Prepping the Chicken
Air frying is a great way to cook chicken in a convection oven. It is a healthier alternative to deep frying and produces juicy, crispy chicken. Before you can air fry the chicken, you will need to prep it properly. This section will provide a guide on how to properly prep chicken for air frying in a convection oven.
Trim and pat dry the chicken
Before you can air fry a chicken in a convection oven, it is important to prepare the chicken properly. Start by trimming off any excess fat and any tough, sinewy pieces of skin. Using a sharp knife or kitchen shears, make sure to trim away any cartilage and fatty deposits. Once everything has been trimmed, pat the chicken dry with paper towels to remove any excess moisture. This ensures that the chicken will crisp nicely as it cooks in the convection oven.
Season the chicken with your favorite spices
A key part of prepping chicken is seasoning it. To get the most out of your spices, you should season the chicken with your favorite spices and seasoning blends at least 30 minutes before cooking. Ideally, you should season a few hours to overnight if possible.
You can use store-bought seasoning blends or create your own mix to suit your taste buds. When using store-bought seasonings, use them sparingly because they can be quite salty in flavor. If you are using a dry rub that doesn’t contain salt, adjust the amount accordingly.
When rubbing the chicken with spices, make sure to evenly coat it so that every part has been evenly seasoned. Rub some of the spices under the skin when possible as this adds additional flavor and moisture to keep it juicy while cooking.
Once seasoned, let the chicken rest in a refrigerator for at least 30 minutes up to overnight before cooking. Allowing the chicken time to really absorb all of those flavors will take your preparation from ‘meh’ to ‘wow’ in no time!
Preheat the oven to 400°F
Before roasting your chicken, start by preheating the oven to 400°F (200°C). Preheating is essential for food safety and proper cooking of your dish. It helps to ensure the inside is cooked through before the outside burns.
Once the oven is preheated, use an oven-safe thermometer and adjust the temperature, if necessary. This will help to guarantee a consistent temperature throughout your cooking process and ensure even heating in all areas of the oven. Additionally, it helps to prevent overcooking or undercooking your chicken.
Remove any packaging from around the chicken, such as netting or plastic wrap, before roasting it in the oven. Place the chicken in a roasting pan with at least an inch of space around it so that it can get nicely browned and crisp on all sides. Make sure that you don’t crowd too many pieces together as this will cause them to steam rather than roast properly.
If desired, lightly rub oil over your chicken before putting it into the preheated oven. This will add flavor and help keep moisture locked in during roasting for juicy results every time. Finally, add any seasonings desired, such as salt and pepper or herbs like thyme or rosemary for extra flavor.
Cooking the Chicken
Cooking chicken in a convection oven is a great way to get a crisp and flavorful end result. You can either use your oven’s air fryer setting or use your convection oven for roasting. Whatever method you choose, it’s important to use the correct temperature and cook your chicken for the correct amount of time. Let’s look at how to get the best results when air frying or roasting chicken in a convection oven.
Place the chicken in the oven
Once you have your marinade prepared and your chicken covered in it, place it in the center of the convection oven. Make sure that there is enough space between each piece of chicken to ensure even cooking. Depending on how much chicken you are cooking at once, you may need to use multiple trays or racks. The oven’s convection fan should be running during the air-fry cycle to help circulate the hot air around the chicken for even cooking. If your oven does not have a convection fan, it is recommended that you turn it on for optimal results. You may need to adjust the temperature or time according to your oven type and size; however, as a general rule most recipes cook at around 370°F (188°C) for approximately 20 minutes.
Cook the chicken for 20 minutes
Cooking chicken requires patience and care, as it takes time to achieve the perfect doneness. In order to properly cook the bird, you must take into account the size of your chicken, thickness of the meat and cooking method. Smaller chickens may cook more quickly than larger birds, so adjust your timing when necessary.
When cooking a whole chicken in the oven at 375°F, begin by preheating your oven. Place a few tablespoons of oil in a roasting pan and rub it on both sides of the bird to help achieve a moist and tender result. Next season both sides with salt, pepper and any other spices you desire. Then place it on an elevated trivet or rack directly in the center of your roasting pan with enough space for air circulation around all sides.
Finally, for an average sized 4-5 pound chicken cooked at 375°F in a preheated oven you should plan to cook for approximately 20 minutes per each pound – that means 90 minutes to 2 hours depending on your exact size – until an internal temperature of 165˚F is reached in multiple places throughout the bird including both wings, breast and thigh areas using an instant-read thermometer inserted all the way into these parts but not touching any bones. Once this initial job is completed satisfactory – enjoy!
Flip the chicken and cook for an additional 10 minutes
After the first step of cooking the chicken, open the convection oven door and carefully flip each piece over with kitchen tongs. Close the door and place the timer on 10 minutes.
With a convection oven’s fan-based heating system, you may notice that it doesn’t need much time for re-heating. This means that additional time is adjusted depending on how your pieces of chicken are cooking. Keep an eye on them as they cook from both sides to make sure they are evenly cooked throughout and do not overcook them; remove them from heat when golden brown or when their internal temperature with a meat thermometer reads 165°F (74°C).
Finishing the Chicken
After air-frying your chicken, the last step is to finish it off. By finishing it off, you will get a juicy, flavourful chicken with an even crispier outside. There are a few different methods that you can use to finish your chicken in a convection oven. In this article, we will discuss the different methods and the best practices of air-frying chicken in a convection oven.
