Last Updated on May 20, 2022 by
Can you fry frozen chicken wings? If you have a box of chicken wings in the fridge, perhaps, frying them is the way to go. But just frying may be a bad or good idea. This publication attempts to solve this mystery.
You can fry frozen chicken wings. However, “alarmists” recommend letting the wings thaw before frying to be on the safe side. Frozen chicken wings in a fryer can be disastrous, which is why defrosting is advisable.
Thawing takes a longer time, increasing your cooking time. Besides, most fast-food restaurants fry frozen chicken, they just toss them in the fryer.
Can you fry frozen chicken wings?
Although you can fry frozen chicken wings, allow them to thaw before frying. Merely adding frozen foods into a fryer can cause a disaster but defrosting makes everything fine.
Frozen chicken wings in the freezer will not set the kitchen on fire. The French fries you order at a chain are probably fried frozen.
Some experts believe that frying chicken wings frozen risks uncooked wings. Normally, they take about 4-6 minutes to cook. The longer you fry the wings, the worse they get.
Regarding air frying, you do not have to defrost chicken wings before air frying, especially if you intend to put the sauce after frying. But if you prefer the chicken wings plain, consider defrosting them to allow more seasoning.
But hey, most fast-food fries the wings from frozen. So, it is normal and not dangerous. Just about 10 minutes from frozen and they are perfectly cooked.
Regarding deep frying, this is great for chicken wings. You would get that crispy exterior and soft flesh when cooked properly.
Nonetheless, it is important to deep fry frozen chicken wings for the appropriate period. You should deep fry the frozen chicken wings for up to 10-12 minutes in 350°F oil.
Do you thaw frozen chicken wings before frying?
It is not mandatory but necessary to thaw frozen chicken wings before frying. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) recommends not cooking frozen chicken wings in a microwave or slow cooker and thawing them before cooking.
You can fry your frozen chicken wings on the stove or in the oven. The cooking time will probably be about 50 percent longer.
Just ensure that the frozen chicken is cooked to a safe minimum internal temperature of 165°F, measured with a food thermometer.
You can thaw chicken wings in cold water in its leak-proof bag or airtight packaging. Simply, submerge the frozen chicken wings or cut-up parts in cold water. Ensure to change the water every 30 minutes to keep it cold.
Thawing chicken wings can take an estimated 30 minutes. Make sure to cook immediately after thawing.
After defrosting, dry thoroughly. You can coat the chicken wings with 1/4 tsp of baking powder and a TBSP of cornstarch or flour. If air fry, do so at 360 for up to 13 minutes. Flip the wings halfway through.
How long to fry frozen chicken wings?
Fry frozen chicken wings for about 10 minutes at about 350°F. Just try to defrost them first, pat the outsides dry, and fry for up to 10 minutes.
Insert a thermometer into the oil to tell when it reaches 350°F if you use a skillet. If using a deep fryer, set the temperature to 350°F.
The frying time for chicken wings depends on factors such as the size, number of wings, and hotness of the oil.
If you have a dozen frozen chicken wings, it should take an estimated 10-12 minutes to deep fry in oil that is 350°F. Flip the wings once halfway through. Frying any longer will overcook the frozen chicken wings.
You can then coat the chicken wings in your preferred sauce and then allow 5 additional minutes at 380°F so the wings come out completely cooked.
Is it ok to fry frozen chicken wings?
For some valid reasons, it is okay to fry frozen chicken wings.
Cooking time
You can fry or reheat cooked or raw chicken wings from a frozen state but thawing or not determines the cooking time.
Generally, it takes an estimated one and a half times longer to cook frozen chicken wings. If the wings are fresh meat, it should take more than 30 minutes, a frozen piece will take up to 1 hour.
Ensure to discard the absorbent paper or wrapping from the chicken wings. For canned chicken wings, read the label to know what cooking safety to follow.
Bacteria elimination
In research published by the National Institutes of Health (NIH), 82 samples of frozen chicken from retail stores were examined for the presence of Campylobacter, Yersinia enterocolitica, and salmonellae.
