quick and easy to use. They take just 30 seconds to turn on, and the cleanup is much simpler than dealing with big pots of hot oil.

Taste

Air frying produces chicken that is crispy on the outside and juicy on the inside. The chicken will be golden brown and full of flavour, with a crunchy texture.

Ease of Use

Air fryers are simple to use, even for those who are new to cooking. You can cook chicken in an air fryer with just a few simple steps:

• Prepare the chicken by patting it dry and seasoning it.
• Place the chicken in the air fryer basket, ensuring it is not overcrowded.
• Spray the chicken with oil.
• Set the air fryer to the desired temperature and time.
• Flip the chicken halfway through the cooking process and spray with oil again if needed.
• Remove the chicken from the air fryer and let it rest before serving.

Versatility

Air fryers can be used to cook a variety of chicken cuts, including wings, breasts, and thighs. You can also use an air fryer to cook other types of meat and vegetables.

How to get the crispiest coating

To get the crispiest coating on your chicken, there are several steps you can take before and during the air frying process. Firstly, it is important to prepare the chicken by patting it dry with a paper towel to remove any excess moisture. This will help the chicken to crisp up during cooking.

Next, create a brine or marinade for your chicken to soak in. This will add flavour and help tenderise the meat. A simple brine can be made using buttermilk, with the addition of spices, hot sauce, or an egg. Leave the chicken to soak in the brine for at least 30 minutes, but preferably for 2 hours or even overnight.

Now it's time to prepare the breading. A standard breading for fried chicken is made using flour, cornstarch or cornflakes, and a variety of spices. For a crispier texture, you can add baking powder to the mix, which will help to create a puffed and blistered skin on your chicken. You can also try adding in some crushed pretzels, crackers, or pork rinds for extra crunch.

Once you have prepared your breading, it's time to dredge the chicken. This is a three-step process: first, dredge the chicken in flour, then dip it in the buttermilk, and finally, dredge it in the flour again. Make sure the chicken is well coated at each stage. You can also try double-dipping the chicken in the buttermilk for an extra thick layer of breading.

After dredging, it's a good idea to let the chicken sit for about 10 minutes to allow the coating to air dry and adhere to the skin. This will help prevent the breading from falling off during cooking.

When you're ready to cook, preheat your air fryer to between 350-400°F. Place the chicken in the basket, ensuring that the pieces don't touch so that air can circulate freely. Spritz or brush the chicken with oil to help hydrate the breading and promote a crispy, golden exterior.

Cook the chicken for 10-20 minutes, depending on the size of your air fryer and the thickness of the chicken. For thicker cuts of chicken, you may need to cook it at a lower temperature first to avoid burning the batter. Flip the chicken halfway through and spritz or brush with oil again. Use a meat thermometer to check that the chicken has reached an internal temperature of 165°F.

And that's it! You should now have perfectly crispy, golden, and delicious air-fried chicken.

Frequently asked questions