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Let’s Answer This Last-Minute Cooking Dilemma: Can You Deep Fry Frozen Chicken Wings

As someone with a lot of tasks throughout the day, I often forget to lay out the frozen chicken wings for dinner. Once I make it home after a long day of making sure everyone gets to school, work, practice, and any other extra-curricular activities, I am tired and ready to eat.

However, it becomes a huge dilemma when I realize that I once again forgot to lay out the frozen chicken wings. With everyone’s stomachs growling, I must hurry and scramble to figure out how to solve this issue.

I realized that I am most likely not alone, so I began typing into my computer’s search bar: “Can you deep fry frozen chicken wings.” To my surprise, so many people have also been in this same boat and needed a quick answer.

After reading this article, you will officially know:

  • If you can deep fry frozen chicken wings
  • How long to deep fry chicken wings
  • What temperature to deep fry chicken wings
  • How to defrost frozen chicken wings
  • How to air fry frozen chicken wings

In this article, I am sharing my own insights on this common cooking problem that other busy moms and dads have experienced at least once or twice, and my plan is to help you solve it.

Contents

  1. Can You Deep Fry Frozen Chicken Wings? →
  2. How to Defrost Chicken Wings? →
  3. How Long to Deep Fry Frozen Chicken Wings? →
  4. What Temperature to Deep Fry Frozen Chicken Wings? →
  5. Can You Cook Chicken Wings That Are Frozen? →
  6. How to Cook Frozen Wings? →
  7. Can You Air Fry Frozen Chicken Wings? →
  8. Useful Resources →

Can You Deep Fry Frozen Chicken Wings?

The simple answer is no, you cannot deep fry frozen chicken wings straight from the freezer. The complex answer is that there are fast ways around this, but that involves defrosting / thawing.

First and foremost, you must know that if you put the frozen chicken wings directly into the hot oil, you will have a much bigger problem than a hungry family. As a matter of fact, an explosion may occur because oil and water do not mix well. Water in hot oil is very dangerous, and you do not want to find this out the hard way.

The best way around this is to let the frozen chicken wings defrost and pat them dry with paper towels before placing each in the oil. If you are short on time and need to defrost fast, I suggest using the microwave to help the frozen wings thaw or defrost as quickly as possible.

For a quick look at someone deep frying frozen chicken wings, check out Dwayne McCullough’s YouTube video. I do not recommend doing this, but he did it. As you can see, he was a bit nervous because this can lead to a dangerous situation.

Next, let’s discuss how to defrost chicken wings.

How to Defrost Chicken Wings?

Defrosting or thawing frozen chicken wings is a MUST before deep frying. You simply set them out at room temperature for a couple of hours before you plan to start cooking, or you place them in the refrigerator that morning to defrost all day.

However, I understand that everyone makes mistakes, including myself, and we sometimes are so busy or wrapped up in other activities that we forget to defrost the meat ahead of time. Before panicking about this, I want to assure you that it is OK and that there are ways around this that will lead to you still having dinner ready soon.

If you own a microwave, this small cooking device has just saved your dinner plans! In fact, your microwave is going to handle the hard part for you and shorten your defrosting time. To begin defrosting your frozen chicken wings in the microwave, place them in a microwave-safe bowl, put it in the microwave, and press the button on your microwave that reads “defrost.”

If your microwave does not have a defrost button, you will need to set the microwave to a few minutes and keep an eye on your wings to make sure the microwave does not overdo it. My advice is to open the microwave every so often and flip the wings around to ensure that all parts are getting defrosted.

If you prefer not to use a microwave or if that technique is not working for you, another method to try is to pour some water in a pot, place the pot on the stove, and wait for it to boil. Once the water comes to a boil, put the wings in the pot. The wings will begin defrosting quickly.

You may be also wondering if you can microwave paper plates. For the answer to this question, check out my other article here. I will thoroughly explain if you can microwave food that is placed on paper plates and if it is safe to do so.

How Long to Deep Fry Frozen Chicken Wings?

After you have successfully defrosted your chicken wings, you surprisingly do not need to deep fry them for long. The best way to tell that they are done is to listen. Wings that are cooked in hot oil cause a sizzling sound. Therefore, you will be able to tell when they are fully cooked because the sizzling sound will come to a halt.

Sound of cooking wings can help you to understand if they are ready or not

The exact time needed to deep fry the wings varies, so it is best to use your own judgment. However, if you need an estimated timeframe, my suggestion is to deep fry the wings for around 8 to 9 minutes.

If your wings are really big or breaded, you should cook them a little longer. I recommend starting with 10 to 11 minutes. Keep in mind that the crispier you would like your wing, the longer it should cook.

Another handy way to know when the wings are done is to watch them float to the top. When meat floats to the top of a deep fryer, it is typically a sign that it is done cooking.

To see a video of how to prepare your frozen chicken after they have defrosted, watch Bless Channel’s YouTube video. In the video, she is showing you how to get your defrosted frozen chicken ready to fry. This will make your life a lot easier and more convenient if you are not using fresh chicken.

After watching the video, we will go over the ideal temperature to deep fry your chicken wings.

What Temperature to Deep Fry Frozen Chicken Wings?

Even though the temperature can vary, my advice is to deep fry chicken wings in oil that is between 350 to 375 degrees Fahrenheit. Be sure to check the wings’ internal temperature before believing that they are done. The oil needs to be at least 350 degrees Fahrenheit, and the internal temperature needs to be 165 degrees Fahrenheit. Once they are done, you will love how they taste!

Can You Cook Chicken Wings That Are Frozen?

