The best way how long to deep fry frozen chicken wings

Sharing is caring!

Can you deep fry frozen chicken wings? Absolutely! Learn how long to deep fry frozen chicken wings, how to air fry frozen chicken wings and my favorite brand to use.

Chicken wings are awesome, I grew up in Western NY so I kind of got spoiled growing up. It wasn't until I moved South that I realized it can be hard to find good crispy chicken wings or Buffalo wings as people outside of Buffalo know them as.

It's not that they aren't there it's just a little harder to find places that make them the right way. But this made me want to start trying to make good wings at the house.

One of the biggest problems that I've come across is the chicken isn't crispy on the outside or the meat is a little dry. The skin needs to be crispy, and have very tender meat.

Another problem is that they just aren't sauced well enough. Sauce needs to be dripping off every crevice and then some more for dipping your wing back in after you take that first glorious crispy, juicy bite.

Admittedly, fresh, raw chicken wings are the best option but frozen are great especially for busy people, and they can still be really, really good. The main benefit to frozen wings is that they are cheaper and more convenient, usually found in the freezer section of your grocery store.

A lot of people wonder can you deep fry chicken wings frozen? And yes, you can and I will go over the details in the post below.

The cook time of frozen wings compared to fresh chicken wings will be longer but it doesn't mean that you have to give up much quality and you can still get the outsides nice and golden brown and crispy skin.

I recommend to work in small batches because that will help the wings cook more uniformly and not lower the temperature of the oil. It is always a good idea to use a thermometer to set your oil before frying.

For frozen chicken wings I recommend using 375 degrees f(190 degrees c). In this post I am going to be comparing the different cooking process for how long to cook straight out of the freezer and thawing in room temperature water.

Can you thaw frozen chicken wings?

Yes, you can thaw chicken wings in water. I recommend to fill up a large mixing bowl with enough water to cover most of the wings. Place in a refrigerator for 1-2 hours.

Once thawed out, remove them from the mixing bowl and pat them dry with a paper towel. Frying time will vary between thawed and frozen deep-fried chicken wings.

Another benefit to the thawing step is that you can cut off the wing tips if you prefer. I like to cut them off because you can fit more wings without the tips taking up extra space.

What is the best brand of frozen chicken wing?

I am going to be trying out two different brands of frozen chicken wings. Here are the brands that I will be comparing:

The above is the Wal Mart brand that comes in a 4 pound package which is about 25-30 wings. They were a nice size and had a good mix of drumsticks and flats.

The above is the whole foods brand that comes in a 2.5 pound package which is about 30-40 wings. These wings were smaller but they take less time to defrost and fry which is nice if you are cooking for a larger crowd especially.

Above shows the Wal Mart brand (left) and Whole foods brand (right). The final result of both brands were very good. The Wal Mart brand were meaty and juicy, I didn't seem to notice a distinct difference in the wings having significant ice glaze.

The Whole foods brand were more expensive but just not meaty enough, I would definitely consider these if I was having people or family over as an appetizer before a big meal.

What type of cooking oil should you use to deep fry chicken wings?

Vegetable oil and peanut oil are both commonly used for frying because they have higher smoke points and a relatively mild taste that will not interfere with what you are deep frying.

There is no best oil to use, it is a personal preference. The cooking time will not change no matter what type of oil that you use.

What do you need to deep fry?

• Deep cast iron pot on the stove top, deep fryer appliance like this one

• Oil

• Spoon strainer, stainless steel like these

• Food Grade Vinyl gloves

• Digital Thermometer

A healthier alternative to deep frying is air frying in an air fryer basket appliance. This is an effective cooking method that eliminates almost all of the fat and cholesterol from using oil.

I recently purchased this air fryer because I wanted to have the healthier option for most meals, and then the deep fry for special occasions.

How long to deep fry frozen chicken wings?

This depends on the size of the chicken wings and whether the wings are thawed or still frozen. It takes 15 minutes to deep fry frozen medium to large chicken wings at 375 degrees f oil temperature. If the frozen wings have been thawed it takes 6-8 minutes at 375 degrees f oil temperature.

See the different cooking methods using a cast iron pot and air fryer below:

Deep frying Instructions Frozen chicken Wings:

Pour enough oil about 3-5 inches, I used about ¾ of the 1 gallon vegetable oil.

Heat the oil to 375 degrees f

Place 3-5 wings at a time depending on the size.

For how long to deep fry frozen chicken wings I recommend frying 15 minutes. If using smaller wings like the whole foods brand then the cook time will only be 10-12 minutes.

Remove the chicken wings and place on an oven rack over a baking pan..

Sauce immediately.

Deep frying Instructions Chicken Wings:

Thaw the frozen chicken wings in a ziploc bag in a bowl of water in the refrigerator for approximately 1-2 hours.

Heat the oil to 375 degrees f

Place 4-5 wings at a time depending on the size.

Deep fry for 7-8 minutes, smaller wings 3-5 minutes.

Check that the chicken wings are done using a thermometer into the thickest part of the meat. Uncooked chicken can confidently be avoided when you use a thermometer to reach the right temperature.

Once the wings are taken out of the hot oil, use your strainer spoon and give it a little shake before throwing them into a large deep mixing bowl. I like to use stainless steel bowls because they are lightweight, durable, and easy to clean.

Now, this is the best part, time to SAUCE. Cannot say enough about the importance of the sauce, it'll make or break it. Add your favorite sauce and grab both sides of the bowl and start tossing the wings with a little wrist flick.

There is a little bit of an art to this step but once you get it down it is the best and most fun method. The first few times will likely get hot liquids in odd places, wearing eye protection might be a good idea.

Air fry frozen chicken wings instructions:

Thaw the frozen chicken wings in a ziploc bag in a bowl of water in the refrigerator for approximately 1-2 hours.

Pre heat the air fryer to 375 degrees f.

Place the wings in the basket.

Set timer for 7-8 minutes. Make sure temperature is 165 degrees f before removing.

Here are some general guidelines for best results for restaurant quality wings from frozen wing options:

• Make sure you have the right amount of oil. Too little and the time to cook will be off and too much oil you risk excessive splatter and even spillage.
• Heat oil gradually from a medium temperature and to maintain temperature once it reaches the target
• Heat the oil temperature to 375 degrees f using a thermometer
• Do in small batches
• Check the temperature so that the internal temperature of the wings are 165 degrees f in the thickest parts.
• Use enough sauce!!!
• I had the best results when I thawed the frozen chicken wings in water. I used a quart sized plastic ziploc bag to defrost the chicken so that it wasn't sitting directly in the water.

I hope this guide on how long to deep fry frozen chicken wings and answering the question of can you deep fry frozen chicken wings has been helpful.