What Are the Best Tips for Frying Chicken Wings?

The best tips for frying chicken wings are typically those that involve choosing the right cooking method and making sure the chicken is cooked through, without being overdone on the outside. Many helpful tips also focus on ensuring that the outside of the chicken is crunchy while the inside is juicy. Often, the best tips also help cooks with oil selection and cooking temperature, and an individual may benefit from tips that focus on coating chicken as well.

There are various methods of frying foods, including sautéing, which involves only a small amount of butter or oil in the bottom of the pan, and stir-frying, which involves a small amount of fat and constant stirring of the food in the pot. Most people, however, use deep frying methods for frying chicken wings, which involve using enough oil to cover the pieces. Shallow frying, in which the oil covers only about half of each chicken piece, is another option. Both methods allow for the crispiness most people want in fried chicken wings.

Some tips for frying chicken wings also focus on choosing the best oil for the job. Usually, cooking experts recommend using fresh oil, as old oil can become rancid and translate into less crispy chicken. Likewise, some recommend choosing canola oil as a healthier alternative to the standard vegetable oil or lard that some people use to fry chicken. Many also assert that peanut oil is a good choice for adding flavor to the fried chicken.

Temperature tips also are often among those offered for frying chicken wings. Experts usually recommend keeping the temperature of the oil between 350 and 375°F (about 176 to 190°C) while frying. This generally means bringing the oil to temperature first and then adding the chicken.

The addition of the chicken may lower the oil temperature a bit. If the cook adds just a few pieces of chicken at a time, however, this can help ensure that the temperature stays at a minimum of 350°F (about 176°C). If the oil temperature is too low, the risk of soggy pieces is higher. If it is too high, the outside of the chicken may cook and even burn long before the inside is ready. Using an oil thermometer can be helpful.

Many tips for frying chicken wings are also focused on the coating of the chicken. Making good coating choices is usually key to crispy, appetizing wings. Often, cooking experts recommend dipping the chicken pieces in egg to encourage the coating to stick and then coating the pieces with a flour, cornstarch, and baking powder mixture. Some people use crushed crackers, seasoned flour, or even breadcrumbs instead, but baking powder is typically considered an important ingredient for making the chicken as crunchy as possible.