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Food & Recipes

How to Cook Chicken Wings in an Air Fryer

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Air fryers are quickly becoming a favorite appliance in many kitchens, and it’s easy to see why. They’re versatile, user-friendly, and compact, and you can cook a truly endless number of dishes in them. If you want a real crowd pleaser, here’s how to make the best chicken wings in an air fryer.

Are air-fried wings healthy?

Cooking chicken wings in an air fryer is a healthier alternative to the traditional frying method. In fact, you cut 70 to 80 percent of the calories by not drenching them in fatty oils. Plus, putting so much oil into your body can also cause a number of health problems over time, like high cholesterol and heart issues, so the air fryer route is smarter on that front, too!

How do you prepare chicken for the air fryer?

One important thing to remember when cooking anything in an air fryer is that it’s typically a smaller space than a traditional oven, and because of that, if any cuts of meat are too thick or aren’t evenly distributed within the air fryer, they won’t cook thoroughly. With chicken wings, be sure to inspect your chicken to make sure that your pieces are separated from one another and that you cut off any excess pieces that aren’t uniform with the rest of the wing. That’ll save you lots of distress later when you pull out your chicken and realize it’s not cooked all the way through. Once that’s done, give your wings a pat down with a paper towel.

After that, any brines, seasonings, or crusts are entirely up to you. You can just sprinkle some salt over your wings, or you can take a more elaborate approach with numerous spices, herbs, and rubs. A combo of oil, paprika, onion powder, garlic powder, salt, and pepper, with the ratios mixed to your liking, is a good start for beginners.

Can you put raw chicken in the air fryer?

Yes, you can definitely cook raw chicken in an air fryer. In fact, doing so can save you a ton of time and clean-up later on. Some people may warm up their chicken in the oven before using the air fryer to get it extra crispy, but that’s not entirely needed to get delicious wings. (And if anything, it adds an unnecessary extra step!)

Should you thaw chicken before air frying?

Definitely give frozen chicken at least a few hours to thaw before putting it in your air fryer, if not longer. You don’t want to risk your chicken not cooking all the way through when you take it out. No one wants to bite into a wing and taste a frozen block of poultry!

How many chicken wings can you cook in an air fryer?

The number of chicken wings that’ll fit in your air fryer will completely depend on the model you have. That said, what’s more important is that the wings you put in your fryer don’t touch each other. If they’re too close together, parts of them may not cook evenly.

How long do they take to cook in the air fryer?

This really depends on the approach you take with your wings. You could cook them for 12 minutes on each side at 360 degrees Fahrenheit or 10 minutes on each side at 400 degrees Fahrenheit. It’s all about if you like a slightly slower approach to really let your chicken get extra tender and juicy or if you want a higher temperature to get those wings crispier. (And if you want to look at other chicken recipes, you can check out a ton of them here!)

It doesn’t take much to cook a delicious plate of chicken wings using solely your air fryer. And once you’re done, make sure to thoroughly clean your air fryer so that it’s ready for its next use!

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