Best Oil for Frying Chicken

American cuisine is full iconic iconic fried chicken recipes. It's been served in restaurants and homes across the country since the early 1800s, though the recipe is believed to have originated in Scotland or West Africa. The dish is best known for its crispy and seasoned exterior and juicy interior, which you get from deep frying the chicken in hot oil. Whether you're frying boneless chicken wings or Nashville hot chicken, we'll teach you the best oils for frying chicken, and give you some tips to make your fried chicken extra crispy and delicious.

How to Choose Chicken Frying Oil

If you love fried chicken but don't know which cooking oil to use, this video walks you through the pros and cons of popular frying oils.

Things to Consider When Choosing an Oil for Deep Frying Chicken

There are many different types of oil, each of which is good for different cooking methods, and if you choose the wrong oil for the job, it can affect the flavor and texture of your chicken. When choosing oil for deep frying, there are three main considerations you want to factor in: flavor transfer, smoke point, and the flavor of the oil.

  • Flavor Transfer: Flavor transfer is when flavors from your fried food stay in the oil and then transfer to the next batch of food that you're frying, affecting its flavor. When choosing an oil for deep frying chicken, you want to choose one that prevents flavor transfer so your chicken retains its flavor and doesn't end up tasting like fried fish or mozzarella sticks.
  • Smoke Point: When oil reaches a certain temperature, it starts to smoke and turn rancid, but this temperature ranges by the type of oil. Deep frying chicken requires a high temperature, so you want to choose an oil that has a high smoke point, so it doesn't smoke and affect the flavor of your chicken.
  • Oil Flavor: Some types of oil have a strong flavor and using them for frying can affect how your food tastes. When frying chicken, you want the flavor of the chicken and the seasoning in the breading to come through, so you should pick oil that has a neutral taste.

Best Types of Oil for Deep Frying Chicken

frying chicken wings in hot oil

Whether you're frying up chicken wings at your sports bar or you're deep frying chicken breasts for your family get-together, here are the five best cooking oils for frying chicken that have high smoke points and neutral flavors.

1. Vegetable Shortening

  • Smoke Point: 360 Degrees
  • Benefits: If you want to make fried chicken like your grandparents used to make, frying chicken in shortening is the best method. This solid fat melts as it heats, and it is a popular substitute for oil when frying chicken in the South.

2. Lard

  • Smoke Point: 370 Degrees
  • Benefits: Similar to vegetable shortening, lard is a traditional frying medium in the South. Lard is a great choice for frying chicken because it gives your chicken an excellent flavor and unparalleled crispy crust.

3. Peanut Oil

  • Smoke Point: 450 Degrees
  • Benefits: Peanut oil is one of the most costly types of oil. It also has a high smoke point, making it ideal for frying chicken. Plus, peanut oil prevents flavor transfer, which is excellent for establishments serving multiple fried foods.

4. Canola Oil

  • Smoke Point: 400 Degrees
  • Benefits: With a high smoke point and neutral flavor, canola oil is excellent for frying chicken. As an added bonus, it has high levels of omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids, which makes it healthier than other options.

5. Coconut Oil

  • Smoke Point: 450 Degrees
  • Benefits: Coconut oil has high levels of lauric acid and healthy fats, making it a healthier option for deep frying than other oils. The oil is also odorless and flavorless, which protects the flavor of your chicken and prevents flavor transfer.

Oil Temperature for Frying Chicken

The temperature of your oil is important when frying chicken, because if the oil is too cool, your chicken will turn out greasy and if it's too hot you'll have a burnt crust with a raw interior. You should fry your chicken between 350 and 375° Fahrenheit and the oil temperature should never fall below 325°. When frying chicken, you should also be sure to check the internal temperature to make sure your fried chicken has reached 165°.

Oil Temperature for Frying Wings

Because chicken wings are smaller and have less meat, they will cook faster, so you need to use a different temperature for cooking them as opposed to frying chicken breasts or thighs. You should fry your chicken wings at 375° Fahrenheit so you get a crispy crust but a juicy interior.

Tips for Frying Chicken

fried chicken on wooding cutting board with dipping sauce

Here are some helpful tips to get the best-tasting product when deep frying chicken:

  • Pat your chicken with a paper towel before tossing it in your breading to ensure a crispy texture after frying.
  • Bring your chicken to room temperature before breading and frying. If you fry straight from the fridge, your chicken will be too cold, which will reduce the temperature of your oil and result in an uneven fry.
  • Let the chicken rest after you fry it to let excess oil drain away and the crust to get extra crispy.
  • After frying, cool your fried chicken on a wire rack, rather than paper towels, so the oil can drain away.

Fried chicken is a crowd-pleasing dish that is perfect at any Southern kitchen, sports bar, buffet, or catered event. While this dish may seem easy to make, small considerations, such as the type of oil for frying the chicken, can have a major impact on the final product. Additionally, keep our tips in mind when frying your chicken to result in a delicious, crisp, and perfectly cooked product.

Posted in: Kitchen & Cooking Tips|By Richard Traylor
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