The Important Step To Prevent Your Chicken Coating From Falling Off - Tasting Table (2024)

The Important Step To Prevent Your Chicken Coating From Falling Off - Tasting Table (2)

The Important Step To Prevent Your Chicken Coating From Falling Off - Tasting Table (3)

The Important Step To Prevent Your Chicken Coating From Falling Off

The Important Step To Prevent Your Chicken Coating From Falling Off - Tasting Table (4)

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ByMatthew Spina/

In the pantheon of easy weeknight meals there may be no option as comforting and tasty as battered chicken. With just a few common kitchen ingredients, you can go from hungry to crispy chicken cutlets in no time flat. They are so popular that almost every cuisine on earth boasts a variety of them, from German schnitzel to Japanese katsu. While they can inspire endless variations, like chicken Parmesan, it's hard to improve on them in their most simple form. Golden brown and savory, with a perfect contrast between that crackling crust and the tender chicken, a well-made chicken cutlet doesn't even need a sauce to be delicious.

The key to good fried chicken cutlets is, of course, the batter or breading. Outside of slicing or pounding it appropriately thin and even, the chicken is the easy part. For the breading you have quite a few options, with Bon Appétit suggesting everything from your standard store-bought breadcrumbs, to cornflakes and Doritos. The breading is bringing all the texture and most of the flavor to your cutlets, so you want to make sure you do it right.

One of the saddest sights for crispy chicken cutlets is watching as the breading or batter falls off in the pan, leaving you with naked spots of mostly flavorless chicken. So don't skip this essential ingredient that will keep your breading intact while it cooks.

Always dip your chicken in beaten egg before coating

The Important Step To Prevent Your Chicken Coating From Falling Off - Tasting Table (5)

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A properly breaded chicken that holds together and doesn't fall off comes from a few different ingredients working in tandem. According to Taste of Home, the essential glue holding together all the parts in your crispy chicken project is beaten egg. Dipping your chicken in egg helps the breadcrumbs, or whatever coating you use, adhere evenly to the outside of the cutlet. You should start with a thin layer of flour, which gives the egg a better surface to cling to, then the egg, then the coating. The egg will also quickly cook and combine the flour once your chicken goes in the pan, further gripping the coating and ensuring an even, crunchy exterior that doesn't separate from the cutlet or flake off in the pan.

No matter what type of coating you are using, the eggs will also combine with it to form that perfect crust. Food52 states that you should let your fully dredged and coated cutlets sit for up to 30 minutes at room temperature before cooking, which helps the egg mix with coat and form an even stronger bond. While other options like mayo can take the place of eggs, this classic coating method produces a perfectly crunchy coating that won't let you down in either sturdiness or flavor.

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The Important Step To Prevent Your Chicken Coating From Falling Off - Tasting Table (2024)

FAQs

The Important Step To Prevent Your Chicken Coating From Falling Off - Tasting Table? ›

Always dip your chicken in beaten egg before coating

How to keep chicken breading from falling off? ›

Place the breaded chicken on a cooling rack (or a platter) and chill in the refrigerator for about 30 minutes. This cooling time will help the layers of breading ingredients solidify and adhere better after the chicken cooks. Once you start cooking the chicken, be patient and don't flip it over too early.

How to fry chicken so the skin doesn't fall off? ›

Then turn your heat down to medium. So here's the secret to getting that crispy skin that doesn't fall off your chicken… DON'T KEEP TURNING THE CHICKEN. Place the chicken in the skillet and leave it there for a good 8-10 minutes.

Why won't my coating stick to my chicken? ›

If the chicken is not dried off sufficiently, it creates a slick layer that any flour or starch doesn't stand a chance of sticking to. Too much of a dredge can cause problems, too.

How to keep crust from falling off chicken fried steak? ›

Next dredge the steak in plain all purpose flour and let them hang out in the fridge for 30 minutes before you begin cooking. The flour will absorb moisture from the steak, creating a sticky coating on its surface. After 30 minutes, dunk the steak in buttermilk and then dredge it heavily in seasoned flour and fry.

