Air fryers have become an increasingly popular kitchen appliance in recent years. Their ability to make “fried” foods like french fries and chicken wings with little to no oil is very appealing to health-conscious cooks. But can you actually cook raw chicken safely in an air fryer? Let’s take a look at the pros and cons.
The Benefits of Cooking Raw Chicken in an Air Fryer
There are a few potential benefits to cooking raw chicken in an air fryer:
- Uses little to no oil – Air fryers rely on hot air circulation rather than submerging foods in oil to achieve a crispy, fried texture. This significantly reduces the amount of fat and calories.
- Quick cooking time – Air fryers can cook chicken faster than conventional ovens. Boneless chicken breasts may take only 15-20 minutes.
- Even browning – The hot air circulation of an air fryer helps ensure chicken cooks evenly on all sides.
- Healthier than deep frying – While not as healthy as grilled or baked chicken, air fried chicken contains much less fat than deep fried chicken.
- Convenience – Simple to just toss raw chicken in the air fryer basket and walk away.
For these reasons, using an air fryer to cook chicken with little to no oil can be an appealing option for many people looking to enjoy the taste of “fried” chicken in a healthier way.
Potential Concerns with Air Frying Raw Chicken
However, there are also some important concerns to keep in mind with cooking raw chicken in an air fryer:
- Food safety – According to the USDA, air fryers do not heat evenly enough to safely cook raw chicken thoroughly. Pathogens like salmonella can survive.
- Uneven cooking – Air circulation often leaves the inside undercooked while browning the outside.
- Not as crispy – Chicken cooked in an air fryer will not get as crispy of a crust as deep frying.
- Drying out – The high heat of air fryers can quickly dry out chicken.
- Small capacity – Most air fryers only hold 2-3 servings of chicken.
For food safety, it is not recommended to cook raw chicken directly in an air fryer. The USDA advises precooking chicken to 165°F first by baking, sauteing, grilling, etc. before finishing in an air fryer.
Is It Safe to Cook Raw Chicken in an Air Fryer?
According to the USDA, raw chicken should never be cooked directly in an air fryer. Air fryers do not heat up enough or circulate hot air evenly enough to bring the innermost parts of chicken up to safe temperatures quickly.
Salmonella and other dangerous bacteria can survive in undercooked chicken. The USDA states chicken needs to reach an internal temperature of 165°F to be safe to eat. An air fryer alone often will not bring raw chicken up to 165°F as the outside can brown and appear done before the inside is fully cooked.
So while the exterior of chicken may get hot and browned in an air fryer, the interior can still be undercooked and potentially harbor harmful bacteria. For food safety, it is not recommended to cook raw chicken in just an air fryer.
Safety Tips for Cooking Chicken in an Air Fryer
If you want to use your air fryer for chicken, the USDA recommends first fully cooking the chicken using another method before finishing in the air fryer. Here are some tips:
- Preheat your oven, grill, or stovetop and cook raw chicken to an internal temperature of 165°F.
- Use a meat thermometer to verify the internal temperature before removing chicken from the heat source.
- Once chicken is fully cooked, you can transfer it to the air fryer to crisp up the outside if desired.
- Set air fryer to 375°F and cook for 5-15 minutes depending on thickness of chicken and level of crispiness you want.
- Verify internal temperature again after air frying to ensure it remains 165°F or hotter.
Following these safety steps allows you to get the benefits of an air fryer while still ensuring any raw chicken is fully cooked through before consuming.
Tips for Getting Crispy Chicken from an Air Fryer
If you want crispy, crunchy fried chicken texture from your air fryer, follow these tips after fully precooking the chicken:
- Use boneless, skin-on chicken thighs. The skin helps render fat for crispiness.
- Season well with salt, pepper and spices before air frying.
- Brush chicken with oil or cooking spray before air frying. A light coating helps promote browning.
- Air fry at 375-400°F, flipping halfway through, for 10-15 minutes.
- Avoid overcrowding the fryer basket. Give chicken room for air circulation.
- Use cooking racks to elevate chicken off direct contact with the basket.
The skin on bone-in chicken thighs or drumsticks can also get very crispy in an air fryer. Follow the same principles of oiling, seasoning well and not overcrowding.
