Air fryers are a must-have for every kitchen—and one of the biggest reasons is because they make cooking chicken wings so easy. You can prepare them, cook them, and serve them all in one compact appliance! But if you want to make sure that your air fryer chicken wings come out perfectly crispy and delicious every time, you have to follow these six crucial tips:
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Pat dry your chicken wings to ensure crispy skin.
- Pat dry your chicken wings with paper towels before cooking them. This will help ensure they’re nice and crispy in the air fryer, and is particularly important if you’re going to toss them in sauce afterward.
- Don’t overdo it on the wet towels! Use just enough water to rub off excess moisture from each wing (that’s about one-third of what you’d use for hand washing dishes), but don’t let any excess water drip into your oil or butter—you’ll end up with soggy wings instead of crispy ones.
- Be sure not to overcrowd the basket or tray when placing your wings in it; this will cause them not only not cook evenly but also potentially burn if there are too many touching each other at once (or worse yet: forget how much space there is between each piece). A single layer should do nicely here; place skin side up so that every inch gets coated evenly!
- Make sure that there’s no room left over after tossing all of those tasty pieces together with some delicious sauce before serving; otherwise, they won’t be able to soak up enough flavor without getting soggy themselves.”
Salt the chicken wings thoroughly before cooking.
Salt is an important ingredient in making chicken wings. It helps the skin crisp up, it preserves moisture and it helps a sauce stick to the chicken.
The amount of salt needed depends on how many wings you’re cooking and if they will be breaded or not. For example, if you’ve seasoned your wings with a spice rub before cooking then there’s no need to add any more salt (or extra oil) during air-frying. However, if you are using plain skinless chicken breasts then adding some salt will help them stay juicy while being cooked in hot oil.
To get started with salting your meat before air frying:
- Season each side of your meat evenly with kosher or sea salt – do NOT rub it into the meat! Instead, use one hand to gently massage the top layer of skin towards one end until it becomes almost see-through; repeat this process over every surface until all sides are coated evenly with a thin layer of salt crystals
Toss in a little oil for perfect crispness.
- For the crispest results, toss your wings in a little cooking oil. But don’t overdo it: you want to use just enough to coat each wing without making them soggy.
- Use an oil with a high smoke point as opposed to its flavor (a higher smoke point will mean that it won’t burn at all). I like using avocado or peanut oils for this since they have such high smoke points and really good taste.
- Don’t use an oil that’s too thin or too thick. If the oil is too thin, chances are you’ll end up with greasy wings (and if it’s too thick, you may have trouble getting that delicious crispy texture). I like using sunflower seed oils because they offer both a light flavor and medium thickness—perfect for air frying!
Don’t overcrowd the basket or tray.
If you like to sauce up your wings, try adding a little bit of sauce before cooking. You can use whatever kind of oil you prefer or even just water if that’s all you have on hand. Just make sure not to overdo it! The ratio should be about 2 tablespoons of oil for every pound of chicken wings (so a three-pound bag would need 6 tablespoons).
If you want crunchy skin without frying in oil for hours, air fryers are the way to go! This method also ensures that your chicken won’t dry out too much and that all the juices stay inside so they’re super tender when done. It’s important not to overcrowd the basket or tray because this will steam instead of fry—and nobody likes soggy meat anyway.
Place the wings in a single layer with the skin side facing up.
Now that you have your wings in the air fryer, place them in a single layer with the skin side up. That’s right! It is important for them to be cooked skin side up to prevent oil from splattering and the added fat from dripping down into your food.
If you are cooking a large batch of wings, make sure they don’t overlap. This makes it easier for all of them to cook evenly on all sides—a crucial step if you want crispy chicken wings every time!
Once they’re done cooking (the total time will depend on how many wings and how large they are), remove them from the air fryer and serve immediately—they won’t stay crispy if left out at room temperature too long.
To keep cooked chicken drumsticks warm while serving guests or storing in an oven until needed, cover with foil and store in a preheated oven set between 200°F (93°C) – 400°F (204°C). If neither of those options is available (and who doesn’t want hot snacks ready whenever?) then simply place on top of a baking sheet lined with parchment paper until ready for use again later!
Mix up your favorite sauce before tossing with cooked wings.
If you’re not a fan of sauce, no worries—you can still coat the wings in a thin layer of oil and seasonings before tossing them in your air fryer. It’s also important to make sure that whatever sauce you choose is thin enough so it will coat all the parts of each wing. If it’s too thick, use a fork or spoon to stir the sauce around until it reaches desired consistency.
There are lots of different types of sauces out there—some people prefer buffalo sauce while others like BBQ. And don’t forget about dipping sauces! Who doesn’t love ranch dressing? Try experimenting with different combinations until you find your favorite combination for both flavor and texture (a little crunchy with some softness). Once you’ve found something that works for you, keep going back to this recipe over and over again so that eventually making crispy wings becomes even quicker than ordering takeout!
These tips will make your air-fried chicken wings even better than your go-to recipe!
Whether you’re a seasoned air-frying pro or just starting out, we’ve got some tips that will make your wings even better.
- Cooking time: Just because an air fryer says it can cook something in 10 minutes doesn’t mean it’s the best way to do it. Depending on the thickness of your chicken wings and how much oil you use (more is not better for this recipe), cooking time may vary.
- Fat content: If you’re concerned about fat content in food and want to keep things as healthy as possible, try using an olive oil spray rather than regular vegetable oil. This will help cut down on calories without compromising flavor or texture too much!
- Serving suggestions: Air fried chicken wings are delicious served with all kinds of dipping sauces, but there are plenty of other great ways to enjoy them! Try topping them with ranch dressing or barbecue sauce at parties; drizzling them with honey mustard before baking; sprinkling on crushed red pepper flakes after they come out of the oven…the possibilities are endless!
Conclusion
We hope that these tips will help you master the art of air-fried chicken wings and make your favorite recipe even better. Now go on, and cook up some of those delicious crispy treats!
