Eating fried foods is enjoyable for many people, but deep frying can add a lot of extra fat and calories. Air frying has become a popular alternative to deep frying for making crispy foods like fried chicken without as much oil. But is the chicken skin you get from air frying as tasty and crispy as deep fried? Let’s take a look at the pros and cons of air fried chicken skin.
How Does Air Frying Work?
Air fryers are small countertop convection ovens that use very hot air circulated at high speed to cook food. The rapid air circulation cooks foods very quickly, mimicking the crispy texture you would get from deep frying. But because very little or no oil is used, air fried foods have significantly less fat and calories.
Most air fryers have adjustable temperature controls up to around 400°F. Foods are placed in a perforated basket that allows the hot air to circulate completely around the food. The air fryer’s convection fan rapidly circulates the hot air around the food at high speed, cooking the food thoroughly on all sides.
Benefits of Air Fried Chicken Skin
Here are some of the benefits you can get from air frying chicken skin:
Lower in Fat and Calories
One of the biggest advantages of air frying is that very little oil needs to be used. Deep frying chicken skin submerges it in hot oil, absorbing a lot of extra fat and adding many calories. Air frying uses just a teaspoon or two of oil to lightly coat the skin before cooking.
A study in the Journal of Food Science found that air frying chicken reduced the fat content by around 70-80% compared to deep frying. The calorie content of the air fried chicken was also reduced by around 70-75% compared to deep fried chicken.
Crispy Skin
The hot air circulating at high speed around food in an air fryer is very effective at making chicken skin nice and crispy. The convection effect of the hot air ensures heat is evenly distributed around the skin as it cooks. This results in crispy chicken skin all over without needing to flip or rotate the chicken.
Convenient and Quick
Air fryers are a very convenient appliance to use at home. The small countertop size means they don’t take up much space. They preheat quickly, often in just 3-5 minutes. Cooking also tends to be faster than baking or grilling. Chicken skin can go from raw to crispy and cooked through in an air fryer in 15-20 minutes.
The air fryer basket design makes food easy to flip and move during cooking as well. So you can easily get evenly browned and crisped skin all over.
Lower Mess and Easier Cleanup
Deep frying at home involves heating several inches of oil in a pot, which can be messy when transferring food in and out. The hot oil may pop and splatter, making cleanup more difficult. An air fryer contains any crumbs or splatters inside the cooking chamber, so there is minimal mess or cleanup after air frying.
Downsides of Air Fried Chicken Skin
Air frying chicken skin does have some drawbacks compared to deep frying:
Less Moist and Tender
While air frying makes crispier chicken skin, it can dry out the meat more than deep frying does. Deep frying cooks food in hot oil, keeping the interior moist and tender. Air frying exposes food to dry heat, which can make chicken meat tougher and less juicy.
Skin Not as Crispy
Without being submerged in hot oil, air fried chicken skin may not get as ultra crispy as deep fried skin. The circulating hot air crisps up the skin nicely, but the texture may not be quite as crunchy.
Can Stick to Basket
Chicken skin contains fat and collagen that can melt or render out during air frying. The rendered fat can cause the skin to stick to the air fryer basket. Using cooking sprays or liners can help minimize sticking.
Smaller Capacity
Air fryers have smaller capacities, around 3-5 quarts, compared to deep fryers or pots. So you may have to cook chicken in smaller batches rather than frying large pieces.
Tips for Best Results Air Frying Chicken Skin
Here are some tips to get the crispiest, crunchiest air fried chicken skin:
- Pat the skin very dry first – this helps the skin get crispy and not soggy
- Lightly coat the skin in oil – use just 1-2 tsp oil total rubbed over the skin
- Use a small amount of baking powder – sprinkle on 1/2 tsp baking powder to help skin get extra crispy
- Cook at a high temperature, around 390-400°F
- Cook in a single layer without overcrowding
- Flip the chicken halfway during cooking
- Brush skin with a little oil halfway through cooking if not crispy enough
- Check for doneness and crispiness after 15 minutes, cook longer if needed
How to Make Air Fried Chicken Skin Extra Crispy
Follow these steps for making crunchy air fried chicken skin:
- Rinse chicken pieces and pat very dry with paper towels
- Use paper towels to rub 1-2 tsp of oil all over the skin
- Season the skin with salt, pepper, spices as desired
- Sprinkle baking powder evenly over the skin, about 1/2 tsp total
- Arrange chicken skin side up in air fryer basket in single layer
- Air fry at 390-400°F for 12-15 minutes
- Flip chicken over and air fry for 8-12 minutes more
- Check temperature, continue cooking if needed until 165°F internal temp
- Let sit 5 minutes before serving
Conclusion
Air fried chicken skin can get quite crispy and delicious with just a small amount of oil. While it may not get quite as crunchy as deep fried, air fried skin is still tender and flavorful with a satisfying crispness. Using high heat, minimal oil, and baking powder gives the best crispy air fried skin.
Air frying also has the benefits of lower fat, calories, and mess compared to deep frying at home. So air fried chicken skin can be a tasty and better-for-you way to enjoy the crispy skin you love.