Air Fryer Whole Chicken: Cooking Time Perfection

Cooking a whole chicken in an air fryer is a quick and easy way to get a delicious, juicy bird with crispy skin. It takes about an hour to cook a 5lb chicken, but the cooking time will vary depending on the wattage and size of your air fryer, as well as the size of your chicken. It's important to check the size of the chicken you are buying to ensure it will fit in your air fryer.

Cooking time varies depending on the size of the chicken and the air fryer

The cooking time will also depend on the wattage and size of your air fryer. It's important to check the size of the chicken you are buying to ensure it will fit in your air fryer. If your chicken is bigger, it may be too large and touch the top of the air fryer. In this case, you can untie it before cooking. If it's still touching the top, gently press the chicken breast with your palm to slightly crack the breast bone.

To cook a whole chicken in an air fryer, you should first place the chicken in the basket breast side down. Cook for 40-45 minutes, then flip the chicken to breast side up for the remaining 20-30 minutes. This will ensure the breast side has crispy skin when done. Your chicken is cooked to perfection when an instant-read thermometer indicates an internal temperature of 165°F. After cooking, remove the chicken from the air fryer and let it rest for 5-10 minutes before serving.

The chicken should be cooked breast side down for the first 30-40 minutes

Cooking a 5lb chicken in an air fryer will take about an hour, but it's important to cook it breast side down for the first 30-40 minutes. This is because the breast meat is leaner than the leg meat and can dry out if it's cooked breast side up for too long. Cooking it breast side down for the first half of the cooking time will ensure that the juices run into the breast, keeping it moist and tender. After 30-40 minutes, flip the chicken over and cook breast side up for the remaining 20-30 minutes. This will ensure that the skin on the breast is crispy when it's done. Your chicken is cooked to perfection when an instant-read thermometer indicates an internal temperature of 165°F. After the cooking time is complete, remove the chicken from the air fryer and let it rest for 5-10 minutes before serving.

Flip the chicken to breast side up for the remaining 10-20 minutes

It's important to flip the chicken to breast side up for the remaining 10-20 minutes of cooking time. This will ensure that the breast side has crispy skin when it's done. The chicken will cook on the air fry setting for about an hour. If it's over 4 lbs, you'll want to add 5-10 minutes to the cooking time.

The chicken should be cooked breast side down for the first 30-40 minutes. After this time, flip the chicken over using tongs. It's important to check the size of the chicken you are buying to ensure it will fit in your air fryer. For example, a Phillips XXL Air Fryer has a 3 lb / 4 qt capacity and can fit a 5 lb chicken.

The chicken is cooked to perfection when an instant-read thermometer indicates an internal temperature of 165°F. After the cooking time is complete, remove the chicken from the air fryer and let it rest for 5-10 minutes before serving.

Note that cooking times may vary depending on your air fryer wattage, size, and the size of your chicken.

The internal temperature should be at least 165°F

It's important to make sure that the internal temperature of your chicken reaches at least 165°F (74°C) to ensure that it is cooked properly and is safe to eat. You can check this using an instant-read thermometer. Place the thermometer into the thickest part of the chicken breast to get an accurate reading. If the internal temperature hasn't reached 165°F, continue cooking the chicken in short intervals, checking the temperature each time until it reaches the correct level.

It's also important to let the chicken rest for 5-10 minutes after cooking to allow the juices to redistribute and ensure a juicy, tender chicken.

Let the chicken rest for 5-10 minutes before serving

It takes about an hour to cook a 5lb chicken in an air fryer. The chicken should be cooked breast side down for the first 40-50 minutes, and then flipped to breast side up for the remaining 10-20 minutes. Once the chicken has an internal temperature of at least 165°F, it should be removed from the air fryer and left to rest for 5-10 minutes before serving. This resting period is important as it allows the juices to redistribute, ensuring the chicken is juicy and tender.

During the resting period, the chicken will continue to cook slightly due to residual heat, so it's important not to skip this step. After resting, the chicken will be ready to serve. It's a good idea to check the size of the chicken before cooking to ensure it fits in your air fryer, and to be aware that cooking times may vary depending on the wattage and size of your air fryer.

Frequently asked questions