Quick Answer
Yes, you can absolutely fry chicken at 350 degrees Fahrenheit. This temperature is within the ideal range for frying chicken, which is between 325-375°F. Frying at 350°F will allow the chicken to cook through without burning the outside. The chicken will develop a crispy, golden brown exterior while remaining juicy on the inside when fried at this temperature.
Frying Chicken Basics
Frying is a quick, delicious way to cook chicken. When chicken is fried, it is submerged in hot oil which cooks the chicken rapidly and infuses it with flavor. The temperature of the oil is crucial for proper frying. Here are some frying chicken basics:
- Use peanut, vegetable, canola or corn oil. Olive oil has too low of a smoke point.
- Heat the oil to between 325-375°F before adding chicken. This allows the exterior to brown while the interior cooks through.
- Do not overcrowd the pan. Fry chicken in batches if needed to maintain the oil temperature.
- Fry for 3-5 minutes per side until golden brown and cooked through.
- Let the chicken drain on a wire rack or paper towels before serving.
Following these tips will result in perfectly fried chicken with a crispy crust and moist interior. Frying at 350°F falls right in the ideal temperature range.
Why Fry Chicken at 350°F?
There are a few key reasons why 350°F is an optimal temperature for frying chicken:
- It allows the chicken to cook through without burning the outside.
- The chicken will develop a light, crispy crust.
- The chicken retains juiciness and does not dry out.
- Oil is less likely to smoke or splatter at 350°F vs higher temperatures.
- You avoid under or overcooking the chicken.
At 350°F, the hot oil will rapidly conduct heat into the chicken. The outside will brown while the inside cooks through in the short frying timeframe.
Frying chicken at a lower temperature around 325°F means the chicken will absorb more oil and end up greasy. Meanwhile, going above 375°F risks burning the exterior before the inside is cooked. So 350°F gives you the perfect balance.
Frying Tips for 350°F
Follow these tips when frying chicken at 350°F:
- Use a thermometer to verify oil temperature before adding chicken. Do not guess.
- Lower the chicken gently into the hot oil away from you to avoid splatter.
- Fry chicken for 3-5 minutes per side, adjusting time as needed.
- Monitor oil temperature and adjust heat to maintain around 350°F.
- Fry in batches to prevent overcrowding and temperature drops.
- Let chicken drain and cool slightly before serving.
Properly monitoring the temperature and frying in small batches will ensure your fried chicken turns out perfectly at 350°F.
Frying Oil Options
The type of frying oil can impact results when frying at 350°F. Consider these common frying oils:
| Oil | Smoke Point | Flavor |
|---|---|---|
| Peanut | 450°F | Neutral |
| Vegetable | 450°F | Neutral |
| Canola | 400°F | Neutral |
| Corn | 450°F | Neutral |
| Olive | 375°F | Fruity, peppery |
Peanut, vegetable, canola and corn oil are all good choices for frying at 350°F since they have smoke points well above that temperature. Olive oil is not the best choice as its smoke point is close to 350°F.
Recipe Ideas for Frying at 350°F
Here are some delicious fried chicken recipes ideal for cooking at 350°F:
Buttermilk Fried Chicken
- Soak chicken in buttermilk then coat in flour mixture.
- Flavors chicken and helps create a crispy crust.
- Fry 5 minutes per side at 350°F.
Nashville Hot Fried Chicken
- Coat chicken in spicy seasoned flour.
- Fry at 350°F then toss in hot sauce and butter.
- Spicy, crispy and full of flavor.
Crispy Fried Chicken Tenders
- Marinate chicken tenders in buttermilk, herbs and spices.
- Coat with seasoned flour, then fry 3-4 minutes at 350°F.
- Kid-friendly and crispy.
All of these fried chicken recipes will turn out mouthwateringly crispy and juicy when fried at 350°F. The flour coatings will get perfectly browned and the chicken will cook through.
Troubleshooting Fried Chicken at 350°F
If your fried chicken is not turning out right when frying at 350°F, here are some troubleshooting tips:
| Issue | Cause | Solution |
|---|---|---|
| Undercooked | Frying time too short | Fry longer, up to 5 minutes per side |
| Overcooked | Frying time too long | Reduce frying time to 3-4 minutes per side |
| Not crispy | Low oil temperature | Heat oil between 350-375°F |
| Burnt exterior | Oil too hot | Lower temperature to 325-350°F |
| Greasy | Chicken overcrowded | Fry chicken in smaller batches |
Carefully monitoring oil temperature, frying time, and batch size will help resolve any issues and let you fry up perfect chicken at 350°F.
Conclusion
Frying chicken at 350°F allows you to achieve the ideal balance of a crispy browned exterior and juicy, cooked through interior. At this temperature, the hot oil rapidly transfers heat to the chicken for quick cooking without burning the coating. Monitoring your oil temperature, frying in small batches, and adjusting cooking time as needed will result in delicious fried chicken. From buttermilk to Nashville hot, 350°F is the perfect temperature for all your favorite fried chicken recipes. Crispy, golden brown and full of flavor, fried chicken is hard to beat when cooked at 350°F.