How do you keep breading on meat? ›

Begin by coating the meat with flour, shaking to get rid of the excess. Next, dip into egg wash, allowing extra to run off to avoid clumping. Lastly, cover completely with breadcrumbs, pressing gently with fingers to ensure even coating.

How do you make chicken not stick? ›

First, put a light coating of olive oil and seasoning directly on the chicken to help prevent sticking. Second, keep the grill temperature around 425-450F. If the temperature is too high the chicken will stick! You want to grill the chicken breasts for about 4.5 min a side.

How do you store coated chicken? ›

Let the fried chicken cool before storage to prevent bacteria growth. Place it in a shallow airtight container or wrap it tightly in aluminum foil, then refrigerate for up to four days. Reheat in the microwave or in the oven.

How do you keep chicken from sticking to the tray? ›

If your food starts to stick, your pan probably wasn't hot enough or you didn't add enough fat. So first, try to turn up your heat a bit and add a splash of fat to see if it releases off naturally before you force it. Generally, bone-in, skin-on chicken should sear for about 10 minutes undisturbed.

How do you fry chicken so it doesn't stick? ›

  1. First, use a properly seasoned cast iron skillet or a non-stick pan with an unblemished surface.
  2. Second, unless frying something that already contains fat (like bacon) use enough cooking oil with a high burn point, such as canola.
  3. Third, don't use too high a heat. ...
  4. And finally, turn and/or stir frequently.
Jan 13, 2023

Why does my chicken skin stick to the pan? ›

It's not your pans that are causing your food to stick, it's the lack of heat and time (i.e. patience) that you're giving the food. So, if you're constantly experiencing food stickage issues, try turning your heat up a little and letting the food do its thing before you attempt to move it around.

How to keep fried chicken crispy? ›

The best way to keep fried foods crispy? Just place them on a cooling rack set over a baking sheet. If you're frying multiple batches, throw the whole setup into a low oven to keep everything warm as you keep frying and adding to the rack.

Why does my fried chicken coating fall off? ›

Meat is not properly dry

If the meat is wet, it will make the flour soggy. In that case, breading will not stick properly and may fall off when deep frying. Therefore, you must take some paper towels and pat dry the meat on all sides.

How to keep breading from falling off when frying? ›

Seal the plate gently with a length or two of plastic cling wrap. Don't pull it too tight, but make sure that all of the edges are sealed. Place the plate into the refrigerator and let the food sit for at least 60 minutes. This helps the coating to harden a bit, which will keep it on the food.

What is the best oil to fry chicken in? ›

Canola Oil

Benefits: With a high smoke point and neutral flavor, canola oil is excellent for frying chicken. As an added bonus, it has high levels of omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids, which makes it healthier than other options.

What is a good binder for fried chicken? ›

Do you do egg or flour first for fried chicken? No eggs are used in this recipe, because it's not needed. Instead I use a mild hot sauce as a binder, and it works wonderfully! If you're not a fan of using hot sauce you can indeed use two lightly beaten eggs as a binder.

Does milk help breading stick? ›

You could also try milk or yogurt. For heavier coatings (like panko or breadcrumbs), you might dust the fish with flour first. Once the floured fish is dipped in the butter or milk, it will get a little gummy and help the coating adhere better.

What is the cause of loose breading on chicken? ›

Moisture can prevent proper adhesion of the breading, resulting in it not sticking properly. It is crucial to pat dry the chicken before applying the breading, as this helps to remove excess moisture. Furthermore, using an incorrect cooking temperature or technique can also cause the breading to become loose.

How do you get flour to stay on chicken? ›

To ensure flour sticks to fried chicken, dredge the chicken in seasoned flour, then dip it in an egg wash before coating it again in flour. This double-coating method helps create a crispy crust.

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