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How To Cook Frozen Chicken Wings In An Air Fryer

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So you’ve just bought your shiny new Air Fryer and want to explore the benefits of devouring deep-fried foods without the usual health hazards or feelings of guilt – congratulations! But is it possible to satisfy your taste buds the way oil-drowned breaded chicken can? 

If you’re wondering whether your Air Fryer can turn your frozen chicken wings into crispy bites of goodness, then we kindly ask you to stop. Read this article now, and you’ll dump your frozen bags of wings into this magical appliance lickety-split!

Making Frozen Air Fryer Chicken Wings

The best way to cook frozen chicken wings in the Air Fryer? Well, frozen, of course! All you have to do is simply dump your chicken wings into the air fryer while frozen (do not thaw!), and let the appliance do its thing.

Whether frozen raw or previously cooked, the cooking process is the same. Remember that even pre-cooked frozen wings take time to prepare because they have been frozen solid. Besides, you want them to turn out crispy on the outside, and achieving that crunchiness is only possible after 18 to 30 minutes in the Air Fryer.

How Long to Cook Frozen Chicken Wings in Your Air Fryer?

Although the 18-30-minute range is a good (or should I say crispy) rule, it all depends on the size of your wings. Obviously, the larger they are, the more time they need to thoroughly cook through.

While frozen chicken wings are generally considered cooked after only 15-18 minutes, you will need to leave the Air Fryer working for longer than that if you’re looking for that crunchy bite. We find 30 minutes of air frying to be the crispiest delight.

How to Make Air Fryer Frozen Chicken Wings?

Making frozen chicken wings in your Air Fryer may not require cooking skills, but there are some recommendations that you need to follow if you want to get the absolute best taste and crunchy bite.

  1. Start by removing the chicken wings from the freezer bag. Inspect the wings well and discard any parts or pieces that you do not wish to cook.

  2. Arrange the chicken wings in your air fryer, making sure that they are all spread in a single layer to ensure even cooking. No oil, cooking spray, or special prep is needed here – you just place them inside the basket or tray, straight from the freezer.

  3. Turn the Air Fryer on and cook for 18-30 minutes, depending on the crispiness you want to achieve, at 380-400 degrees F. Flipping the wings halfway through is essential, so make sure to shake the basket well or flip the wings over once your timer signals 15 minutes. Yes, we do recommend setting the timer!

  4. Check the doneness and see if your wings need more time to cook. If you are cooking chicken wings different in size, you may want to transfer the crispy pieces to a plate and leave the larger wings to cook for a few extra minutes.

  5. Transfer directly to a plate (no paper towels for draining needed here!), add the favorite sauces or toppings, and serve. Enjoy!

Tips for Making Frozen Chicken Wings

Here are the ultimate tips for air frying the perfect chicken wings every single time:

Check the Manual – Keep in mind that there are different types of Air Fryer on the market. Some may require you to preheat the unit before adding your food inside, so make sure to study the instructions first.

Grease If Not Crispy Enough – If your wings don’t turn out to be as crispy as you’d like, next time, spray with some oil.

Don’t Overcrowd – Just like with baking or pan-frying, your wings can only be adequately cooked if you give them enough room. We recommend about 15 chicken wings per batch, so rethink the urge to cook them all at once if you have way more than a dozen.

Reheat – Have some leftovers? Feel free to pop them into the Air Fryer when ready to consume. Just cook for 5 minutes at 380 degrees F, and enjoy!

Be Careful with the Liquid – Keep in mind that all of the frozen liquid will drain into the inner basket, so handle with care. If your Air Fryer starts to smoke, it may be because of excess liquid inside. Empty the basket before cooking.

Will My Air Fryer Chicken Wings Taste Good?

If you follow the tips from above, absolutely! All you have to do is nail the desired doneness, season with favorite spices, and voila! Remember, though, that the most important thing is to make sure they’re cooked through. If you cannot quite figure it out, we suggest buying a metal thermometer. Insert it into the meat and see if the internal meat temperature is at least 165 degrees F.

How Do I Make My Air Fryer Chicken Wings Crispy?

The Air Fry is specially designed so it can cook your food similarly to deep frying without all the oil and mess in your kitchen. As a result, your air fried foods should come out crispy delicious, and never greasy.

But there is a catch to increasing that crispy bite we are all so addicted to. Towards the end of cooking (we do this at the 25-minute mark), open your air fryer and spray some cooking spray or drizzle just a little bit of olive oil (1/2 – 1 teaspoon). Then increase the cooking time to 400-410 degrees F, and cook for 5 more minutes. The touch of grease and increased temperature will do its magic, and you should end up with crunchier meat.

Conclusion

And just like that, you have become a real pro at air frying frozen wings. We hope that this article was able to boost your air frying experience and reveal the secret to cooking crispy frozen chicken wings in the fastest, simplest, and healthiest way possible. So, what’s your go-to sauce/spice for your air fried wings?

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