Air Fryer Hack: Frozen Orange Chicken, Quick Fix!

Cooking frozen orange chicken in an air fryer is a quick and easy way to prepare a tasty meal. The process is simple: preheat your air fryer, place the frozen chicken pieces in a single layer in the basket, and cook for around 8-13 minutes. While the chicken cooks, heat the sauce in a bowl of hot water. Once the chicken is cooked, toss it in the sauce and serve.

Preheat the air fryer at 400 degrees F for 5 minutes

Preheat your air fryer to 400 degrees F for 5 minutes. This is the first step to cooking frozen orange chicken in an air fryer. It's important to preheat the air fryer to ensure the chicken cooks evenly.

Once the air fryer is preheated, you can place the frozen chicken pieces in the basket. Make sure to arrange them in a single layer, leaving a little space between each piece. This will allow the hot air to circulate around the chicken and ensure even cooking.

Depending on the size and thickness of your chicken pieces, you may need to adjust the cooking time. For smaller chicken bites or nuggets, 8 minutes should be sufficient. For larger pieces, you may need to cook for up to 13 minutes.

While the chicken is cooking, you can prepare the orange sauce. Place the frozen sauce packet in a bowl of hot water to thaw it. Once the chicken is cooked, transfer it to a bowl and pour the sauce over it. Toss the chicken until it is well coated in the sauce.

Place the chicken in a single layer in the air fryer basket, leaving space between each piece

When cooking frozen orange chicken in an air fryer, it's important to place the chicken pieces in a single layer in the air fryer basket, leaving a little space between each piece. This ensures even cooking and prevents overcrowding, which can lead to uneven results.

To do this, simply arrange the frozen chicken pieces in the air fryer basket, being careful not to overlap or crowd them. Leave a small gap between each piece to allow for proper air circulation and even cooking. This step is crucial as it ensures that the chicken cooks evenly and thoroughly, resulting in a crispy exterior and juicy interior.

Depending on the size and thickness of the chicken pieces, you may need to cook them in batches to avoid overcrowding the air fryer basket. By giving the chicken pieces adequate space, you promote even cooking and prevent sogginess. This is especially important if you're using a thicker coating or sauce, as it can impact the cooking time and temperature.

Additionally, some air fryers may cook hotter than others, so it's essential to refer to your air fryer's instructions and adjust the cooking time and temperature accordingly. Once you've cooked your first batch, you'll have a better understanding of what works best for your specific air fryer and the size of the chicken pieces.

Cook for 8-13 minutes, shaking the basket at the 5-minute mark to flip the chicken

Cooking frozen orange chicken in an air fryer is a quick and easy process. After preheating your air fryer to 400 degrees, place the chicken pieces in the basket in a single layer, leaving a little space between each one. You should then cook the chicken for 8-13 minutes, shaking the basket at the 5-minute mark to flip the chicken. This will ensure that the chicken cooks evenly and gets crispy on both sides.

The exact cooking time will depend on the size and thickness of the chicken pieces, as well as the specific model of your air fryer. Some air fryers cook hotter than others, so it's important to keep an eye on the chicken to ensure it doesn't overcook.

Once the chicken is cooked, you can transfer it to a bowl and pour the heated sauce over it. Toss the chicken and sauce together until well combined. You can then serve the chicken on its own or with fluffy rice, topped with scallions and sesame seeds.

Heat the sauce separately in hot water while the chicken is cooking

While the chicken is cooking, heat the sauce separately in hot water. You can do this by placing a bowl of water in the microwave for one to two minutes, and then putting the frozen sauce packet in the hot water.

It is important to heat the sauce separately because, as one source points out, all air fryers are different and some cook much hotter than others. Once you have cooked your first batch, you will know more about what works for your model of air fryer and the size of your food.

The sauce should be heated while the chicken is cooking, so that it is ready to be tossed with the chicken when it comes out of the air fryer. You should not coat the chicken with the sauce until after it has been cooked in the air fryer.

Toss the chicken in the sauce once cooked

Once the chicken is cooked, you can toss it in the sauce. Place the cooked chicken into a large bowl and pour the sauce over the chicken. Toss the chicken until it is well coated. You can then serve the chicken on a bed of rice, topped with scallions and sesame seeds.

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