Mistakes Everyone Makes When Cooking Fried Chicken in the Air Fryer
Image by: Mashed
Do you love to use your air fryer when cooking fried chicken? If you do, are you sure you are doing it correctly? Here are mistakes everyone makes when cooking fried chicken in the air fryer by Mashed on Youtube. Learn some tips and tricks to get the crispiest, juiciest, and most flavorful results. Watch the video below for the full explanation.
1. Failing to preheat
There’s continuous debate whether you should preheat your air fryer or not. But the best thing to do is to check the manual for the particular brand or model as it will clearly explain when you should preheat. But if you are cooking chicken, you must assume preheating is the best option.
2. Not patting the chicken dry
Before placing your chicken in the air fryer, you should pat it completely dry using a clean paper towel. According to the principal chef at HelloFresh, Claudia Sidoti, patting the raw chicken dry before cooking “reduce the chicken’s overall moisture content” which prevents it from releasing moisture during the cooking process. If you are having difficulty sticking the seasonings, Pantry & Lander suggests coating the chicken lightly with olive oil before rubbing the herbs and chicken.
3. Skimping on the seasoning
Don’t skimp on the seasoning. Your chicken needs some salt, at the very least, according to Bon Appetit. To bring the moisture from the chicken to its surface, add salt generously to the raw chicken. This makes the skin crisp in the air fryer. Don’t forget to season the breading with herbs such as garlic powder, onion powder, and paprika.
4. Not breaking correctly
Blue Jean Chef suggests using a traditional dredge method to coat each piece of chicken. First, coat the chicken in flour, dip it into whipped eggs, and finally put in the breadcrumb mixture. Use your fingers to firmly press the mixture into the chicken.
5. Using the wrong oil
Add a little oil to the chicken before you put them inside the air fryer basket. Simply recipe warns that adding too much oil could make it drip down to the bottom of the basket which creates a lot of smoke.
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6. Not cooking in batches
If you plan in cooking large amounts of food in the air fryer, The New York Times suggests buying a large-capacity one. If you overcrowd the basket, there will be unevenly cooked foods as it compromises airflow, according to The Krazy Koupon Lady.
7. Not flipping the chicken
To ensure that all pieces are completely cooked on all sides, you have to flip the chicken. Use a pair of kitchen tongs to flip the chicken pieces halfway through the cooking process, as suggested by America’s Test Kitchen.
8. Not lining the basket
When cooking fried chicken in the air fryer, you might want to use parchment sheets, according to Air Fryer World. They are generally safe to use at temperatures up to 450 degrees.
9. Setting the temperature too high
If you are not careful, the intense cooking process of the air fryer can quickly turn the chicken dry.
10. Not using the proper settings
Make sure to check the manual for the controls before cooking your fried chicken.
11. Not letting it rest
Each piece of chicken holds in heat for a few more minutes after cooking which allows it to finish the cooking process and absorb some moisture that is lost. According to Aron Robins, once you hit 165 degrees, stop the heat and let it rest for a few minutes before you cut it. This allows the juices to redistribute themselves back through the meat.
12. Not checking the temperature
According to the USDA, 165 degrees Fahrenheit is the safe cooking temperature for chicken.
