Latest news with #chickenwings
CNET
6 hours ago
- General
- CNET
9 Mistakes to Avoid When Using Your Air Fyer
When it comes to kitchen gadgets, the king right now is the air fryer. It can easily make everything from potato skins, to chicken wings, bacon and even a whole chicken. While these handy devices cut down on time spent in the kitchen, they aren't perfect. Even if you use yours all the time, a few simple missteps could be holding you back. From overcrowding the basket to skipping regular cleanings, here's what you need to know to get the best results every time. Read more: This New Glass Air Fryer Is the Best We've Tested. Is It Worth the Price? Air fryers are simple to operate, but there are some steadfast rules to follow to ensure even cooking and maximum deliciousness from your next air fryer creation. To help, we consulted the "Air Fryer Queen," Cathy Yoder of Empowered Cooks, for her take on the most common mistakes you may be making with your air fryer. 1. Underestimating your air fryer An air fryer can burn food in a hurry if you don't watch it. Getty Images An air fryer's undeniable superpower is in its ability to make frozen fried food taste and feel like it's actually been deep-fried. However, getting stuck in an air fryer rut is mistake No. 1 when it comes to using your air fryer. "People get fixated on maybe two things like chicken nuggets and french fries," says Yoder. "Just thinking beyond frying, if you can grill it or if you can bake it, in most cases, you can use your air fryer for it." 2. Wasting time preheating This is a hot take, as many air fryer recipes call for preheating. This may just mean running it empty for a few minutes to get its nonstick surface hot, or some models even have a preheat setting built in that can take up to five minutes. Yoder tested several recipes using the same air fryer both preheated and not, however, and found that preheating didn't offer significantly different results. "It maybe made a difference of two minutes," she says. "I pretty much only preheat if something has a very short cooking time." Since air frying is meant to be a time saver, minutes matter. Many air fryers that have a preheat setting typically don't have a built-in temperature monitor, so if you accidentally open the basket during the preheat cycle, it will start all over again from the beginning, which is really a waste of time. (I have experienced this firsthand. It is indeed very annoying.) Plus, opening the basket after preheating just lets all the hot air out anyway. 3. Using nonstick cooking spray Air fryers are meant to reduce the need for oil, resulting in healthier dishes, but the temptation to use some nonstick cooking spray -- even though the interior of most air fryers has a nonstick coating -- is real. But it's a bad idea: "It is said that some of those propellants in cooking sprays could damage the coating in the air fryer," says Yoder. And what's more: "Go look at the ingredients in there. You don't want to ingest that." For items such as raw veggies that could use a little help from oil, for a highly convenient option akin to cooking spray, Yoder recommends just buying a spray pump and filling it yourself. Read more: 7 Must-Try Air Fryer Accessories to Elevate Your Cooking Experience 4. Using too much oil Just a spritz of cooking oil is all most air fryer foods require. Wonderchef Certain vegetables that don't contain any fat to begin with may need a little support for their spin in the air fryer, but "in most cases, it's not needed," says Yoder. Most meats will release enough of their own fat during the cooking process: chicken skin will get crispy in the air fryer from the fat of the meat alone. Oil can be employed in certain preparations, but should be used sparingly. "It's handy if you have a rub or spices on the surface to help them adhere," says Yoder, "and if you're adding a breading, for sure you've gotta have it on there so the flour doesn't dry out. But for all the frozen things, they are chockfull of fats so you don't really need to add any more." 5. Using not enough oil or the wrong kind Patchy spots of dried flour, incinerated broccoli florets and dehydrated potatoes can all be victims of not enough oil in the air fryer. When it is called for, you do need to consider what kind of oil to use. Olive oil is the grab-and-go for most of us, but "it has a lower smoke point," says Yoder, which can result in burnt flavors if you're air frying for a longer time at the top of its temperature range. "I just recommend avocado oil. It has a nice high smoke point, and it's healthy." 6. Overcrowding the basket Don't pile sprouts and other foods on top of each other or they won't cook evenly. Alexandra Able/CNET Air fryers rely on air circulation. "It's essentially just a mini convection oven," Yoder says, "For crispy things you want air to be able to get around all of them." For that ideal, crispy, fried-like outcome, air needs to have access to every surface, which means adequate space between pieces, and oftentimes a single layer. "In the marketing pictures you'll see an air fryer basket with mounds of fries coming out," says Yoder, which speaks to the generous capacity of certain models, but doesn't reveal their best usage. Those recipes that have more of a roasted than fried vibe can take a little more crowding, but you're still not filling to the brim. If the food actually touches the cooking mechanism that hovers above the basket, then you've potentially got a hygiene problem, so stick to a single layer in most cases. Read more: 7 Essential Tips for Using Your Air Fryer 7. Not shaking or rotating the food Make sure to cook your food on both sides for ideal crispiness. ThaiIt's tempting to adopt a "set it and forget it" mindset when cooking with an air fryer, but the best outcomes rely on the smallest bit of participation. "Shaking or rotating helps with even cooking," says Yoder, especially if you are packing the air fryer with more than just a single layer. Your fries, tots and poppers will better resemble actual bar food if you take a moment in the middle of the cycle to give a little shake, and your chicken parts will have appealing browning all over with a flip to the opposite side. 8. Starting with wet food An air fryer isn't the same as a slow cooker, and its air circulating mechanism works best on food that isn't wet. So if you're rinsing anything destined for the air fryer, whether vegetables or proteins, you're going to want to take a moment to dry those first. "If it's wet, you're going to be steaming the exterior where we want to char," says Yoder, which is counterproductive to the whole air fryer ethos. 