Make Juicy Chicken In Your Air Fryer: Tips And Tricks

Air fryers are a great way to cook chicken that is both juicy and tender. There are a few key steps to achieving this. Firstly, brining the chicken in a saltwater solution or dry brine will help the meat retain its natural juices. Secondly, a little olive oil will help the chicken stay moist and ensure that any herbs and spices stick to the meat. Finally, it is important not to overcrowd the air fryer and to check the temperature of the chicken early to avoid overcooking it.

Brining the chicken

Brining is a process that involves soaking your chicken in a saltwater solution before cooking it. This technique is highly recommended if you want to make your chicken moist in the air fryer. By letting the chicken sit in the brine for a while, the meat will absorb extra liquid and salt, which will help keep it moist and tender during cooking.

How to Brine Chicken for the Air Fryer:

• Make the brine: In a large bowl, combine lukewarm water and kosher salt. The basic ratio is 4 tablespoons of salt per 6 cups of water. Stir the solution until the salt is completely dissolved. You can also add other ingredients to the brine, such as sugar, herbs, or spices, to infuse extra flavour into the chicken.
• Prepare the chicken: Start with fresh, good-quality chicken breasts. Rinse the chicken and pat it dry with paper towels. Trimming any excess fat or skin is optional but can help reduce greasiness during cooking.
• Brine the chicken: Fully submerge the chicken in the brine solution. Make sure the chicken is covered, and let it sit in the refrigerator for 30 minutes to 2 hours. Do not exceed this time, as the chicken may become too salty.
• Remove and dry the chicken: After brining, remove the chicken from the brine and pat it dry with clean paper towels. Discard the brine solution.

Tips for Brining Chicken:

• Use the right type of salt: It is recommended to use kosher salt for brining. Table salt tends to make the brine too salty. If you only have table salt, reduce the amount used.
• Consider the size of the chicken: The brining time will depend on the size of your chicken breasts. Smaller breasts will need less time in the brine, while larger breasts can handle a longer brining time.
• Don't over-brine: Over-brining can make your chicken too salty. Stick to the recommended brining times and don't leave the chicken in the brine for longer than necessary.
• Dry the chicken thoroughly: After removing the chicken from the brine, make sure to pat it dry with paper towels. This will help ensure a crispier exterior when cooked in the air fryer.

Using olive oil

Olive oil is a great way to keep your chicken moist when using an air fryer. It helps the seasonings adhere to the chicken and keeps it from drying out.

To start, you'll want to coat your chicken breasts in olive oil. This can be done by placing the chicken in the air fryer and then rubbing olive oil onto it, or by placing the chicken in a bowl and drizzling olive oil over it. You'll want to make sure that each piece of chicken is completely coated.

Next, you'll want to add your seasonings. You can use any combination of salt, pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, cayenne pepper, or Italian seasoning. Mix your chosen seasonings in a small bowl and then rub the mixture generously onto the chicken.

Once your chicken is coated in olive oil and seasonings, it's time to cook it. Place the chicken in the air fryer basket, leaving a bit of space between each piece to ensure even cooking. Set your air fryer to between 360-375 degrees Fahrenheit and cook for around 9 minutes. Then, flip the chicken and cook for an additional 9 minutes or until the internal temperature reaches 165 degrees Fahrenheit.

Finally, let the chicken rest for about 5 minutes before serving. This allows the juices to redistribute and helps ensure that your chicken is moist and tender.

Spacing out the chicken in the air fryer

• Thinly slice the chicken breasts: Cut each breast into thin, flat pieces to increase the surface area for even cooking and allow more space in the air fryer. This technique also results in juicier chicken and maximizes the flavour coating.
• Cook in batches: If you have a lot of chicken, cook it in batches to avoid overcrowding the air fryer. By giving the chicken pieces room to breathe, you ensure even cooking and browning.
• Don't overcrowd the basket: Only place as many chicken pieces in the air fryer basket as can fit comfortably with some space between them. This allows hot air to circulate around each piece, cooking it evenly and giving it that desirable crispy exterior.
• Use multiple levels: If your air fryer has multiple racks or levels, utilize them to cook more chicken at once without overcrowding.
• Flip halfway through: Always flip your chicken breasts halfway through the cooking process to ensure even cooking. This is especially important if your air fryer doesn't have a mechanism to rotate the food.
• Choose the right size: If your chicken breasts are particularly large, consider cutting them into smaller pieces or pounding them to an even thickness. This helps ensure the chicken cooks evenly and thoroughly without drying out.

Checking the temperature

Checking the internal temperature of your chicken is crucial to ensure it is cooked properly and remains juicy and moist. The safe minimum internal temperature for cooked chicken is 165°F (73.9°C).

Use an instant-read thermometer to check the temperature of your chicken. Insert the thermometer into the thickest part of the chicken breast to get an accurate reading.

If you do not have an instant-read thermometer, you can also cut into the thickest part of the chicken to check that it is no longer pink and the juices run clear. However, this method is not as accurate as using a thermometer and may result in overcooking the chicken.

For boneless, skinless chicken breasts, the cooking time will vary depending on the size and thickness of the meat. Here is a general guide for cooking times based on the weight of the chicken breasts:

• Small breasts (5 to 7 ounces): 7 to 10 minutes
• Medium breasts (8 to 10 ounces): 10 to 12 minutes
• Large breasts (11 ounces or more): 12 to 16 minutes

Always flip the chicken breasts halfway through the cooking process to ensure even cooking.

It is important to note that cooking times may vary depending on your specific air fryer model, the wattage, and the style (basket vs toaster). Therefore, it is recommended to use the temperature of the chicken as the main indicator of doneness rather than relying solely on the cooking time.

Additionally, if you are cooking a full basket of chicken breasts, it may take slightly longer (around 1 to 2 minutes) compared to cooking a single piece.

Letting the chicken come to room temperature before cooking, instead of cooking it straight from the refrigerator, may also require a minute or two of additional cooking time.

To ensure your chicken is moist and juicy, avoid overcooking. Remove the chicken from the air fryer when it reaches an internal temperature of 155°F to 160°F, as the temperature will continue to rise during the resting period due to carryover cooking.

Allow the chicken to rest for about 5 minutes before slicing and serving. This resting period allows the juices to redistribute and be reabsorbed into the meat, preventing them from spilling out onto your plate.

Letting the chicken rest

When chicken is cooked, the juices are drawn towards the centre of the meat due to the heat. By letting the chicken rest, you give those juices a chance to settle back into the meat, making it moist and juicy. This is especially important for chicken breasts, which are leaner and can easily dry out if overcooked.

The optimal resting time for chicken cooked in an air fryer depends on the size of the breasts. For smaller breasts (around 5 to 7 ounces), 7 to 10 minutes of resting time is sufficient. For medium-sized breasts (8 to 10 ounces), aim for 10 to 13 minutes. Larger breasts (11 ounces or more) may need up to 18 minutes to rest properly.

Tips for Optimal Resting

• Use an instant-read thermometer to check the internal temperature of the chicken. It should reach 165ºF to be considered safely cooked.
• Don't skip the dry brine before cooking, as this helps keep the chicken moist.
• Ensure the chicken is evenly spaced in the air fryer basket to cook evenly.
• The chicken will continue to cook while resting, so aim to remove it from the air fryer at around 155ºF to 160ºF, and let the resting period bring it to the final safe temperature.

By following these tips and allowing your chicken to rest for the appropriate amount of time, you'll end up with moist and juicy air-fried chicken that's perfect for any meal.

Frequently asked questions