Chicken wings and the Super Bowl go hand in hand but there is much more to these tasty little chicken pieces.
Intrinsically messy to consume, they simply cannot be eaten with a knife and fork so be sure to have plenty of wet wipes or a finger bowl of water with lemon slices when serving.
So, How long does it take to cook chicken wings?
In general, they take between 10 minutes for deep frying and up to 40 minutes for baking. However, it depends on the cooking method, deep fat frying, baking, pan frying, etc. and the size.
We strongly recommend for safe chicken cooking that you always use a meat thermometer to check the thickest part of the wing, without touching the bone, has reached 165˚ F.
This takes all the guesswork out of cooking the wings and ensures they remain juicy and tender but safe.
Let’s take a look at the process!
Preparing Chicken Wings
As we tend to eat quite a few drumsticks at a time, it makes sense to buy your chicken wings separately rather than buy whole chickens and butcher them.
When pre-butchered, they usually are sold in two parts, drumettes (because they look like little drumsticks) and wingettes and, together are called chicken wings. Many prefer to cut them apart before cooking as you will get a more even cook this way.
Note: If the wing tips have been left on, be sure to cut them off as they are nothing but skin and gristle. You can add them to stock.
If they are the only snack or appetizer you are serving, I would recommend serving between 8 and 10 pieces (4 – 5 wings and a mix of wingettes and drummettes) per person. If you are serving other snacks, then 4 pieces (or 2 wings) should be enough.
Defrosting Your Chicken Wings
Like most food, fresh is best (check you are not buying pre-frozen defrosted chicken wings) but you can also buy frozen and defrost them in one of 3 ways:
One
You can defrost them in the refrigerator (make sure they are well sealed so the raw juices don’t drip on other food). This takes approximately 5 hours per lb so prepare well in advance.
Two
You can put them in a sealed bag and immerse them in cold water (never use warm or hot water as this will stimulate the growth of bacteria). Change the water every half an hour until thawed completely. It should take about one hour per lb this way.
Three
You can use the defrost feature of your microwave. Try one minute at a time until thawed. However, this way is very easy to start the cooking process or to warm it up enough to increase bacteria, so you will need to cook your wings immediately after this method. Personally, I am never happy defrosting chicken in the microwave as I feel it affects the flavor. Also, being health conscious, I prefer using non-toxic cookware when preparing my meals.
Now you have your defrosted or fresh chicken wings, pat them dry with kitchen roll to remove all the package saline and water. Never wash your chicken with water. All this does is spread the bacteria around the bird and your kitchen sink.
How to Cook Chicken Wings
Generally, chicken wings are eaten as a snack or an appetizer, so we are going to look at five yummy recipes ranging from healthy and light all the way through to the classic Buffalo wings, deep-fried with a blue cheese dip.
All recipes serve 4 people (8 pieces or 4 wings each) and you can add carrot and celery sticks as an added dipping tool.
We are including our four favorite and simple recipes for dips as chicken wings and dips often go hand in hand. If you are using an induction cooktop, we have a few cookware recommendations for you.
How to Cook Healthy Baked Chicken Wings
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I love this recipe because there is none of the guilt of eating fried wings and yet the cooking method allows them to be crispy.
Ingredients
16 pieces chicken wings cut into wingettes and drummettes
2 tbsps melted butter
2 tsps salt
½ tsp black pepper
1 tsp garlic powder
1 tsp paprika
2 cups healthy ranch dressing
One
Pre-heat your oven to 400˚ F.
Two
Line 2 baking sheets with foil and place a rack on each. This makes sure the wings are crisp without making too much of a mess.
Three
Mix the wings, butter, salt, pepper, garlic and paprika together in a large bowl, making sure the wings are thoroughly coated.
Four
Lay the wings in a single layer on the racks. (Make sure they don’t touch or they won’t crisp.)
Five
Bake for 40 minutes and serve with the healthy ranch dressing. They can also be refrigerated and served cold.
(If you want extra-crispy wings, instead of serving immediately, after the first 40 minutes, you can lower the heat to 170˚ F and cook for another 60 minutes.)
How to Cook Chinese BBQ Wings
Wings are delicious when grilled on open coal but you do need to watch them closely and turn regularly. Cook them over indirect heat, i.e. to the side of your grill.
Ingredients
16 pieces chicken wings cut into wingettes and drummettes
½ cup light soy sauce (dark is too strong)
½ cup white wine
¼ cup vegetable oil
3 cloves of minced garlic
1 tbsp grated fresh ginger
1½ tsp Chinese five spice powder
2 limes cut into wedges
One
Mix soy sauce, wine, oil, garlic, ginger and five spice powder and pour into a Ziploc bag.
