Chicken wings are a popular appetizer or snack that can be prepared in various ways. When people refer to “well done” chicken wings, they typically mean wings that are cooked until very browned or charred on the outside. Well done wings develop a crispy skin and some char while still remaining juicy on the inside. Here’s a closer look at how to make well done chicken wings and what the “well done” terminology means.
What Does “Well Done” Mean for Chicken Wings?
“Well done” is a doneness level that indicates food, especially meat, that is cooked until very browned or charred on the outside. For chicken wings, a well done cook level means:
- The skin is deep golden brown to charred in areas
- The meat inside is still juicy
- Any fat has rendered out
- The wings may have some charred or blackened bits
Well done wings are cooked beyond the point of being considered “crispy.” They end up with crispy, chewy, charred skin enveloping tender and moist meat. The level of doneness exceeds what some restaurants serve as “extra crispy.”
How to Make Well Done Chicken Wings
Achieving well done chicken wings requires high heat cooking methods that impart browning, crisping, and charring:
- Deep frying – Fry wings in oil heated to 350-375°F until very browned and crispy, about 12-18 minutes
- Baking – Bake wings on a sheet pan at 450°F or higher until skin is browned and charred in areas, about 40 minutes
- Broiling – Broil wings 4-6 inches from heat, flipping once, until skin is crispy and charred, 15-20 minutes
- Grilling – Grill wings over direct high heat, flipping occasionally, until browned and charred, about 20 minutes
- Air frying – Air fry wings at 400°F, shaking basket occasionally, until skin is crisped and browned, 25-30 minutes
The key things to achieve are extended cooking times and high heat. Lower temperature cooking methods like poaching, simmering, or roasting won’t develop the properly crisped skin and charred bits.
Tips for the Best Well Done Wings
Follow these tips for extra crispy, well done chicken wings every time:
- Pat wings dry before cooking so the skin gets ultra crispy
- Coat wings in a bit of oil or seasoned flour before cooking
- Use wings sections vs. whole wings so inside and outside cook evenly
- Cook wings in a single layer and flip/rotate for even browning
- Let wings rest 5 minutes after cooking before saucing or serving
How Well Done Differs from Other Doneness Levels
Well done wings differ from other levels of doneness in the following ways:
| Doneness Level | Description |
|---|---|
| Raw | Wings are completely uncooked |
| Rare | Wings are lightly cooked but still pink and cool inside |
| Medium | Wings are lightly browned but still moist inside |
| Well Done | Wings are cooked until crispy, browned, and charred outside but still juicy inside |
| Burnt | Wings are overcooked until very blackened and dried out throughout |
The well done stage provides the ideal balance of crunchy, browned exterior and tender, juicy interior.
Conclusion
Well done chicken wings feature skin that is crisped and browned to the point of having some charring and blackened bits. The wings should be cooked using high heat methods that impart crisping and browning through extended cook times. Well done provides the ideal texture contrast of crispy skin with moist, succulent meat inside. Follow proper techniques to achieve perfectly done wings every time.