Fried Chicken > Can you make fried chicken with just flour
Can You Make Fried Chicken With Just Flour?
Fried chicken is a beloved comfort food for many. The crispy, juicy chicken coated in seasoned breading is hard to resist. Traditionally, fried chicken is dredged in a three-step breading process – seasoned flour, egg wash, and then breadcrumbs. However, you can still make delicious fried chicken using only flour for the coating.
Can You Make Fried Chicken With Just Flour?
Yes, you can absolutely make delicious crispy fried chicken coated in nothing but flour. While fried chicken is traditionally dredged in flour, egg wash, and breadcrumbs, the flour alone is enough to create a crunchy exterior when fried.
The key is using a proper flour dredging technique. Make sure the chicken is dried extremely well so the flour adheres directly to the skin. Generously season the flour with salt, pepper, and spices for flavor. Coat the chicken thoroughly in the flour, pressing to pack it on. Let it rest for 5-10 minutes so the flour can hydrate. Then dredge again in the flour for an extra thick coating. Rest again before frying.
Related post: Can you make fried chicken with just flour and eggs?
Fry the well-coated chicken at 350°F until golden brown and cooked through about 12-15 minutes. The double coating of seasoned flour will become crispy, crunchy, and full of flavor. While not the classic recipe, fried chicken can be made quite delicious using just flour and no eggs or breadcrumbs.
The flour alone is all you need to create a tasty, crispy fried chicken when cooked at the proper temperature. Give this simplified flour-only method a try for juicy fried chicken with a crispy seasoned coating.
Do I need flour for fried chicken?
Yes, flour is essential for making crispy fried chicken. Flour creates a light, crunchy coating when fried that sticks nicely to the chicken. Using flour to dredge the chicken before frying allows you to get a crispy texture and flavorful coating without eggs or breadcrumbs.
Why Use Flour for Fried Chicken?
Flour is essential for fried chicken because it:
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- Creates a crispy coating when fried
- Absorbs any moisture from the chicken to get very crispy
- Sticks to the chicken, unlike breadcrumbs alone
- Can be seasoned to add flavor to the coating
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The key is using the right technique to get the flour to adhere directly to the chicken without the egg wash.
Is flour enough for fried chicken?
Yes, flour alone is sufficient to make great fried chicken. While flour, egg, and breadcrumbs create a craggy coating, flour provides enough crunch and taste when fried. As long as the flour is seasoned well and thoroughly coats the chicken, you can achieve excellent fried chicken with flour as the sole coating.
How to Make Fried Chicken with Just Flour?
Here is a simple method for fried chicken using only flour:
Ingredients:
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- Chicken pieces (breasts, thighs, drumsticks, etc.)
- All-purpose flour
- Seasonings like salt, pepper, paprika, garlic powder, etc.
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Directions:
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- Rinse the chicken and pat it very dry with paper towels. Any moisture will prevent the flour from sticking.
- Season the flour generously with salt, pepper, and other spices of your choice.
- Dredge the chicken pieces in the seasoned flour, pressing gently to coat all sides. Knock off any excess.
- Let the coated chicken rest for 5-10 minutes so the flour can hydrate and adhere better.
- Repeat dipping the chicken in the flour a second time, again pressing to coat all areas.
- Let rest for 5 minutes again. The double flour coating will be very thick.
- Fry the coated chicken in oil at 350°F until golden brown and cooked through.
- Drain on a paper towel-lined plate and season again if desired.
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The double flour coating technique is key for getting a crispy coating without eggs. Letting the chicken rest allows the flour time to hydrate and stick. Be sure the oil is hot enough to quickly fry and seal the coating.
While not traditional, fried chicken can absolutely be made using just a well-seasoned flour dredge. It results in a tasty, crispy exterior coating. Give it a try!
FAQs
Does fried chicken need flour?
Flour is a necessary ingredient in fried chicken. Dredging the chicken in flour gives you the crisp, browned exterior coating typical of fried chicken. The flour adheres directly to the meat, seals in juices, and provides a canvas to add seasoning. While optionally coated in eggs and breadcrumbs, flour is a core component of fried chicken.
Can you use all-purpose flour?
Yes, regular all-purpose flour works great for dredging fried chicken. You can use self-rising flour too.
Can you fry just flour?
Flour alone can certainly be fried. Seasoned flour dredged onto chicken and fried at the proper temperature will absolutely develop a crispy, delicious coating. The flour hydrates and bonds with the chicken skin to create a crunchy shell around the juicy meat when fried in hot oil.
Is flour enough without eggs or breadcrumbs?
Yes, flour alone will give a nice crispy coating. Eggs and breadcrumbs are not required to get a good crunch.
Can I use plain flour to coat chicken?
You can use plain all-purpose flour to coat chicken for frying, but seasoning it is recommended. Adding salt, pepper, spices, and herbs to the flour provides extra flavor. Paprika, garlic powder, cayenne, and oregano all complement fried chicken nicely. But even plain flour will create a nice crispy crust when fried.
Should you double dip in the flour?
Dredging in the flour twice results in a thicker coating that gets extra crispy. But one dip can work too.
Will flour stick to chicken without egg?
The flour will adhere to chicken without egg as long as the meat is dried properly. Remove all moisture then let the floured chicken rest so the flour can hydrate and bond. Pressing the flour into the skin also helps it stick. Fried chicken can be made with flour alone without the egg step in between
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