Rons Favorite Fried Chicken Food

HOW TO FRY CHICKEN TO PERFECTION

Steps:

• Thoroughly rinse the chicken pieces, then place them in a bowl and cover with 4 cups of the buttermilk. Soak in the fridge overnight or up to 24 hours.
• When you're ready to fry the chicken, remove the bowl from the fridge and let it sit on the counter for 30 minutes, just to take the chill off.
• In the meantime, preheat the oven to 360˚ and mix up the breading. Place the flour, seasoned salt, paprika, black pepper, thyme and cayenne (plus extra cayenne if you like heat) in a very large bowl. Stir together well.
• In a small bowl, combine the remaining 1/4 cup buttermilk and the milk. Pour the milk mixture into the flour mixture and gradually mix with a fork until there are little lumps throughout; these will adhere to the chicken and make for a crispier breading. If necessary, add a little more flour or milk to make the breading slightly lumpy.
• Heat 1 1/2 to 2 inches of oil in a deep skillet or Dutch oven over medium-high heat until a deep-fry thermometer reaches 365˚. Lower the heat slightly, if necessary, to keep the oil from getting hotter.
• Working in batches, thoroughly coat each chicken piece with breading, pressing extra breading onto the chicken if necessary. Place the breaded pieces on a plate.
• Add the breaded chicken to the oil, 3 or 4 pieces at a time; make sure they don't stick together. Cover the pan and fry for 5 to 7 minutes, checking occasionally to make sure the chicken isn't getting too brown. Turn the pieces over, cover again, and cook for 3 to 5 minutes more. All the while, monitor the temperature of the oil to make sure the chicken doesn't burn.
• Transfer the fried chicken to a baking sheet and continue frying the rest of the chicken. When all the chicken has been fried, remove the wings and legs to a rack set over a paper towel-lined baking sheet and keep covered. (These should be cooked all the way through by now, but always check if any pink juice or meat is visible. If so, return to the hot oil for another minute or so, until fully cooked.) Leave the thighs and breasts on the baking sheet.
• Bake the thighs and breasts for 15 minutes to finish cooking. (You can cut into the thicker part of one of the larger pieces just to make sure the chicken is cooked through. If any pink juice or meat is visible, the chicken needs to continue cooking in the oven.) Drain on the rack set over the baking sheet.

THE BEST FRIED CHICKEN

Steps:

• Cut the chicken into 10 pieces. Cut off the wings. Remove the legs and separate the thighs. Remove and discard the backbone. Cut the breast into 2 pieces and then cut each breast in half.
• Mix 4 teaspoons salt, the brown sugar and baking powder in a small bowl until completely combined and no lumps of sugar remain. Sprinkle the salt mixture all over the chicken pieces. Place the seasoned chicken on a wire rack set inside a rimmed baking sheet. Wrap the baking sheet with plastic wrap and refrigerate, at least 3 hours and up to 24. (Overnight works best.)
• Whisk together the flour, cornstarch, garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, cayenne and 1/4 cup salt in a large bowl until completely combined. Whisk together the buttermilk, hot sauce and eggs in another large bowl. Working with 1 piece at a time, dredge the chicken in the seasoned flour, turning to coat and packing it into any crevices. Shake to remove any excess and return to the rack. Repeat with the remaining chicken.
• Pour 6 tablespoons of the buttermilk mixture into the seasoned flour and work it in with your fingers; it should feel like sand with some clumps. (These clumps will give the chicken a crispy, shaggy crust.) Dip the dredged chicken into the remaining buttermilk mixture, allowing any excess to drip off. Then pack the moistened flour firmly onto the chicken. Very gently shake off any excess and return to the rack. Refrigerate at least 30 minutes and up to 12 hours.
• Pour enough oil into a large heavy pot to come halfway up the sides. Clip a deep-fry thermometer to the pot. Heat the oil over high heat until the thermometer registers 300 degrees F. Working in 3 batches, fry the chicken, turning often and adjusting the heat to maintain the temperature, until deep golden brown, about 8 minutes for the wings, 10 minutes for the legs and 12 minutes for the thighs and halved breasts (an uncut breast will take 15 to 18 minutes). Transfer to a clean wire rack set over paper towels to drain.

RON'S FAVORITE FRIED CHICKEN

Steps:

• Cut up chicken in 8 pieces, then cut each chicken breast in half crosswise.
• Combine buttermilk, 1/2 teaspoon salt and red pepper sauce in a large 2-gallon resealable plastic storage bag; add chicken. Seal bag and turn chicken with buttermilk mixture to coat. Refrigerate at least 4 hours or overnight, turning bag over once.
• Combine flour, paprika, pepper and remaining 1 teaspoon salt in a pie plate or shallow dish. Work with several pieces of chicken at a time: Remove chicken from buttermilk, shaking off excess. Add to the flour mixture, turning to coat evenly. Transfer pieces, skin side up, to a wire rack. Repeat this process with remaining chicken; let stand 30 minutes (if you do this the crunchy coating sticks, even after cooking).
• Meanwhile, heat oven to 250°F.
• Line a jelly-roll pan with double layer of paper towels. Heat shortening in a 10-inch cast-iron skillet over medium heat, until temperature reaches 360° on a deep-fry thermometer. Add several pieces of chicken (but only as many pieces that will fit without crowding), skin side down. Cover skillet and cook until bottoms of pieces are lightly golden, about 5 minutes. Turn pieces and cook, covered (adjusting heat to medium-low to maintain a 275° to 300° temperature), 7-10 minutes for white meat, 12-15 minutes for dark meat, turning pieces every 4 to 5 minutes until deep-golden and cooked through.
• Drain pieces on paper towels; transfer to baking sheet and keep warm in oven. Repeat process, cooking remaining chicken.

IRON-SKILLET FRIED CHICKEN

Steps:

• Wash the chicken parts thoroughly and dry them on paper towels. Heat the fat to 380 degrees in a heavy cast-iron skillet. Place the flour, cornmeal, and seasonings in a brown paper bag. Add the chicken pieces, a few at a time, and shake well to ensure that each piece is coated with the seasoned flour.
• Put the chicken pieces in the frying pan and fry uncovered for 20 to 25 minutes, turning occasionally to make sure that each side is golden brown. Remove the chicken pieces and drain them on pieces of brown paper bag. Serve hot.