Air fryers have become incredibly popular in recent years as a healthy way to cook fried foods like chicken wings using little to no oil. Their compact size and quick cooking times make them convenient for whipping up appetizers or meals for 1-4 people.
One question that often comes up is how many chicken wings you can cook at once in a typical 5 quart air fryer basket. The answer depends on a few factors:
- The size of the wings (drumettes vs. flats)
- Whether the wings are fresh or frozen
- How crowded you pack the wings in the basket
In general, most recipes recommend cooking wings in batches for even crispiness. But you can estimate fitting approximately 1-1.5 pounds of wings at a time in a 5 quart air fryer.
To help visualize how many that looks like, here is a rough guideline:
Fresh Chicken Wings
| Wing Size | Approx. Number in 1 lb | Number You Can Fit Per Batch |
|---|---|---|
| Small Drumettes | 16-20 wings | 24-30 |
| Medium Drumettes | 12-16 wings | 18-24 |
| Large Drumettes | 10-12 wings | 15-18 |
| Small Flats | 20-24 wings | 30-36 |
| Medium Flats | 16-20 wings | 24-30 |
| Large Flats | 12-16 wings | 18-24 |
So if you had medium sized drumettes, you could cook around 18-24 wings at a time in a standard 5 quart air fryer. For larger wings, you may need to reduce that to 15-18 per batch.
Some additional tips when air frying wings:
- Make sure not to overcrowd the basket. Wings need space to get crispy.
- Flip the wings halfway during cooking for even browning.
- Use a meat thermometer to ensure they reach an internal temperature of 165°F.
- Let the wings rest 5 minutes before tossing with sauce.
Now let’s take a look at cooking frozen wings in an air fryer.
Frozen Chicken Wings
Cooking frozen chicken wings in an air fryer is simple, but does require a few adjustments:
- Use smaller batches – Frozen wings are thicker and will be more crowded in the basket.
- Increase cook time – Expect to add 3-5 minutes per batch to compensate for frozen wings.
- Preheat slightly – Preheating for 3-5 minutes helps ensure the wings cook evenly.
- Flip frequently – Flipping every 5-8 minutes prevents uneven cooking on frozen wings.
Here are some estimates for batch sizes of frozen drumettes or flats in a 5 quart air fryer:
Frozen Chicken Wings
| Wing Size | Number You Can Fit Per Batch |
|---|---|
| Small | 16-20 |
| Medium | 12-16 |
| Large | 8-12 |
So you’ll need to cook frozen wings in smaller amounts per batch compared to fresh. For best results, try coating the frozen wings lightly in oil before air frying for extra crispiness. And check that they are fully cooked by taking the internal temperature.
Time Needed to Cook Wings in an Air Fryer
On average, it takes about 20-30 minutes to cook frozen or fresh chicken wings in an air fryer if cooking in batches. However, exact cook times can vary:
- Smaller wings may cook faster in 15-20 minutes
- Larger wings may need 25-35 minutes
- Frozen wings take 5+ minutes longer than fresh
- Heavily breaded wings also may require a few extra minutes
The best way to tell if air fried wings are fully cooked is to use a meat thermometer. Chicken wings are safe to eat once they reach an internal temperature of 165°F.
Here are some approximate cook times to use as a starting guideline:
Air Fryer Chicken Wing Cook Times
| Wing Type | Cook Time at 400°F |
|---|---|
| Fresh small wings | 15-18 minutes |
| Fresh medium wings | 18-22 minutes |
| Fresh large wings | 22-28 minutes |
| Frozen small wings | 20-25 minutes |
| Frozen medium wings | 25-30 minutes |
| Frozen large wings | 30-35 minutes |
Always flip wings halfway during cooking and check that they reach 165°F internally before removing from the air fryer. This ensures they are cooked through and safe to consume.
Tips for the Best Air Fryer Wings
Here are some extra tips and tricks for getting perfect air fried chicken wings every time:
- Pat the wings completely dry before seasoning or cooking – this helps them get crispy.
- Coat the wings lightly in oil or nonstick cooking spray before air frying.
- Season the wings well with salt, pepper, garlic powder, paprika or other dried herbs and spices.
- Arrange the wings in a single layer in the air fryer basket, not overlapping.
- Set the air fryer temperature between 380-400°F for crispiest skin.
- Flip and rotate the wings halfway during cooking for even browning.
- Check wings are fully cooked by taking their internal temp with a meat thermometer.
- Let wings rest 5 minutes after cooking before tossing in sauce.
- Toss cooked wings in your favorite sauce or dry seasoning to finish.
By following these simple tips, you can achieve restaurant-quality crispy air fried chicken wings cooked right at home. Whether making them for game day or a weeknight dinner, your air fryer wings will be a huge hit!
Conclusion
In summary, a 5 quart air fryer can hold around 1-1.5 pounds of chicken wings per batch, which equals:
- 24-30 small fresh wings
- 15-18 large fresh wings
- 16-20 small frozen wings
- 8-12 large frozen wings
Cooking times average 20-30 minutes depending on size and whether they are fresh or frozen. Always cook wings in a single layer, flip halfway, and use a meat thermometer to ensure they reach 165°F internally.
Following these guidelines will help you achieve perfectly crispy, juicy air fryer chicken wings right at home. Enjoy experimenting with different seasonings and sauces too to find your new favorite wing recipe.