Increase the oven temperature to 425°F
To finish the cooking process of your chicken and give it a wonderful golden brown color, we recommend preheating the oven to 425°F (220°C). Depending on the size of your oven and its temperature accuracy, it may take anywhere from 3 to 5 minutes for the oven to reach this desired temperature. Make sure the chicken is placed in a single layer on a lined baking sheet with space in between pieces, once the temperature is reach. This will ensure that all sides of your chicken are evenly cooked and allow heat to circulate throughout equally. If using particularly thick pieces of chicken, place them breast-side-down to encourage moisture retention. The cooking time at 425°F (220°C) will depend on how big and thick each piece is. Generally speaking, 8-10 minutes should be enough to finish off cooking most pieces of chicken.
Cook the chicken for an additional 5 minutes
Once the chicken is seared, it is time to finish cooking the entire dish. Place the skillet in an oven preheated to 375 degrees and bake for an additional 5 minutes. The goal is to reduce the remaining liquid and give the chicken some nice color. A light coating of butter will help the color develop on top of the chicken as well.
To check if it’s done, remove a breast from the skillet and cut into it with a knife to make sure that it’s cooked through (juices should run clear). Depending upon how quickly you cooked your skillet ingredients before this step, you may need to cook for an additional 2 minutes. Be sure not to overdry it though — take it out when it’s almost there and let carry-over cooking finish off your dish!
Check the internal temperature to ensure the chicken is cooked through
Ensuring that your chicken is fully cooked is important not only from the perspective of taste, but also from a food safety standpoint. The best way to guarantee that your chicken is safe to eat and properly cooked through is to check the internal temperature with an instant read thermometer. For most types of poultry, the “safe” internal temperature is 165°F (74°C). Insert the thermometer into the thickest part of the thigh, keeping it away from both fat and bone as much as possible so it measures only muscle. If you’re baking a whole chicken, insert it in the center of a breast or thigh. If you’re roasting cut-up pieces, insert it in between a drumstick and thigh or leg and wing. Make sure the thermometer doesn’t touch bone — it will give a false reading that could lead to over-cooking. For further safety when cooking poultry, store leftovers at 40°F or below within two hours after cooking.
Serving the Chicken
After you have cooked the chicken in the convection oven, you want to make sure it is served properly. Your chicken should be crispy on the outside and juicy on the inside for optimal enjoyment. You can serve your air fried chicken with a variety of sides and condiments, such as mashed potatoes, steak fries, coleslaw, or your favorite sauce. Let’s talk about the best way to serve your air fried chicken.
Let the chicken rest for 10 minutes
After the chicken has cooked to perfection in the convection oven, it is important to allow it to rest for at least 10 minutes before serving. This resting period will help lock in the flavorful juices, resulting in tender and juicy pieces of chicken. It is recommended that you cover the cooked chicken with aluminum foil and allow it to rest on a plate or cutting board. This helps keep the chicken warm until ready to serve.
Additionally, this time gives you an opportunity to use any leftover heat from the oven or convection heater to melt a great topping like butter or cheese onto your creation while enjoying some last minute preparation of your side dishes. Ensuring your side dishes are prepped ahead of time will guarantee that all your ingredients are hot when served and also saves precious time. Of course for those more daring chefs, feel free to experiment with different seasonings during this pre-serve waiting period – thanks again for choosing air fried chicken!
Serve the chicken with your favorite side dishes
Chicken makes a delicious and versatile main course for any event, from an everyday family meal to a formal gathering. It is important to serve your chicken with the correct side dishes to maximize its flavor and to ensure that all guests have plenty of options. Whether you choose fresh vegetables or some classic sides, here are some of the most popular sides to serve with chicken.
Vegetables: Roasted, grilled or steamed vegetables are always a popular accompaniment with chicken dishes. Try choosing seasonal vegetables — roasted Brussels sprouts in the winter, grilled asparagus in spring and summer squash in autumn — and cooking them simply so that their natural flavors can shine through.
Salads: Salads make great side dishes for chicken, particularly if you are looking for something light and refreshing alongside something heartier like oven-baked or roasted chicken. Choose a simple green salad to pair with an herb-rubbed bird, or go exotic with flavorful couscous salads served with griddled lemon halves on top of your chicken plates.
Grains: Grains such as couscous, quinoa and bulgur wheat can be cooked quickly and easily in larger quantities for large groups of people. They make good side dishes for anything from curried poultry dishes like tandoori-style roasts to juicy drumsticks or thighs that have been cooked on the grill. Grains also offer interesting textures which contrast well against crisply cooked pieces of chicken breast.
Potatoes: Potatoes are always popular around colorful vegetable roasts or matched with simply charred drumsticks served straight away from the grill. Thickly cut fries crisped up in the oven pair well with crispy baked wings while small boiled new potatoes tossed gently in olive oil can bring out the flavor even more when eaten alongside pieces of marinated meat
Enjoy!
Once the chicken is cooked through and the internal temperature reads 165°F (74°C), it’s time to enjoy your tasty meal. Allow your cooked chicken to rest for 10 minutes before serving it with sides of your choosing. Serving a basted chicken will give you maximum flavor and succulence. If there are leftovers, allow them to cool, store them in an airtight container, and refrigerate immediately. For maximum food safety, reheat the leftovers in an oven or microwave until they reach a minimum internal temperature of 165°F (74°C). Enjoy!