Best Air Fryer Chicken Recipes
Here are 3 top-rated crispy air fryer chicken recipes to try after precooking the chicken:
1. Air Fryer Chicken Wings
These easy air fried spicy buffalo wings use just 3 ingredients. After baking to fully cook, the wings get crisped up in the air fryer with hot sauce and butter.
Ingredients
- 2 1/2 lbs chicken wings, cut into drummettes and flats, baked until cooked through
- 1/2 cup hot pepper sauce
- 2 tablespoons butter, melted
Instructions
- Preheat air fryer to 400°F.
- In a large bowl, toss cooked chicken wings with hot sauce and melted butter until evenly coated.
- Working in batches, arrange wings in a single layer in air fryer basket. Air fry for 6-8 minutes until browned and crispy. Flip wings halfway through.
- Repeat with remaining wings. Serve immediately.
2. Air Fryer Chicken Parmesan
Take this classic chicken parm recipe to the next level of crispiness with an air fryer finish. After sautéing and baking the chicken, the air fryer gives the breading an extra crunch.
Ingredients
- 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts, pounded 1/4 inch thick
- 1 cup Italian seasoned breadcrumbs
- 2 large eggs, beaten
- 1 cup marinara sauce
- 8 oz fresh mozzarella, sliced
- Fresh basil for garnish
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375°F. In a shallow dish, place breadcrumbs. In another dish, place beaten eggs.
- Dip each chicken breast first in egg, then in breadcrumbs, pressing to adhere. Transfer breaded chicken to a baking sheet.
- Bake chicken 20 minutes until cooked through. Remove pan from oven.
- Top each chicken breast with 2 tablespoons marinara sauce and 2 slices mozzarella. Return to oven 5 minutes until cheese melts.
- Transfer chicken breasts to air fryer basket. Air fry at 400°F for 4-5 minutes until breading is browned and crispy.
- Garnish chicken Parmesan with fresh basil before serving.
3. Air Fryer Chicken Tenders
Kid-friendly chicken tenders get an extra crispy upgrade from the air fryer. The panko breadcrumb coating gets perfectly crunchy with just a quick air fry.
Ingredients
- 1 lb chicken tenderloins
- 1 cup panko breadcrumbs
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 2 eggs
- 1/4 cup flour
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 425°F. In a shallow dish, combine panko and Italian seasoning. Place flour in a second dish. In a third dish, beat eggs.
- Dredge each tenderloin first in flour, dip in egg, then coat in panko mixture, pressing to adhere.
- Arrange on a baking sheet and bake 15 minutes until cooked through.
- Transfer baked tenders to air fryer basket. Air fry at 400°F for 3-5 minutes until golden brown and crispy.
- Serve chicken tenders with desired sauces for dipping.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you put raw chicken in an air fryer?
No, you should never put raw chicken directly into an air fryer. Air fryers do not heat evenly enough to safely cook raw chicken thoroughly. The USDA recommends precooking chicken to 165°F first before air frying.
Why does my air fried chicken come out rubbery?
Chicken can turn out rubbery from air frying if it is overcooked. Try reducing the air fry time. Overcrowding the basket can also lead to poor air circulation and uneven cooking. Make sure not to overload the chicken.
How can I make my air fried chicken crispy?
Brushing chicken with oil before air frying helps promote browning and a crispy texture. Seasoning well and using skin-on chicken thighs also boosts crispiness. Air frying at a high temp (375°F – 400°F) will help chicken come out ultra crispy.
What is the best chicken to cook in an air fryer?
Boneless, skin-on chicken thighs make the crispiest air fried chicken. Chicken wings, drumsticks and tenderloins also cook up nicely in the air fryer after being fully precooked first.
Is air fried chicken healthy?
While not as healthy as grilled or baked chicken breast, air fried chicken is healthier than deep fried chicken. It uses little to no oil, resulting in fewer calories and less fat than traditional fried chicken.
The Bottom Line
While air fryers can make chicken deliciously crispy, safety should come first. Always fully cook raw chicken to 165°F using another appliance like an oven before transferring to an air fryer. Precooking ensures any bacteria is killed and chicken can safely finish cooking to golden brown crispiness in the air fryer.
When using an air fryer properly, you can enjoy all the flavor and crunch of fried chicken with a fraction of the fat and calories. Just be sure to follow the proper precautions.