Two
Add the wings and jiggle around until all the wings are coated with the marinade.
Three
Put in the refrigerator for 1 – 4 hours.
Four
Heat your coals till hot and place the marinated wings on the side of the rack, away from direct heat.
Five
Turn every 10 minutes till done (usually about 30 minutes), using the remaining marinade to brush over the wings whilst cooking.
Six
Serve hot with lime juice squeezed over them
How to Cook Honey Glazed Chicken Wings
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An all-time favorite, these are sticky and sweet and perfect party food.
Ingredients
16 pieces chicken wings cut into wingettes and drummettes
3 tbsps clear honey
3 tbsps light soy sauce
1 tbsp sesame seeds (optional but add a nice crunch)
2 cups sour cream dip
One
Heat the oven to 400˚ F.
Two
Mix honey, soy sauce and ½ tbsp of the sesame seeds together in a bowl and add wings. Really coat each wing with the mixture.
Three
Place the wings in a single layer in a roasting pan and cook for 20 minutes or until done.
Four
Sprinkle the remaining sesame seeds over the wings and serve with a sour cream dip.
More details at BBC Good Food.
How to Cook Spicy Curried Wings
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For a little taste of the sub-continent, try these Indian style wings.
Ingredients
16 pieces chicken wings cut into wingettes and drummettes
3 tbsps vegetable oil
4 tbsps cornstarch
4 tsps paprika
4 tsps ground cumin
2 tsps turmeric
4 tsps garam masala (a popular Indian mixed spice)
2 tsps salt
2 tsps freshly ground black pepper
4 tbsps chopped coriander
2 cups cucumber raita
One
Mix the cornstarch, paprika, cumin, turmeric, garam masala, salt and pepper together then rub all over the chicken wings, making sure every nook and cranny is covered. Leave in refrigerator for 1 hour.
Two
Heat oven to 400˚ F
Three
Line 2 baking sheets with foil and place a rack on each. This makes sure the wings are crisp without making too much of a mess. Brush the racks with the one tbsp of the oil (because there is no oil in the marinade) to prevent the wings from sticking.
Four
Place the wings on the racks in a single layer without touching each other so they become crispy.
Five
Brush the wings on one side with one tbsp oil and bake for 20 minutes.
Six
Turn the wings over, brush with remaining oil and bake for another 20 minutes.
Seven
Check with thermometer and then serve with a cooling cucumber and mint raita.
How to Cook Buffalo Wings
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The king of wings recipe! Believed to have been invented in 1964 after a restaurant owner received a crate of chicken wings instead of chicken pieces, she decided to deep fry them and serve with a hot sauce. Since then, thousands of different recipes have been tried but I am trying to stick as closely to the original as served in the Anchor Bar from 1964 onwards
Ingredients
16 pieces chicken wings cut into wingettes and drummettes
1 quart oil for frying
3 tbsp butter
1 tbsp white vinegar
4 tbsps hot sauce
½ tsp salt
½ tsp pepper
2 cups blue cheese dip
One
Heat oil to 375˚ F. If you don’t have deep fat fryer, use an oil thermometer to be sure.
Two
Deep fry wings till done, approximately 10 minutes.
Three
Meanwhile, melt butter in a large frying pan and add the vinegar, hot sauce, salt and pepper.
Four
Add the cooked chicken and stir over a low heat for approximately 5 minutes. (If you want the wings even spicier, leave them in for 10 to 15 minutes.)
Five
Serve warm with the blue cheese dressing.
How to Prepare Simple Dips for Your Wings
The following are quick and easy and can be made up to 24 hours in advance and stored in the refrigerator. Simply mix together in a bowl and use. Each recipe makes 2 cups, perfect for 16 wings (32 pieces). Add some celery and carrot sticks for additional dippers!
Healthy Ranch Dip
2 cups plain Greek yogurt
2 tsps salt
2 tsps garlic powder
2 tsps onion powder
2 tsps dried parsley
1 tsp dried dill
1 tsp black pepper
Sour Cream Dip
½ cup sour cream
½ cup buttermilk
½ cup mayonnaise
2 tsps lemon juice
½ tsp paprika
Salt and pepper to taste
Cucumber Mint Raita
1 large cucumber, peeled, de-seeded and cut into small chunks
2 cups plain whole-fat yogurt
10 large mint leaves, washed and sliced thinly
1 pinch cayenne pepper
1 pinch cumin
1 pinch paprika
Salt and pepper to taste
Blue Cheese Dip
1 cup crumbled blue cheese
¾ cup mayonnaise
½ cup sour cream
1 tsp Worcestershire sauce
Salt and pepper to taste