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Food delivery apps rank buffalo wings as one of the top things people crave, alongside burgers and pizza. However, unlike the latter two, hot wings aren’t as affordable. Fortunately, even with the way prices are shooting up, wings are cheap and easy to make at home – and you’re in full control of the heat and seasoning.
Anyone can follow a buffalo wings recipe. You can find most of the ingredients already in your pantry and special tools or equipment are not required. If you want to make buffalo wings in the future, here are some tips to make the experience seamless.
Tip #1 Easiest way to Clean Chicken Wings
Proper poultry handling is crucial to avoid contamination, particularly salmonella. To prevent bacterial growth, run each wing under cool tap water. Rinse each wing one at a time to ensure the meat surface is clean.
Next, inspect the wing for any remaining feathers or anything on the skin that requires removal. Pluck these remnants off with your hands while running water over the meat. Pat dry each piece of chicken with a paper towel right after rinsing.
Tip #2 Keep Your Breading Simple
Traditional New York buffalo wings are fried “naked.” However, if you prefer the breaded spicy variety, season the chicken with salt and pepper before dredging in flour. Alternatively, some recipes call for covering the meat in a mixture of baking powder, salt, pepper, and garlic powder. Shake off excess coating before frying or baking.
Tip #3 Try Different Flavors
The original buffalo chicken wings recipe uses fried chicken wings tossed in cayenne pepper hot sauce, butter, and vinegar, among other ingredients. As popularity grew, restaurants started making their versions of buffalo sauce. Many flavors take inspiration from different cuisines.
Classic flavors range from classic BBQ and honey mustard to mango habanero. Aside from sauces, dusting fried wings with powders like garlic parmesan or salted egg is another option. At home, what you can create is only limited to the buffalo wing ingredients available in your pantry.
If you are planning on making wings for the family lunch or the barkada’s next get-together, try out local profiles like Asian fried chicken seasoned with Knorr Liquid Seasoning, labuyo spiced chicken, or hot and sour wings.
Tip #4 Always use a Thermometer
Deep frying is the conventional way of cooking buffalo chicken wings. Bone-in spicy chicken takes a bit longer to cook. Keep the oil at 350°F (177°C) to avoid overcooking the skin. Use a cooking thermometer to ensure temperature accuracy. No one wants dry wings just as much as they don’t like raw chicken.
Tip #5 Reheat Buffalo Wings Properly
Enjoying leftover wings as if they were fresh-out-of-the-fryer is tricky but doable. Try any of these reheating methods:
- Toaster oven – heat room temperature chicken for 10 minutes at 356°F (180°C).
- Convection oven – place your wings on an aluminum foil-lined tray and heat for five minutes at 356°F (180°C) on one side before flipping and heating for another five minutes.
- Stovetop – thaw finger food until it reaches room temperature. Toss the wings in a heated pan for eight to 10 minutes. Ensure the pan is well-oiled to keep the chicken from sticking.
- Air fryer – lay pieces in the fryer basket and avoid overcrowding. Heat your spicy wings for eight minutes at 356°F (180°C).
Tip #6 Pair with Flavorful Dips
Blue cheese, ranch, and garlic mayo dips have always been associated with buffalo chicken. But you can mix things up with other varieties. Try store-bought sour cream, Greek yogurt, or bottled nacho cheese sauce. For a hassle-free dip recipe, try out this versatile mayo, and Knorr Liquid Seasoning. Besides hot wings, you can use this recipe with homemade onion rings or lumpiang Shanghai.
Do you prefer your buffalo wings as a starter or as a main? Either way, you’ll be enjoying this addictive dish so often now that you know how to make it. Besides wings, try these tips with chicken tenders, popcorn shrimp, or even cauliflower florets.