9. Not cleaning it properly Clean the coils above your air fryer cooking basket for a safer kitchen and better tasting food. David Watsky/CNET Because of their largely nonstick nature, air fryers are generally easy to clean, and many have baskets that can be put directly in the dishwasher. It's possible, however, that your air fryer isn't as clean as you think it is, even if you've been diligently scrubbing the residue from the basket. "Not wiping down the heating unit inside of the air fryer is a common mistake," says Yoder. Think about it -- there's cooking happening inside of that drawer, including the kind of splatter similar to when you're doing a stovetop sauté. And if you're committing the overcrowding mistake, it's possible that your food is coming in contact with the heating unit, as well as whatever splatter is lingering there. "It can be scary," says Yoder, but it's not hard to correct. "After you let your air fryer cool, just have a cloth or even a damp paper towel to keep the gunk from collecting."
CNN
2 days ago
- Business
- CNN
Hooters abruptly closes dozens of restaurants
Hooters has abruptly closed dozens of locations just a few months after the chicken wing chain filed for bankruptcy and proclaimed it wasn't 'going anywhere.' 'After careful consideration of what is needed to best position our company for the future, Hooters made the difficult decision to close certain company-owned locations,' a company spokesperson said in a statement to CNN. A specific list of closures wasn't released, but local reports reveal that about 30 locations were affected including several in Florida, Georgia, Michigan, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee and Texas. The company said that it's 'here to stay, and by optimizing our business in support of our long-term goals, Hooters will be well-positioned to continue our iconic legacy under a pure franchise business model.' The 42-year-old chain, best known for its orange-clad, all-female wait staff, filed for bankruptcy in March. Hooters is selling all of its 100 company-owned restaurants to two franchisee groups that operate Hooters locations in the Tampa, Florida, and Chicago areas. However, the closures aren't a complete surprise since the chain said it was 'evaluating the company's operational footprint' for its company-owned locations, which would result in a reduction of its footprint. Hooters also closed dozens of locations prior to bankruptcy in early 2024. Hooters' changes follow the closures of 15 locations of Bahama Breeze, a restaurant chain owned by Darden Restaurants. These chains typically cater to lower and middle-income families looking for a sit-down meal, but diners are abandoning these companies as their disposable income shrinks because of inflation. Consumer sentiment has been free-falling in recent months, and in May remained at a near-record low, according to the University of Michigan's closely watched indicator of how people are feeling about the economy. Closing 'poorly performing units can be better for the chain overall than trying to fix them' because pouring resources into rescuing the those locations can 'undermine the entire chain,' according to Maeve Webster, president of consulting firm Menu Matters. 'It's similar to rationalizing a menu: Better to eliminate items that aren't selling or rarely selling to improve the quality and consistency of what remains,' she recently told CNN. TGI Fridays, which aims to exit bankruptcy this summer, has also gradually closed locations while it navigates Chapter 11. The chain recently relaunched its menu for its remaining 85 US locations in hopes of sparking people's attention .
CNN
2 days ago
- Business
- CNN
Hooters abruptly closes dozens of restaurants
Hooters has abruptly closed dozens of locations just a few months after the chicken wing chain filed for bankruptcy and proclaimed it wasn't 'going anywhere.' 'After careful consideration of what is needed to best position our company for the future, Hooters made the difficult decision to close certain company-owned locations,' a company spokesperson said in a statement to CNN. A specific list of closures wasn't released, but local reports reveal that about 30 locations were affected including several in Florida, Georgia, Michigan, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee and Texas. The company said that it's 'here to stay, and by optimizing our business in support of our long-term goals, Hooters will be well-positioned to continue our iconic legacy under a pure franchise business model.' The 42-year-old chain, best known for its orange-clad, all-female wait staff, filed for bankruptcy in March. Hooters is selling all of its 100 company-owned restaurants to two franchisee groups that operate Hooters locations in the Tampa, Florida, and Chicago areas. However, the closures aren't a complete surprise since the chain said it was 'evaluating the company's operational footprint' for its company-owned locations, which would result in a reduction of its footprint. Hooters also closed dozens of locations prior to bankruptcy in early 2024. Hooters' changes follow the closures of 15 locations of Bahama Breeze, a restaurant chain owned by Darden Restaurants. These chains typically cater to lower and middle-income families looking for a sit-down meal, but diners are abandoning these companies as their disposable income shrinks because of inflation. Consumer sentiment has been free-falling in recent months, and in May remained at a near-record low, according to the University of Michigan's closely watched indicator of how people are feeling about the economy. Closing 'poorly performing units can be better for the chain overall than trying to fix them' because pouring resources into rescuing the those locations can 'undermine the entire chain,' according to Maeve Webster, president of consulting firm Menu Matters. 'It's similar to rationalizing a menu: Better to eliminate items that aren't selling or rarely selling to improve the quality and consistency of what remains,' she recently told CNN. TGI Fridays, which aims to exit bankruptcy this summer, has also gradually closed locations while it navigates Chapter 11. The chain recently relaunched its menu for its remaining 85 US locations in hopes of sparking people's attention .
