Ella Walter
Air-fried chicken is a quick and easy way to get that fried food experience without the excess oil of a deep fryer. The air fryer method is also said to produce chicken that is crispy, juicy, and tender. The cooking time will depend on the cut of chicken and how full your air fryer basket is, but generally, it should take less than 30 minutes. To get started, you'll need to prepare your chicken by marinating it in a buttermilk mixture and dredging it in a flour mixture before placing it in the air fryer for around 15 minutes.
Characteristics and Values Table for Air Fryer Fried Chicken
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Chicken | Chicken wings, legs, thighs, breast, or whole chicken cut into pieces |
| Chicken preparation | Wash and pat dry with paper towels |
| Battering | Buttermilk, eggs, hot sauce, salt, pepper, baking powder, and baking soda |
| Flour coating | Flour, cornstarch, or breadcrumbs |
| Spices | Cayenne pepper, paprika, Old Bay Seasoning, brown sugar |
| Oil | Olive oil, avocado oil, or any neutral-flavored high-heat oil |
| Air fryer temperature | 350°F-390°F |
| Cooking time | 15-25 minutes, flipping halfway through |
| Internal temperature | 165°F |
| Serving suggestions | Salads, rice bowls, pasta, tacos, or with sides like avocado Caesar green beans |
| Storage | Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4-5 days or freeze for up to 6 months |
| Reheating | Reheat in the air fryer or oven, avoid microwaving |
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What You'll Learn
Marinating the chicken in buttermilk
To start, you'll need a large bowl and the buttermilk mixture. The buttermilk mixture is a combination of buttermilk, eggs, paprika, hot sauce, salt, and pepper. You can also add a little baking powder and baking soda to enhance the tenderness of the chicken. Whisk these ingredients together until they form a smooth, well-combined mixture. If you don't have buttermilk on hand, you can easily make your own by mixing milk with vinegar and letting it sit for 5-10 minutes.
Once the buttermilk mixture is ready, you'll add the chicken pieces to it. Ensure that the chicken is fully coated by using tongs to move the pieces around. You can also cover the bowl and give it a good shake to evenly distribute the buttermilk. Let the chicken marinate in this mixture for at least 5-10 minutes to absorb the flavours. If you're prepping in advance, you can even cover the bowl and refrigerate it for up to 24 hours. This extended marination time allows the chicken to become incredibly tender and flavourful.
After the chicken has finished marinating, you'll want to remove the pieces from the buttermilk mixture, shaking off any excess. It's important to remove any excess buttermilk to ensure that the flour coating adheres properly. The next step is to dredge the chicken in a flour mixture, making sure all sides are well coated. This flour coating will give the chicken that signature crispy texture when cooked in the air fryer.
By marinating your chicken in buttermilk, you're not only infusing flavour but also tenderising the meat. The acid in the buttermilk helps break down the chicken's proteins, resulting in a more tender bite. So, when it comes to cooking fried chicken in an air fryer, don't skip this essential step!
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Dipping the chicken in flour
Firstly, prepare your flour mixture. In a shallow dish, add plain flour and any desired seasonings. You can use a simple flour and seasoning mix, or create a more complex breading mixture. For example, you could use a flour and cornstarch mix, or a blend of flour with celery salt, red pepper, black pepper, and paprika, known as Old Bay seasoning. Ensure your flour mixture is well combined.
Next, take your chicken pieces. You can use any part of the chicken, but if you're using frozen chicken, it's best to thaw it first. It's important to remove excess moisture from the chicken before coating it in flour. You can do this by patting the chicken dry with paper towels or, for an extra flavourful option, you can soak the chicken in buttermilk before dredging it in flour. Buttermilk adds tenderness and a tangy taste to the chicken, and you can make your own by mixing milk with vinegar. If you choose to use buttermilk, ensure you shake off any excess before moving on to the next step.
Now, it's time to dip the chicken in the flour. Use tongs to handle the chicken, and dredge each piece in the flour mixture, ensuring both sides are well coated. Make sure every inch of the chicken is covered in flour to avoid any dry spots. You can also double-dip the chicken for a thicker coating, but be aware that too much flour may not cook through in the air fryer, leaving floury spots.
Once your chicken is coated in flour, place the pieces on a plate or wire rack to rest before transferring them to the air fryer. This step helps the flour coating set, ensuring it stays in place during cooking.
Finally, spray the chicken pieces with oil. You can use an oil mister or a pastry brush to apply oil to the chicken, ensuring all the flour is coated. This step is crucial, as any missed parts will stay white and floury instead of turning golden brown in the air fryer.
