Perfect Fried Chicken

Frying chicken can be as simple or complicated an undertaking as you like.

Some cooks swear by soaking the chicken overnight in buttermilk--which flavors, moisturizes, and tenderizes the meat--before coating it in seasoned flour, while others insist that a coating of breadcrumbs or beer batter is the only way to fry. The best way to discover your favorite method is to experiment with different seasonings and techniques until you hit on the perfect preparation.

If you want to brine your chicken before coating and frying, see our Brining article for tips. Chicken pieces should be brined for only about an hour or so, not overnight.

Set up a "dredging station" to minimize mess and make clean-up easy. Work from right to left (or whatever is comfortable for you), with seasoned flour, egg batter, and bread crumbs/panko/coating mixture in shallow bowls or baking dishes. Have one "wet hand" and one "dry hand:" dip chicken piece in flour, coat with egg mixture, and use your "wet" hand to transfer chicken to the coating bowl.

Once all the pieces are coated, let them rest and give the coating a chance to adhere. (Do this step in the refrigerator if you won't be frying the chicken within half an hour.)

There is a world of difference between fried chicken that is juicy on the inside and crispy on the outside, and that which is soggy and soaked through with grease.

The most important factors contributing to perfect fried chicken are the temperature of the oil and the actual step of frying. Vegetable shortening, lard, and peanut oil are all popular frying mediums, as they have a high smoke point.

• To get truly golden-brown and crispy chicken, you'll need a cast iron skillet. Cast iron simply cannot be beat for even heat distribution and temperature maintenance.
• The fat should be about one inch deep; it should come halfway up the food.
• Get the fat good and hot before adding the chicken: at least 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
• Carefully lower chicken pieces into the oil skin-side down. Start with the edge of the piece close to you, and lay it in the oil, working away from yourself to avoid spatters. Use tongs for extra protection.
• Fry in batches: overcrowding the pan will lower the temperature of the oil dramatically, causing more oil to be absorbed and resulting in soggy, greasy chicken.
• When the chicken pieces are deep golden brown, remove from the pan and transfer to a cooling rack set over a baking sheet to catch any drips. Insert an instant-read thermometer into the chicken to make sure it is fully cooked before proceeding with the next batch. The USDA's Food Safety & Inspection Service recommends cooking chicken to a minimum internal temperature of 165 °F.

It takes a lot of oil to deep-fry, and it's best to start with fresh oil every time. If you fry frequently, however, you may wish to strain your cooled cooking oil through a coffee filter. Impurities in the oil will lower the smoke point, it's more prone to rancidity, and old oil can impart off flavors to your food. We don't recommend using the same oil more than once.

Follow the steps outlined above for pan frying. For complete how-to instructions, see our Deep Frying article.