The keys to crispy fried chicken are taking your time and managing temperature. Resting the chicken after you dredge it in flour allows the breading to bind together and dry, making it easier to achieve a crispy crust that doesn’t fall apart in the pan. The temperature of the chicken also increases slightly while it rests, which improves the texture of the crust and causes the chicken to cook evenly.
Step One
Choose a smaller chicken — about 3 to 3 1/2 pounds, if possible — if you are cutting up a whole bird. Larger chickens often brown too much before they cook through. Cut the breasts into two pieces so they are small enough to cook through without becoming dry.
Step Two
Season the chicken with salt, ground pepper, herbs and spices, as desired. Garlic powder and onion powder add savory flavors. Sage and thyme complement chicken well if you want an herbed crust. Sweet paprika imparts color and a warm flavor. Cayenne pepper and chili powder add heat to the chicken. Work the seasonings under the skin if you use skin-on chicken pieces.
Step Three
Blend Flour with Crispness-Enhancing Ingredients – All-purpose flour works well for fried chicken. But self-rising flour yields a puffier, more craggy crust. Add 1/2 teaspoon of baking powder per cup of all-purpose flour to generate the same results. Add 1 tablespoon of cornstarch or potato starch per cup of flour to improve the crispiness of the crust. Oil and air circulate around starch particles more effectively than they do around flour proteins. Potato starch aids in browning the crust, but cornstarch does not. Season the flour mixture generously with the same herbs and spices you applied to the chicken.
Step Four
Bread and Air-Dry the Chicken – Pour the excess buttermilk out of the bag. Dredge the chicken pieces in the flour mixture. Do not shake excess flour off the meat. Rest the pieces on a wire cooling rack at room temperature for 1 hour. It is not safe to leave raw chicken sitting at room temperature longer than 2 hours. Air-drying the crust helps it stick to the chicken more effectively. The meat also needs to warm to room temperature so that it fries evenly. Cold chicken lowers the temperature of the fat excessively, which makes it more difficult to create a crispy crust.
Step Five
Fry, Fry Away – Place several pieces of chicken in oil preheated to 350 degrees Fahrenheit, according to a deep-fat frying or kitchen thermometer. Fry small batches of three or four pieces at a time so that air and oil can circulate around the chicken. Turn the chicken with tongs every 1 to 2 minutes to promote even browning.