How To Make Fried Chicken

When it comes to cooking down home comfort food, knowing how to make fried chicken is essential. The question is, what to do if you've a taste for crispy fried chicken but not a clue on how to start? Learning how to make fried chicken is easy and with the right ingredients and a little time you'll be well on your way to fried chicken perfection.

To make fried chicken, you will need:

• 1 fryer chicken, cut into 8 pieces
• 2 cups flour
• ½ teaspoon garlic powder
• 1-1/2 teaspoon of Paprika
• ½ teaspoon pepper
• 1 teaspoon salt
• Egg
• Brown or plastic storage bag
• Vegetable or Canola Oil

1. Combine the dry ingredients. In a brown bag or a plastic storage bag measure out your flour, garlic powder, paprika, pepper and salt. Shake to combine.
2. Create an egg wash. In a large enough bowl to accommodate the size of the chicken pieces or in a plastic container, beat the egg with a tablespoon of water. Set aside.
3. Clean the chicken. Thoroughly wash the chicken pieces and set aside on a clean surface. Pat the chicken dry and sprinkle lightly with seasoning salt.
4. Dip the chicken into the egg wash. Once all sides are wet, be sure to shake off the excess moisture.
5. Coat the chicken. Place one to two pieces of chicken in the bag containing the seasoned flour. Shake vigorously to coat all sides, remove from the bag and set aside.
6. Heat the oil and add the chicken. Pour the vegetable oil into a heavy skillet until it is around one to one-and-a-half inches deep and heat. Once heated place the chicken into the heated oil, and be careful to avoid overcrowding.
7. Fry the chicken, turning to brown on all sides. Once the chicken is brown, lower the heat and cover the skillet, cooking the chicken for 20 to 30 minutes.
8. Remove the cover from the skillet and turn up the heat. Fry uncovered for crispness, being sure to turn after several minutes for even frying and to ensure against burning.
9. Remove the chicken with tongs. Once removed, place the fried chicken on a paper towel covered plate. The paper towel will help absorb any excess oil.
10. Repeat with the remaining chicken until finished. Once you've fried all the remaining pieces of chicken your done. Sit back, relax and enjoy a homemade fried chicken meal.

Tips:

• Once all of the chicken has been coated, allow it to set for about five minutes. Allowing the chicken to sit for a few moment helps the batter to adhere better when it is placed in the oil.
• For a nice crispy fried chicken, don't overcrowd the skillet. Frying pieces shouldn't touch once they are in the oil.
• For variety and added crunch, substitute bread crumbs or crushed Corn Flakes for the flour.