Although you cannot deep fry frozen chicken wings, you can bake chicken wings that are frozen.

All you must do is place the wings on a baking sheet, sprinkle your favorite spices on top, put them in the oven, and begin baking. It only takes about 30 to 50 minutes, and your tasty wings will be ready. This is a hassle-free method that will cook your meat without adding the extra time to defrost. After the wings are done baking, you can add any sauce that you desire.

Grilling frozen chicken wings is another alternate option. All you need to do is place your wings in a bowl with the seasoning of your choice. Fire up your grill and wait for it to warm up. Place your perfectly seasoned chicken wings on the grill and let them cook.

This method may take a while because the chicken will need to cook on low heat for about an hour and a half. You will also need to continuously turn and flip them often.

I do not recommend using this grilling method if you are pushed for time, but if you want some of the most mouth-watering wings you have ever tasted, then go for it. Soaking your wings in seasoning inside the refrigerator will make them taste even better, but this will add at least another hour to your time.

It is understandable if you prefer to grab a bag of frozen chicken wings for dinner. This will decrease the amount of time it takes to cook as well as the effort you will put in to prepare the chicken beforehand.

Take a peek at TheWolfePit’s YouTube video to see various brands of frozen chicken wing bags as well as get a visualization of how they are cooking them. This will help you decide which brand to go with and learn different facts about each. All in all, each type of wing in this video sure does look finger-licking good!

Now, I will explain how to cook frozen wings in detail.

How to Cook Frozen Wings?

In this section, I will tell you exactly what to do to cook your frozen chicken wings in the oven if you do not want to defrost them in the microwave or in boiling stove water. This is the quickest and easiest technique if you do not wish to thaw your meat.

Follow these directions to ensure that you do everything correctly:

  1. My preference is to use boneless frozen wings because they cook faster. However, if you only have wings with bones, that is no problem. Take them out of the freezer and place them on a baking sheet. Make sure that they are lined up in a single layer.
  2. Pour any seasoning or salt and pepper on top of the wings. This will provide any unique and delicious tastes to the chicken. You can also go ahead and add your sauce at this step.
  3. Set your oven to 425 degrees Fahrenheit. Let it pre-heat. Once the oven is pre-heated, place your baking sheet full of wings inside. Keep in mind that frozen wings take a little longer than fresh wings. My estimated time is 30 to 40 minutes for boneless wings. If you have wings with bones, cook them slightly longer and keep and eye on them.
  4. Check each wing’s internal temperature, and make sure that they have reached 165 degrees Fahrenheit. If they have, let them cool off. Then, grab a plate and enjoy! How simple is that?

If you are wondering whether frozen chicken or fresh chicken tastes better, take a look at Good Mythical Morning’s YouTube video. Throughout this video, the two guys will try different types of chicken (frozen, fresh, refrigerated, fancy, and fast food) and give their opinions of each. The goal is to determine which types of chicken tastes the best.

Once you have taken a look at that interesting video, let’s jump into the new modern-day air frying method to cooking frozen chicken wings.

Can You Air Fry Frozen Chicken Wings?

An air fryer is a great alternative to deep frying your frozen chicken wings! That’s right, this neat, popular device will fry your frozen chicken wings without any need to defrost or thaw. They will also come out juicy and crispy. All you need is your favorite dipping sauce, and everything will be ready in no time.

Air fryer is a healthier way to fry chicken wings

Get ready to be amazed by the air fryer! If truth be told, this unique little machine is giving the deep fryer a big run for its money. When busy moms and dads forget to take the meat out to defrost, the air fryer steps in to save the day. I must also mention that the air fryer will provide crispy chicken wings with LESS calories! You are still getting deep fried chicken with less oil and less time. Who wouldn’t want to give this method a try?

All you need to do is set your air fryer temperature to 400 degrees Fahrenheit and let it preheat. After preheating, place your frozen wings in the basket of the air fryer. Set the timer for 10 minutes and let the chicken cook. Take the wings out of the air fryer and drain the oil inside the basket.

Pour a small amount of oil onto the wings and add any seasonings that you like. Put the wings back into the air fryer basket and cook at 400 degrees Fahrenheit for an additional 10 to 15 minutes. If some of your wings are thick, you may have to cook them slightly longer.

Check each wing to ensure that it is fully done. Add any sauce afterwards and enjoy! Be sure to never put too many wings inside an air fryer; a single layer is perfect. You can cook in separate batches if need be.

For an in-depth look at air fried vs deep fried wings, watch brutalmoose’s YouTube video. In the video, he deep fries and air fries chicken wings to give you a look as well as help you decide which method you would prefer to use. Both look tasty and have their benefits, so his goal is to help make this decision a little easier for you.

After you have finished reading this article, my recommendation is to take a look at my other article which explains how long French toast lasts in the refrigerator. French toast is a delicious breakfast meal, and it is common to cook too much. Therefore, you may want to save some to have another day. Head over to my article to find out how long French toasts lasts in the fridge and if you can freeze it by clicking here.

Useful Resources

Conclusion

I hope that this article answered if you can deep fry frozen chicken wings. This is a very good question that a lot of people need the answer to at some point or another. With the demands of society changing and humans needing things done faster, finding alternatives to cooking food without defrosting or thawing is becoming common.

Although you must defrost frozen chicken wings before deep frying, I hope that you will find one of the other alternative methods that I mentioned beneficial and helpful to you during times when you have forgotten to take your chicken out of the freezer for dinner and need to still cook it in a timely fashion. Good luck!

Cindy Becker

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