My Ultimate Super Crispy Fried Chicken Recipes

CRISPY FRIED CHICKEN

Steps:

• Take your cut up chicken pieces and skin them if you prefer. Put the flour in a large plastic bag (let the amount of chicken you are cooking dictate the amount of flour you use). Season the flour with paprika, salt and pepper to taste (paprika helps to brown the chicken).
• Dip chicken pieces in buttermilk then, a few at a time, put them in the bag with the flour, seal the bag and shake to coat well. Place the coated chicken on a cookie sheet or tray, and cover with a clean dish towel or waxed paper. LET SIT UNTIL THE FLOUR IS OF A PASTE-LIKE CONSISTENCY. THIS IS CRUCIAL!
• Fill a large skillet (cast iron is best) about 1/3 to 1/2 full with vegetable oil. Heat until VERY hot. Put in as many chicken pieces as the skillet can hold. Brown the chicken in HOT oil on both sides. When browned, reduce heat and cover skillet; let cook for 30 minutes (the chicken will be cooked through but not crispy). Remove cover, raise heat again and continue to fry until crispy.
• Drain the fried chicken on paper towels. Depending on how much chicken you have, you may have to fry in a few shifts. Keep the finished chicken in a slightly warm oven while preparing the rest.

MY ULTIMATE SUPER CRISPY FRIED CHICKEN RECIPE

Steps:

• In a large bowl, combine all the brine ingredients.
• If you are using chicken legs, separate the drums from the thighs so that it becomes 8 pieces of chicken.
• Add the chicken to the brine and let it sit for a minimum of 4 hours in the fridge Bring it out of the fridge 1 hour before you are ready to deep fry so that the chicken can come to room temperature. This will help the chicken cook all the way through and it prevents the oil from dropping to a very low temperature when you deep fry it.
• In a large bowl, combine all the ingredients of the "Dry Mix" from the ingredient list. Reserve 1/2 cup of it aside to make the "Wet Mix" and set the rest aside for later.
• (Optional) If you want a more textured crispy batter, add 2-3 tablespoons of the brine or water into the 'dry mix' and work it into the mix with your fingers until you get a slightly clumpier and moist dry mix.
• Add the reserved 1/2 cup of dry mix into another bowl and add in the white vinegar and ice water and mix well until everything is combined. Set this aside
• When you are ready to batter the chicken, remove it from the brine and dry it out VERY WELL with paper towel
• One at a time put the chicken into the dry mix and coat it with a light dusting. Shake very well. You want a very light coating for the initial flouring only.
• Use a fork to re-mix the wet batter (it may have settled and separated)
• Dunk one piece of chicken quickly into the wet batter
• Quickly add the wet chicken piece back into the "Dry Mix" and completely cover the chicken in the mix.
• Use your hand and press the dry mix into the chicken. I like to give it a solid squeeze.
• Remove the chicken from the dry mix and vigorously shake off the flour to create the nooks and crannies.
• Remove the chicken from the dry mix and set it in a single layer on a plate.
• Do this for every piece of chicken.
• Fill a cast iron pan or deep fryer with oil and set the temperature to 350F (177C)
• Once the oil is hot (you can do a test if it's hot enough by sticking a wooden chopstick or wooden spoon into it to see if it bubbles) add in the chicken slowly. Do not overcrowd the pan, you don't want the oil temperature to drop. You may need to cook this in a few batches. I like to put about 2 pieces in per dutch oven.
• Cook the chicken for 18-20 minutes. (If you are using boneless chicken, cook it for 6-10 minutes instead)
• Once all the chicken has been fried, put it back in the oil and fry it for a second time for 1 minute. This will make the chicken extra crispy.
• Let it rest on a rack, newspaper or parchment paper for a few minutes before digging in. Enjoy!