Buffalo Wild Wings is a popular chain restaurant known for its chicken wings served in a variety of bold sauces and seasonings. With the choice of traditional or boneless wings, customers can customize their wing eating experience. One question that often comes up is whether Buffalo Wild Wings deep fries or bakes their famous wings.
The Cooking Process at Buffalo Wild Wings
When an order of wings comes into the kitchen at Buffalo Wild Wings, the raw chicken wings first go into a deep fryer. The wings are partially cooked in the deep fryer for 5-6 minutes at around 350 degrees Fahrenheit. This par-frying helps render excess fat and gives the wings a lightly crispy exterior.
After par-frying, the wings are removed from the oil and seasoned or sauced according to the customer’s order. Popular wing flavors at Buffalo Wild Wings include Mild, Medium, Hot, Mango Habanero, Parmesan Garlic, Lemon Pepper, and Caribbean Jerk. The flavored wings then go into a high-powered oven to finish cooking at 400-425 degrees Fahrenheit for 10-15 minutes.
This combination of par-frying and high-heat baking gives the wings a tender interior and crispy exterior. The par-fry creates that signature crunch in the skin while the oven bake cooks the wings through without drying them out. So in summary, while Buffalo Wild Wings does briefly deep fry their wings, the wings are ultimately baked to completion.
Why Buffalo Wild Wings Uses This Cooking Method
There are a few key reasons why Buffalo Wild Wings choses to par-fry and bake their wings rather than just deep frying or baking alone:
- Par-frying renders fat – Deep frying the raw wings first helps render excess fat and creates a crispy skin.
- Baking cooks evenly – Baking allows the wings to cook through gently and evenly without over-crisping.
- Crispy and tender – The method produces both a crispy exterior and moist, tender interior.
- Speeds up service – Par-frying partially cooks the wings so they bake faster.
- Less oil usage – Shorter deep fry time uses less oil compared to a full deep fry.
Deep frying alone would make the wings too greasy while baking alone would produce a drier, less crispy wing. Buffalo Wild Wings has perfected the cooking technique over its 40+ years in business to achieve the ideal texture.
How Customers Can Request Crispy Wings
While the par-fry and bake technique works well for most people, some Buffalo Wild Wings customers prefer their wings to be extra crispy. Here are some tips for customers who want extra crispy wings when dining at Buffalo Wild Wings:
- Request wings “extra well done” – This signals the kitchen to bake the wings longer to crisp them up.
- Order extra crispy style – Buffalo Wild Wings offers an “extra crispy” wing preparation style to bake wings longer.
- Avoid saucy flavors – Sticky, saucy flavors like Medium or Mango Habanero will lead to less crispy wings.
- Opt for dry rubs – Seasonings like Salt & Pepper or Cajun will be the crispiest.
- Ask for fresh oil – Wings fried in older, dirtier oil will be less crispy.
Being clear with your server that you want your wings baked until very crispy is key. The kitchen wants to prepare them to your liking.
Nutritional Difference Between Fried and Baked
While Buffalo Wild Wings does quickly par-fry their wings, the wings do ultimately bake for a longer period of time. This leads to some difference in nutrition compared to a full fry:
| Nutrition Facts | 6 Deep Fried Wings | 6 Buffalo Wild Wings Wings |
|---|---|---|
| Calories | 730 | 460 |
| Fat | 49g | 28g |
| Carbs | 12g | 6g |
| Protein | 42g | 42g |
Fully deep frying chicken adds significantly more oil, nearly double the fat and calories. Buffalo Wild Wings’ cooking method creates a healthier wing with less oil absorption.
Other Menu Items Deep Fried at Buffalo Wild Wings
While the wings are baked after par-frying, there are some other items at Buffalo Wild Wings that do undergo a full deep fry:
- French fries
- Onion rings
- Cheese curds
- Fried pickles
- Wontons
- Chicken tenders
These sides are fully submerged and cooked in the deep fryer at 350 degrees Fahrenheit until golden brown and crispy. The oil helps make these items extra crispy and gives them a signature fried flavor.
Conclusion
While Buffalo Wild Wings is known as a wing destination, their famous chicken wings are not completely deep fried. The wings go through a multi-step process, starting with a brief 5-6 minute deep fry, followed by high heat baking for 10-15 minutes. This gives them the benefits of both frying and baking for a crispy exterior and moist interior.
Customers craving an extra crispy wing can request their wings “extra well done.” And while the wings are not fully fried, menu items like fries and cheese curds do undergo a full deep fry for maximum crunch.
So in summary, the signature wings at Buffalo Wild Wings are par-fried then baked, giving them a balance of crispy and tender with less oil than a full fry.