How Popeyes' Fried Chicken Is Prepared Before It Hits The Fryer

If you've long been a fan of Popeye's over other fried chicken chains like KFC and Church's, you might prefer it for its bold flavor, which comes from its distinctive Cajun seasoning, the perfectly crispy breading, and the high-quality, fresh chicken it uses. Popeye's is known for having some of the best chicken items on its menu, and that could come down to how its fried chicken is prepared before it even hits the fryer. Each piece of chicken is marinated for at least 12 hours in the brand's signature Louisiana seasonings.

Marinating meat before cooking it results in tender, flavorful, and juicy chicken. You don't really need to marinate meat for 24 hours, and keeping it in a marinade for longer than that could even be unsafe. According to Popeye's, though, there's no need to marinate anything for anywhere close to that long. 12 hours is the perfect amount of time to let the meat fully absorb its seasonings and become deliciously flavorful.

Marinades that include a combination of oils and acids can break down the proteins and muscle fibers in the chicken, helping prevent stringy, tough pieces of meat. This also helps the meat retain its natural juices while frying. The marinating process is especially important for chicken breasts, which can tend to be on the drier side after frying. A flavorful marinade can also penetrate the surface of the chicken, infusing the meat with robust spices and seasonings. After marinating the chicken, it is hand-battered, breaded, and fried to order. This results in chicken with an extra crispy exterior and a juicy, flavorful interior.

While Popeye's uses a 12-hour marinating process for its fried chicken, you don't necessarily need to commit to such an undertaking yourself. When making a marinade for fried chicken at home, 20 minutes to an hour is long enough to improve the flavor and texture of the chicken. However, you should still take safety precautions to prevent food poisoning and avoid common mistakes people make when marinating chicken.

First, mix enough marinade to fully cover all the chicken pieces. You want to avoid adding too much salt or acidity to the liquid, as keeping your chicken in an overly salty or highly acidic marinade for too long could make the meat mushy or dry. To prevent bacterial growth, always marinate chicken in your refrigerator, whether it's for a few minutes or a few hours. Finally, it's absolutely crucial to season marinades properly to give the chicken the ideal flavor profile. Using aromatic herbs and spices can result in restaurant-quality chicken.