Air Fryer Wings: Achieving The Perfect Crunch

Chicken wings are a popular snack and appetiser, but frying them can be messy and unhealthy. Air fryers offer a healthier alternative to deep-fat frying, but can you get the same crispy texture? The answer is yes!

There are several methods for making crunchy chicken wings in an air fryer, but most involve a few key steps:

- Pat the wings dry with paper towels to remove excess moisture.

- Season the wings with a light coating of baking powder (and/or cornstarch), salt and pepper.

- Arrange the wings in a single layer in the air fryer basket, making sure they are not overlapping.

- Air fry at a low temperature (around 250°F/120°C) for 15-20 minutes, then increase the temperature to 400°F/200°C for a further 10-20 minutes, or until the wings are crispy.

You can also experiment with different sauces and seasonings to add extra flavour to your crunchy wings.

Use baking powder

Baking powder is the secret ingredient to making your chicken wings extra crispy. It reacts with the chicken skin by raising its pH level, creating tiny air bubbles, and helping to form a crispy coating.

How to Use Baking Powder to Make Crispy Wings in an Air Fryer

• Dry the wings: Use paper towels to pat the chicken wings dry before getting started. Moisture is the enemy of crispy skin.
• Add baking powder: In a large bowl, toss the wings with baking powder, olive oil, salt, and pepper. You can also add other seasonings like garlic powder or paprika.
• Air fry: Place the wings in the air fryer basket in a single layer, making sure they are not overlapping. Cook at a lower temperature for half the time, then flip the wings over, increase the temperature, and air fry until crispy.
• Increase the temperature: Cooking the wings at a lower temperature first makes the meat juicier, and increasing the heat later gets them extra crispy.
• Don't crowd the air fryer basket: Ensure that the air can flow through and crisp up the skin. It's okay if the wings touch slightly, but try to leave a little room between them.
• Check the internal temperature: Use a meat thermometer to confirm that the internal temperature reaches at least 165°F (74°C).

Tips for Extra Crispy Wings

• Use aluminium-free baking powder: Baking powder that contains aluminium can cause a metallic taste for some people.
• Don't use baking soda: Baking soda will not work and will leave an unpleasant aftertaste.
• Dry the wings before seasoning: This will ensure that only a fine coating of baking powder sticks to the wings and will help them get crispier.
• Toss and flip the wings during cooking: Toss the wings every 3-5 minutes for even cooking and crispiness. Flipping them over halfway through will ensure even cooking and browning.
• Increase the temperature at the end: Cooking at a lower temperature first and then increasing the heat for the last few minutes will give you extra juicy chicken with crispy skin.

Pat the wings dry

Removing excess moisture from the chicken wings is key to achieving that coveted crispiness. To do this, use paper towels to pat the wings dry. Make sure to get into the nooks and crannies and absorb as much moisture as possible. This step ensures that the skin puffs up and blisters in the air fryer, resulting in that irresistible crunch.

After patting the wings dry, you can proceed to season them. However, if you're using a dry rub or a seasoning mix with salt, it's a good idea to let the wings sit in the refrigerator, uncovered, for a while. This step helps the salt absorb more moisture from the wings, leading to even crispier skin.

Once you've seasoned the wings, it's time to arrange them in the air fryer basket. Make sure they're in a single layer, with a little space between them to allow for even cooking and maximum crispiness. Avoid overcrowding the air fryer, as this can hinder the airflow and prevent the wings from getting that perfect crispy texture.

Now, you're all set to air fry those wings to golden brown perfection!

Use oil

Using oil is a great way to ensure your chicken wings are extra crispy. While some recipes suggest that you can cook wings without oil in an air fryer, adding a little oil will help the seasoning adhere to the wings and make them crispier.

You can use a variety of oils, including olive oil, avocado oil, canola oil, or vegetable oil. You only need a small amount—around half a tablespoon per pound of chicken wings. After patting the wings dry with paper towels, place them in a large bowl and toss with the oil, along with your choice of seasonings.

Once the wings are coated, place them in the air fryer basket in a single layer, leaving a little room between them so they cook evenly. Depending on the size of your air fryer, you may need to cook the wings in batches.

For extra crispy skin, some recipes suggest increasing the air fryer temperature for the last few minutes of cooking. You can also spritz the wings with a little extra oil during the final minutes of cooking to enhance the crispiness.

Don't overcrowd the air fryer

When making crunchy chicken wings in an air fryer, it's important to avoid the temptation to overcrowd the air fryer basket. The size of the average air fryer means that food is best cooked in batches to ensure it is golden and well-crisped. As a rule of thumb, it's best to air fry food in single layers rather than stacking it all at once.

Overcrowding the air fryer basket can lead to steaming rather than crisping, as the air cannot move around the food. This results in soggy, rather than crispy, food. To ensure even cooking and maximum crispiness, it's important to allow for good airflow. A single layer of chicken wings with space between them is ideal. If you're cooking for a larger group, it's better to cook in batches than overcrowd the air fryer.

If you're cooking vegetables, there is a little more flexibility. Some vegetables, like Brussels sprouts and broccoli, can be stacked and loaded into the air fryer. However, it's still important to ensure there is space for hot air to circulate, and you may need to stir or shake the vegetables halfway through the cooking process.

Increase the temperature

Increasing the temperature is a crucial step in achieving the perfect crunch for your chicken wings. While the initial cooking temperature varies across recipes, most sources recommend increasing the heat to 400°F (204°C) for the final few minutes of cooking.

For example, one recipe suggests cooking the wings at 380°F (193°C) for 20 minutes, flipping them every 5 minutes, and then increasing the temperature to 400°F for an additional 2 minutes for extra crispy skin. Another recipe recommends cooking the wings at 360°F (182°C) for 18 minutes, shaking the basket every 6 minutes, and then increasing the heat to 390°F (199°C) for 5-6 minutes until the wings are brown and crispy.

Similarly, another source suggests starting with a lower temperature of 250°F (121°C) for 15 minutes, and then increasing to 430°F (221°C) for the final 15-20 minutes. This method ensures that the wings are super juicy on the inside, while the higher temperature gives them that extra crispy texture on the outside.

It is important to note that the cooking time and temperature may vary depending on the size of your wings and the model of your air fryer. Therefore, it is always a good idea to keep an eye on your wings to ensure they don't overcook or burn.

Frequently asked questions