How to Cook Fried Chicken That’s Perfect Every Single Time

When it comes to comfort food, no dish can top the juiciness and crispiness of a perfectly cooked fried chicken. While cooking it can seem like a challenge, fear not! We’ve got some helpful tips on how to cook fried chicken that’s juicy, crispy, and delicious.

From frying with the right oil to maintaining the crispiness of fried chicken, these tips will teach you everything you need to know about cooking fried chicken that will satisfy your cravings every single time.

Tip #1: Brine Your Chicken

Every guide on how to cook fried chicken should include brining. Brining is the culinary secret to keeping fried chicken moist, tender, and flavorful all throughout. A basic brine calls for soaking the chicken in a mix of salt and water for some time (1 hour per 1 pound of chicken) before cooking. But, if you really want to elevate your dish, our top fried chicken tip is to brine it in Knorr Chicken Powder for that next-level umami taste. Here’s how to do it:

• Mix 70 grams of Knorr Chicken Powder and 25 grams of white sugar in 1 liter of water.
• Place over medium heat until it comes to a boil.
  Bring down to a simmer for 1 minute and set aside until cooled.
• Once the mixture is cooled, submerge the chicken in the liquid and brine for a few hours in the refrigerator.

Make sure that your brine is at room temperature before submerging the chicken to avoid accidentally cooking it in hot liquid.

Tip #2: Make Sure Your Chicken is at Room Temperature

Cooking cold (or even frozen) chicken is never a good idea. You run the risk of either having chicken that’s cooked on the outside and raw on the inside or one that’s fully cooked but dry all throughout. For fried chicken that’s juicy and safe to eat, let your chicken rest at room temperature for 30 minutes before cooking to avoid any kitchen mishap!

Tip #3: Pat Your Chicken Dry

One fried chicken tip that ensures you’ll get that crispy chicken skin every single time is drying the skin. After brining, use paper towels to pat the chicken dry. The drier the chicken skin, the crispier it will be after frying. The best way to learn how to crisp chicken skin is to keep practicing. Try this Extra Crispy Korean Fried Chicken recipe for an Asian twist to crispy fried chicken.

Tip #4: Keep it Simple and Season Generously

There are so many tips and tricks on how to cook fried chicken that use different kinds of breading for the chicken. Keep it simple by using only flour and eggs as your chicken coating. The first step is to dredge the chicken in flour. Next, dip it in the egg mixture and then coat it once more with flour. Don’t forget to season every step of the way by adding salt and your choice of spices to both the flour and egg mixture.

If simple isn’t what you’re looking for and you want something a bit more crunchy, try this fried chicken recipe that uses Panko (Japanese breadcrumbs) in the coating.

Tip #5: Use the Right Oil and Keep it Hot

Learning how to cook fried chicken includes knowing the right type of oils to use when frying. Skip the extra virgin olive oil and use neutral oils with a high smoke point like canola, peanut, or vegetable oil. Some people swear by lard and you can use that as well, as long as you keep the temperature to 350F. We highly recommend getting a thermometer to ensure your oil stays hot all the time.

Tip #6: Fry in Batches and Don’t Crowd The Pan

We know it’s tempting to cram as many chicken pieces into a pan, especially when you’re making a big batch, but trust us on this. If you want to maintain the crispiness of fried chicken, leave enough room between the pieces while so they don’t turn into a soggy mess. Simply fry in batches to get that crispy chicken skin.

Tip #7: Get Rid of the Paper Towels

To keep your fried chicken crispy, stop placing them on paper towels as soon as they come out of the frying pan. While they are effective in getting rid of extra grease, placing your chicken on them erases all your effort in following all our fried chicken tips. Maintain the crispiness of fried chicken by letting them sit on a cooling rack on top of a baking sheet. You can even keep them warm by placing them in an oven at 200F until you’re ready to eat. Try this fried chicken tip when you make this All-Time Favorite Pinoy Style Fried Chicken!

Learning how to cook fried chicken is a good skill to have in your repertoire to make everyday and special occasions even better! With these fried chicken tips and recipes, you’re well on your way to making fried chicken that’s perfectly juicy and crispy every single time. While you’re at it, make sure to also check out these 7 Trendy Side Dishes for Fried Chicken that’ll be sure to wow your friends and family!