Air Fryer Whole Chicken (2024)

FAQs

Can whole chickens be cooked in an air fryer? ›

Using an air fryer to cook a whole chicken is the way to go. You'll end up with super crispy skin on all sides and even the white meat stays tender and juicy.

Place chicken in air fryer basket, standing against sides of basket if necessary. Set to 350°F; cook 15 minutes. Turn chicken; cook 5 to 8 minutes longer or until juice of chicken is clear when center of thickest part is cut (at least 165°F).

It's fast: Compared to an oven, chicken cooks quite efficiently in the air fryer. Typically, you'll shave off about 30 percent to 40 percent of the cooking time by using an air fryer. Again, this is thanks to its compact size, which allows hot air to circulate more rapidly.

The constant airflow in the air fryer cooks the outside of the chicken quickly and evenly, something you typically find in a convection oven. "Due to the compact design of an air fryer, there's not as much room for the juices to evaporate like they sometimes do in other methods," Dang said.

Cook at 360° for 9 minutes. Then flip the chicken breast over and cook for another 9 minutes. Larger chicken breasts need more cook time, and smaller ones need less time. Open the air fryer immediately so it doesn't continue cooking in the heat.

The #1 tip for the best chicken breasts in an air fryer is: Don't overcook them! Chicken breasts should be cooked to 160°F, but if you cook them all the way to that temperature in the air fryer, carryover cooking will take them beyond that temp and cause them to dry out.

Cook for 30 mins, turn the chicken over and cook for a further 10 mins. Turn the heat up to 200C and cook for a final 10-15 mins to crisp the skin, until a temperature probe reaches 70C when inserted at the thickest part of the chicken or the juices run clear when pierced.

Keep water away from the electronic parts of your air fryer at all times and never submerge an air fryer in water. However, adding small amounts of water at the bottom of your air fryer can be a good idea to help catch any food drippings or food particles, such as hot oil, and prevent the formation of smoke.

To cook fresh food in an air fryer, Jenny suggests subtracting 20°C from the typical oven temperature and reducing the oven cooking time by 20-25%. For example, if the oven instruction calls for cooking at 180°C for 25 minutes, set your air fryer to 160°C for 20 minutes.

Should chicken be at room temperature before air frying? ›

First things first, don't pull your chicken out of the refrigerator moments before it goes into the air fryer, you want to give it time to come down to room temperature a little. This ensures that you're not steaming your thighs with the extra moisture they're holding on to.

The best cooking hacks are time- or effort-saving but still produce optimal results, and cooking a whole chicken in the air fryer is the best kitchen hack I've discovered all year. Speed-roasting a whole chicken results in crispier skin and juicier meat and takes about 20% less time than using a large oven.

Yes, you put raw frozen chicken in the air fryer! You won't be able to brine it first or pound it to an even thickness (so the results are not *as* juicy) but if you forget to thaw your chicken, it's a great option to have on hand.

Because cooking in the oven and air frying utilize similar heating techniques (i.e., hot air), food will generally end up with the same nutrient profile regardless of the appliance you choose.

Yes. You should pat the chicken dry if it is wet coated to avoid excess moisture. Please be aware of the danger in eating raw chicken and make sure it is cooked safely. Using an instant-read thermometer and letting the chicken reach the internal temperature of at least 165 degrees Fahrenheit will ensure safety.

Chicken breasts should be cooked to 160°F, but if you cook them all the way to that temperature in the air fryer, carryover cooking will take them beyond that temp and cause them to dry out. Stop the cooking five degrees sooner and let carryover cooking do the rest.

Recipes that use a wet batter, including fried chicken, will end up being very messy if cooked in an air fryer. This is because there won't be enough hot oil to set the batter, and it will likely drip everywhere rather than forming a crunchy coating.