Like any perishable meat, chicken wings attract bacteria, whether raw or undercooked chicken. Bacteria will rapidly multiply at temperatures between 40 and 140°F right out of the fridge before cooking takes place.
Freezing chicken wings does not eliminate bacteria, but frying will destroy them.
FSIS does not tolerate certain pathogens, such as Listeria monocytogenes and Salmonella in ready-to-eat or cooked chicken wings.
Foodborne illnesses are a result of contamination from food handlers. As such, frying to certain temperatures eliminates the disease-causing organisms.
How do you fry frozen chicken wings?
Follow the steps below to fry your frozen chicken wings:
Thaw frozen chicken wings
First, thaw or defrost the chicken wings. It is not advisable to have frozen chicken wings fried without thawing. Thawing will increase the cooking time but prevents a disastrous experience.
Heat the oil
Next, fill your pan with the proper amount of vegetable oil. The average amount required is 2 quarts. Nonetheless, the amount depends on your fryer size and the number of frozen wings you have to fry.
Toss the frozen wings in the hot oil
Gently add the frozen chicken wings into the heated oil, ensuring not to splash hot oil all over the cooker or place.
Allow the frozen chicken wings to fry for up to 10-12 minutes to get a crispy and golden brown. Flip the chicken wings halfway through just once until done.
Remove the wings
Remove the fried wings and place them on a paper towel to absorb excess oil.
Finally, remember to turn off the cooker and allow the vegetable oil to cool before storing or disposing of it.
Your fried frozen chicken wings are now ready. You could even season them with spices or add a sauce over for additional flavor.
Additional frying tips
- If using a skillet, fill it up to about 3 inches deep with oil. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions for deep-fryers, ensuring to follow the recommendations for the adequate amount of oil to use.
- A deep fryer will have temperature settings. If using a skillet, however, use your frying thermometer to tell when the oil reaches the required temperature.
- Try to get rid of excess ice before frying the wings by shaking the frozen wings.
- Adding frozen wings to the fryer can reduce the oil temperature, so thawing is advisable to prevent this experience, which can cause an undercooked chicken. It is also advisable to fry in small batches.
Best Frozen chicken wings to buy
This section recommends frozen chicken wings to buy. The picks are made based on flavor and nutrition.
Consider buying the recommended frozen chicken wings below:
Perdue, Individually Frozen Chicken Wings, 3 lb (Frozen)
Perdue frozen chicken wings are known for flavor—the perfect chicken wing you need right now for your money.
These frozen chicken wings do not contain antibiotics and are made with 100% natural chicken.
You do not even have to thaw the chicken wings. We thought this was Perdue’s attempt to get us to buy but it is true. Not having to thaw also saved more cooking time.
Just toss the chicken wings in the air fryer at 350 or 375 and allow a few minutes to get that crispy, brown sweetness. Do not forget to flip the wings halfway through.
What we don’t like
Well, these frozen wings have their downside. Perdue failed to trim or cut them well. We think the wings look like they were randomly chopped apart using a butcher’s knife.
Some of the pieces are small and you would only get bone with little meat.
The package says that the chicken wings are individually frozen but we had two clumps frozen together. Just make sure to cook none or cook them all at once.
That being said, the wings are small and a little expensive but one of the best you can find out there.
TGI Fridays Frozen Appetizers Buffalo Style Chicken Wings (9 oz Box)
TGI Fridays Buffalo sounds like “Thank God It’s Friday” frozen chicken wings, right? This is a restaurant-style appetizer for your home.
The wings are breaded and ready to heat. We did not even have to thaw to fry, saving us lots of cooking time.
Comes with that buffalo-style sauce for your classic flavor and contains 10 g. of protein per serving.
And… the flavor pops. Eat these wings with a loaded baked potato plus some Nacho’s to set you up for the day. Speaking of addictive, call these “addictive wings”. Fair pricing and the experience are nearly as described.
What we don’t like
The downside is that the wings tend to be soft and fatty. We did not exactly get that crisp despite over-baking and a quick broil, like with other wings. Great frozen wings overall.
