Air Frying Wings: Cuisinart Style

If you're looking for a quick, easy, and delicious way to cook chicken wings, look no further than your Cuisinart air fryer. Air fryers are a fantastic kitchen appliance for cooking your favourite fried foods with less fat and little to no oil. They're also super simple to use and clean, making them a great alternative to deep-frying. In this guide, we'll walk you through the steps to cook juicy, crispy chicken wings with a delicious buffalo hot sauce that will be the star of the show at your next gathering.

How to cook wings in a Cuisinart air fryer

Air fryer settings and timings

Firstly, ensure your air fryer is clean and free of any residue before cooking. Place a tray underneath the basket to catch any drippings. There is no need to preheat the air fryer.

For juicy wings, cook the wings for 22 minutes at 400˚F (200˚C). For crispier wings, increase the cooking time to 25 minutes. If you are cooking in a toaster-oven-style air fryer, place the wings on the bottom level to avoid burning.

If you are cooking frozen wings, add 5-10 minutes to the total cooking time. For extra crispy wings, pat the wings dry with a paper towel before cooking.

For wings with a hint of garlic and lemon pepper, coat the wings in 1 tablespoon of oil, 2 teaspoons of garlic salt, and 1 teaspoon of lemon pepper before placing them in the air fryer. Air fry at 400˚F for 8 minutes, then flip and air fry for another 8 minutes, or until the wings are golden brown.

Preparing the wings

Next, you will need to prepare the chicken wings. If your wings are whole, cut them into three pieces: the wing tip, the middle section (drumette), and the end section (the flat). You can use the drumettes and flats for this recipe, and the wing tips can be saved for stock or discarded. Once cut, pat the chicken pieces dry with a paper towel and place them in a large bowl.

Now, it's time to season your wings. You can use a simple combination of oil, garlic salt, and lemon pepper. Coat the wings in oil, then sprinkle on the garlic salt and lemon pepper, and toss to evenly coat the wings with seasoning. You can also add extra salt or substitute some of the garlic salt with garlic powder for an extra salty kick.

Finally, place the wings on the air fryer rack or tray. Ensure they are in a single layer and not overlapping, as this will ensure even cooking and crispiness. If you are cooking a large batch, you may need to cook the wings in batches to ensure they cook evenly.

Seasoning and sauces

The first step is to pat your chicken wings dry with a paper towel. This is an important step to ensure your wings become nice and crispy. Then, place the wings in a mixing bowl and coat them in oil. For extra crispiness, you can use baking powder in addition to the oil.

Now it's time to season. A simple yet effective seasoning combination is garlic salt and lemon pepper. Sprinkle on some garlic salt and lemon pepper, and toss the wings to ensure they are evenly coated. You can adjust the amount of seasoning to your taste preferences. For example, if you like your wings on the saltier side, add a bit more garlic salt.

If you want to add a sauce, there are several options. A popular choice is buffalo hot sauce, which you can toss the wings in after they are done cooking. You can also make a simple sauce by whisking together melted butter and hot sauce. If you're feeling creative, you can experiment with different sauces and dips, such as blue cheese or gorgonzola.

There you have it! With your Cuisinart air fryer, you can easily make delicious, crispy chicken wings with a variety of seasoning and sauce options to choose from.

Cooking methods

First, ensure your air fryer and basket are clean. If there is any residue prior to cooking, it will burn. Make sure there is a tray to catch any drippings underneath the basket.

Pat the chicken wings dry with a paper towel and place them in a mixing bowl. If your chicken wings are sold whole, you will need to cut them for even crisping. To cut a chicken wing, locate the joint between the wing tip, the middle section (drumette), and the end section (the flat). Use a sharp knife to cut into the joint between these sections to create three pieces. Trim off any excess skin. You’ll use the drumettes and flats. Save the wing tips for stock or discard them.

Coat the wings in oil, then sprinkle on garlic salt and lemon pepper. Toss to evenly coat with seasoning. You can also use smoked paprika and other spice cabinet basics.

Place the wings on the air fryer rack or tray in a single layer, ensuring they are not on top of each other. This will reduce cook time and increase crispiness. If you are cooking in batches, you can keep the wings warm in your regular oven.

Cook at 400°F (200°C) for 22-25 minutes. 25 minutes will get them crispy, while 22 minutes will yield juicier wings. If you are using the Cuisinart air fryer toaster oven, you can cook at 375 degrees F for 10 minutes, flip, cook for another 10 minutes, flip again, increase the temperature to 400 degrees F, and then cook for about 5-10 more minutes.

While the wings cook, whisk together melted butter and hot sauce until you have an emulsified sauce. You can also use Frank's hot sauce or buffalo hot sauce.

Serving suggestions

Air fryer chicken wings are a versatile dish that can be served in a variety of ways. Here are some ideas to get you started:

Sauces

Chicken wings pair well with a variety of sauces, and you can either toss the wings in the sauce or serve the sauce as a dip. Popular sauce options include buffalo sauce, hot sauce, and ranch dressing. You can also get creative and experiment with different sauces such as barbecue, honey mustard, or a spicy sriracha mayo.

Sides

Air fryer chicken wings can be served as an appetizer or a main course, and they go well with a variety of side dishes. Some ideas include celery sticks, carrot sticks, blue cheese dip, or a crisp salad. For a heartier meal, you could serve them with fries, onion rings, or coleslaw.

Garnishes

To add a touch of freshness and colour to your plate, consider garnishing your wings with chopped parsley or green onions. A squeeze of lemon juice can also brighten up the flavours.

Variations

For those who like their wings with a kick, adding some cayenne pepper to the seasoning mix will give them a spicy boost. Alternatively, you can keep the wings mild and let everyone add their own hot sauce on top.

Storage and Reheating

If you have any leftover wings, they can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to four days. To reheat, simply pop them back in the air fryer at 360°F for 4 minutes, or until heated through. You can also freeze cooked wings for up to a month and thaw them in the fridge overnight before reheating.

Frequently asked questions