Telegraph
29-05-2025
- Health
- Telegraph
Dry-rub buffalo chicken wings
Juicy, crispy wings are coated in punchy spices that bring the heat, and served with a cool creamy ranch dressing to help keep things balanced. These are the ultimate crowd-pleasers and you'll likely be making them on repeat all summer long – your guests will love them. Requires brining and marinating time. Overview Prep time 10 mins Cook time 11 mins Serves 6 Ingredients 16 large chicken wings (1.5kg in total), tips removed and jointed 200g table salt 10 black peppercorns 4 bay leaves 2 tbsp light olive oil For the dry rub 1 tsp chilli powder ½ tsp cayenne powder 1 tsp sweet smoked paprika 2 tsp garlic powder 1 tsp onion powder 1 tsp ground cumin 1 tsp dried thyme leaves For the ranch dressing 3 heaped tbsp soured cream 3 heaped tbsp mayonnaise ½ garlic clove, finely grated 3 dashes of Worcestershire sauce 1 tsp white wine vinegar 1 tsp mild American mustard 1 tbsp finely chopped dill 1 tbsp finely chopped chives To serve hot sauce celery sticks Method Step First brine 16 large chicken wings. Pour 2 litres of water into a large bowl, add 200g table salt and whisk to dissolve, then add 10 black peppercorns and 4 bay leaves. Immerse the chicken wings in the brine and place in the fridge for 2 hours. Step Remove the chicken wings from the brine and pat them dry with kitchen paper. For the dry rub, mix together in a bowl 1 tsp chilli powder, ½ tsp cayenne powder, 1 tsp sweet smoked paprika, 2 tsp garlic powder, 1 tsp onion powder, 1 tsp ground cumin and 1 tsp dried thyme leaves. Step Drizzle both sides of the chicken wings with 2 tbsp light olive oil and sprinkle with the dry rub to coat the wings evenly all over. Cover and leave to marinate in the fridge for at least 30 minutes, ideally 2-3 hours. Step For the ranch dressing, mix together in a bowl 3 heaped tbsp soured cream, 3 heaped tbsp mayonnaise, ½ finely grated garlic clove, 3 dashes of Worcestershire sauce, 1 tsp white wine vinegar, 1 tsp mild American mustard, 1 tbsp finely chopped dill and 1 tbsp finely chopped chives, and season to taste. Step Cook for 10-12 minutes, until the wings are nicely browned on each side, turning regularly.
Yahoo
20-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
TV Host Tried To Eat 'Hottest Chicken Wings' On Live TV And Wow Did It Not Go Well
A British TV host laughed off warnings as he attempted to eat what are supposed to be the nation's hottest chicken wings. A few minutes later, he wasn't laughing anymore. ITV Racing's Luke Harvey ordered the wings from the Yuzu stand at the racetrack last week, and declined the gloves and eye protection offered. 'They can't be that hot,' he said and then bit into the chicken. Within seconds he was in obvious pain, gagging as the Yuzu workers chuckled. He fled to the nearby tables and took what seemed like someone else's beer. Any relief was fleeting. 'I'm going home,' he said. He started to walk off, but then doubled over in pain again: Maybe this was a mistake 🥵😅The hottest chicken wings in Great Britain LIVE on ITV#ITVRacing | @ — ITV Racing (@itvracing) May 15, 2025 Harvey told The Mirror that he thought taking a bite of the wings would be 'a bit of fun' 'I thought my tongue was going to fall off, it was so hot,' he said. 'It was nice tasting, just bloody hot.' Harvey admitted to the newspaper that the beer part of the bit was staged ― but he didn't realize just how much he would actually need it when the time came. 'When I went to grab my Guinness, he wouldn't let me have it!' he said. 'I ended up yanking it off him and he literally gave me a death stare afterwards.'
