Quick Answer
The recommended air fryer cooking time for frozen breaded chicken breast strips is 10-15 minutes at 400°F. The exact cooking time depends on the amount of chicken strips and their thickness. Smaller thin strips will cook faster, while larger thick strips will take longer. Check the strips after 10 minutes and continue cooking until the chicken is fully cooked through and the breading is crispy. Using an air fryer yields crispy breaded chicken strips in a quick and easy manner without the need for deep frying in oil.
Detailed Guide
Air fryers have become increasingly popular kitchen appliances for their ability to make foods crispy and crunchy without the need for deep frying in oil. One food that cooks up perfectly in the air fryer is frozen breaded chicken strips. The hot circulating air quickly crisps up the breading, while the chicken cooks through evenly. Follow this guide for tips on cooking frozen breaded chicken strips in an air fryer.
Benefits of Cooking Frozen Chicken Strips in an Air Fryer
There are several advantages to using an air fryer when cooking frozen breaded chicken strips:
– No defrosting required: The frozen chicken strips can go straight into the air fryer basket without needing to be thawed first.
– Crispy breading: The hot air circulating around the chicken strips will make the breading ultra crispy and crunchy.
– Quick cooking time: Frozen chicken cooks rapidly in the air fryer, cutting down on cooking time.
– Even cooking: The constant flowing air promotes even cooking throughout the chicken strips.
– Healthier than deep frying: Air frying avoids the extra calories from submerging foods in oil.
– Simple cleanup: With no oil needed, cleanup of the air fryer basket is quick and easy after cooking.
How to Air Fry Frozen Breaded Chicken Breast Strips
Ingredients:
– Frozen breaded chicken breast strips (do not thaw before cooking)
– Cooking oil spray
Equipment:
– Air fryer
– Cooking tongs or fork
Instructions:
1. Pre-heat air fryer to 400°F. This typically takes 3-5 minutes.
2. Lightly coat the chicken strips with cooking oil spray. This helps promote browning and crisping of the breading.
3. Arrange chicken strips in a single layer in the air fryer basket, being careful not to overcrowd. Overcrowding can prevent proper air circulation.
4. Cook for 5 minutes at 400°F.
5. Open air fryer and carefully flip chicken strips using tongs or fork.
6. Cook for an additional 5-10 minutes until chicken is fully cooked through. Check for doneness by cutting into thickest part of a strip. Chicken should be opaque all the way through with no pink showing.
7. Remove air fried chicken strips to a plate or serving dish. Let rest 2-3 minutes before serving.
8. Enjoy your crispy breaded chicken strips! Season further with salt, herbs, or dipping sauces if desired.
Notes:
– Cooking time will vary based on the size and thickness of the chicken strips. Smaller thin strips may take only 10 minutes total, while larger thick strips may need up to 15 minutes.
– For even cooking, try cutting any extra large chicken strips in half before air frying.
– When checking chicken for doneness, make sure to use a meat thermometer for most accurate results. Chicken is safe to eat once it reaches an internal temperature of 165°F.
– For crispier chicken, brush strips lightly with oil or spray before air frying.
Tips for the Best Air Fried Frozen Chicken Strips
Here are some top tips to yield the best air fried frozen chicken strips:
– Don’t overcrowd – Leave space between strips for air circulation. Cook in batches for larger amounts.
– Flip halfway – Flip strips over midway during cooking for even browning and cooking.
– Use oil spray – A light coating of oil helps promote crisping and browning.
– Keep dry – Pat off any ice crystals before cooking so breading gets ultra crispy.
– Preheat properly – Fully preheat air fryer before adding chicken for best results.
– Don’t undercook – Cook strips fully until chicken is 165°F internally to prevent foodborne illness.
– Let rest before eating – Allowing chicken to rest seals in juices.
– Add seasoning – Toss cooked strips with salt, pepper, spices or dipping sauce to add flavor.
How to Make Your Own Breaded Chicken for Air Frying
While air frying frozen store-bought chicken strips is quick and easy, you can also bread and air fry fresh chicken breasts at home. Here is a simple process:
Ingredients:
– 2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
– 1/2 cup flour
– 2 eggs, beaten
– 1 cup panko breadcrumbs
– 1 teaspoon garlic powder
– 1/2 teaspoon salt
– 1/4 teaspoon pepper
– Oil for misting
Instructions:
1. Cut chicken breasts into 1-inch wide strips, about 4 inches long.
2. Set up breading station with flour, beaten eggs, and breadcrumb mixture (panko, garlic powder, salt, pepper) in separate shallow dishes.
3. Dredge chicken strips in flour, dip into egg, then press into breadcrumb mixture until fully coated on all sides.
4. Arrange breaded strips on a plate or baking sheet. Freeze for 1-2 hours until hardened (this helps breading adhere better).
5. Pre-heat air fryer to 400°F. Mist chicken strips lightly with oil.
6. Cook frozen breaded chicken strips for 10-15 minutes, flipping halfway through, until chicken is 165°F.
7. Let chicken strips rest 2 minutes before serving. Enjoy homemade crispy breaded chicken from your air fryer!
Common Questions
Can you put frozen chicken directly in the air fryer?
Yes, frozen breaded chicken strips can go directly into the air fryer without thawing first. The frozen state helps keep the strips from drying out during cooking. Just be sure not to overcrowd the basket and increase cook time by a few minutes.
Do you have to flip chicken strips in the air fryer?
It is recommended to flip chicken strips halfway during the air fry cooking time. This ensures even browning and cooking on both sides. Use tongs or a fork to carefully flip strips while cooking.
How do you keep frozen chicken crispy in the air fryer?
To keep air fried frozen chicken strips crispy: pat off any ice crystals before cooking, mist with oil before air frying, don’t overcrowd strips, flip halfway through cooking, and be sure chicken is fully cooked through. Avoid undercooking, which can lead to soggy breading.
Can you put raw chicken in the air fryer?
Yes, you can cook raw chicken in the air fryer. For bone-in chicken, it works best to coat pieces in oil or seasoning before cooking. For boneless chicken, you can bread the chicken before air frying for a crispy coating. Always cook chicken until it reaches an internal temperature of 165°F.
Is air fried chicken healthy?
Air frying is considered a healthier cooking method than traditional deep frying. Air frying avoids submerging foods in oil, resulting in a lower fat and calorie food option. The breading on frozen chicken strips will still contain more calories and sodium than plain grilled chicken breast. But overall, air fried chicken is a healthier alternative for a crispy breaded dish.
Conclusion
Air frying makes cooking up crispy breaded chicken strips from the freezer fast and easy. The circulating hot air of an air fryer produces crispy breading without the need for submerging in oil. Cook frozen chicken strips at 400°F for 10-15 minutes, flipping halfway through. Let chicken rest before serving for juicy, delicious air fried chicken strips ready in under 20 minutes. Use an instant read thermometer to verify chicken reaches a safe 165°F internally. With a quick spritz of oil and careful flip, you can enjoy perfect chicken strips from your air fryer any night of the week.