James shares what he considers the simplest way to fry chicken, focusing on soaking the chicken in water for extra moisture and carefully managing oil temperature so the coating stays crispy without absorbing too much oil.
ChickenCut into pieces and soaked in water to keep it moist~4-5 piecesest.
FlourUsed for coating; creates a mottled texture when combined with water~1/2-3/4 cupsest.
Cooking oilOil for frying; can be filtered and reused for stir-frying within about 5-6 days~2 cupsest.
Steps
1
Cut the chicken into pieces and soak briefly in water so it absorbs some moisture, making the fried result juicier.
2
Heat the oil to roughly 150-160°C and place the chicken into the pot to start frying.
3
Don't worry too much if the chicken browns a bit while frying; avoid lowering the heat too soon. Keeping the oil hot throughout helps prevent the chicken from absorbing excess oil when it's done.
4
Make sure the oil is very hot right before removing the chicken — this is the key step to keeping it from becoming greasy.
5
Check that the coating has a mottled, uneven texture — this happens because the flour mixed with water, and it's a normal sign of a good crust.
6
After frying, strain the used oil; if it hasn't been repeatedly reheated, it can still be used for stir-frying within about 5-6 days. Avoid reheating the same oil over and over, as this degrades its quality.