Food - Drink
Why The Size Of Your Fried Chicken Matters
By AMANDA BRETZ
Deeply golden fried chicken is irresistible to many food lovers. While cooks have the freedom to make personalized choices when it comes to seasonings, breading, and sauces, there's one crucial factor that should stay correct and consistent in order to make the best fried chicken: the size of the bird.
A common error many cooks make is buying a whole chicken that's too large, since we often assume that bigger is better. However, a larger bird takes longer to cook, even when split into parts, and when it comes to fried food, this usually results in an undercooked inside and a burnt outer crust.
For perfect fried chicken, buy a bird that weighs between 2 and 3 pounds, and no bigger. Don't let your perfect seasoning, brine, and breading get ruined by an imperfect fry job, and remember to cook your chicken in batches, even if it's on the smaller side, so you don't overcrowd the fryer.