By following these steps, you'll achieve a delicious, crispy flour coating on your air-fried chicken.
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Preparing the air fryer basket
Firstly, ensure your air fryer basket is clean and dry. This step is important as any leftover residue or moisture can affect the cooking process and the taste of your chicken. Once your basket is clean, you can move on to the next step.
The next step is to lightly coat the basket with oil. This will help prevent your chicken from sticking to the basket and promote even cooking. You can use an oil mister or a pastry brush to apply a thin layer of oil. Make sure to coat the entire surface of the basket that will come into contact with the chicken.
When coating the basket, it is recommended to avoid using aerosol non-stick cooking sprays. These sprays often contain additives that can damage the coating of your air fryer basket over time. Instead, opt for a mister or brush to apply a thin layer of your preferred oil.
After coating the basket with oil, it's important to place the chicken pieces in the basket carefully. Ensure they are in a single layer and do not overlap. This allows for proper air circulation and even cooking. Depending on the size of your basket and the chicken pieces, you may need to cook in batches.
Finally, before placing the basket in the air fryer, ensure there is enough space between each chicken piece. They should not be overcrowded. This allows the hot air to circulate properly and ensures that your chicken cooks evenly and becomes crispy.
By following these steps, you'll be able to prepare your air fryer basket effectively and ensure optimal cooking results for your fried chicken.
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Cooking the chicken
To cook fried chicken in an air fryer, start by preparing the chicken. Wash the chicken and pat it dry with paper towels. If using frozen chicken, it is best to thaw it first before coating it with spices and cooking it in the air fryer. For even cooking, it is best to slice the chicken thinly.
Next, prepare the buttermilk mixture. In a large bowl, add buttermilk, eggs, paprika, hot sauce, salt, and pepper, and whisk until combined. You can also add baking powder and baking soda. If you don't have buttermilk, you can make your own by mixing one tablespoon of vinegar with one cup of milk and letting it sit for 5-10 minutes. You can also add a little hot sauce to the buttermilk to bring some heat.
Now, it's time to dredge the chicken. In a shallow dish, add flour, and optionally, cornstarch, and seasoning. You can also use breading instead of flour. First, dredge the chicken in the flour on all sides, then dip it into the buttermilk mixture, and finally, dredge it in the flour one more time. Ensure the chicken is well coated. Place the chicken on a plate or rack and repeat with all the pieces.
After the chicken is prepared, preheat the air fryer to 350°F-390°F. Mist the air fryer basket with oil to prevent the chicken from sticking. You can use an oil mister or a pastry brush to apply the oil. Place the chicken in the air fryer basket, allowing enough room between each piece for airflow. Make sure the chicken is in a single layer and does not overlap. Spray the chicken with oil to ensure even cooking and browning.
Now, you are ready to air fry the chicken. Air fry at 350°F-390°F for 15-25 minutes, depending on the recipe. For chicken strips, check frequently to prevent overcooking. Halfway through the cooking time, open the unit and mist any dry spots with oil. Then, carefully flip the chicken and cook for another 5-10 minutes until the internal temperature reaches 165°F. You can use a meat thermometer to check the temperature. The chicken is now ready to be served hot and crispy straight from the air fryer!
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Reheating and storing the chicken
Leftover fried chicken should be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to four to five days. To freeze, place the cooked chicken in a ziplock bag and freeze for up to six months.
When it comes to reheating, avoid using the microwave, as it will make the chicken skin soggy. Instead, reheat your fried chicken in a preheated air fryer or a preheated oven. To reheat in an air fryer, preheat it to 370-375 degrees Fahrenheit for about 4 to 10 minutes, flipping the chicken halfway through.
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Frequently asked questions
First, marinate the chicken in a buttermilk mixture. Then, dredge the chicken in a flour mixture, ensuring both sides are well coated. Place the chicken in the air fryer basket in a single layer, being careful not to overcrowd the basket. Spray the chicken with oil and air fry for 15 minutes. Flip the chicken, spray with oil again, and cook for another 5-10 minutes, until the internal temperature reaches 165°F.
Preheat your air fryer to 350°F.
It will take 20-25 minutes in total to cook the fried chicken in the air fryer.
Use a meat thermometer to check that the internal temperature of the chicken has reached 165°F.
It is best to thaw frozen chicken before coating with spices and cooking in the air fryer. This will create the best texture for your chicken.
