Finally got air fryer wings crispy without any oil spray

I saw a post on Reddit last night where someone said to pat chicken wings dry with paper towels and then leave them uncovered in the fridge for an hour before cooking. Tried it tonight with 12 wings at 400 for 25 minutes. They came out way crispier than when I used to brush oil on them. The skin was almost like fried chicken texture. I also shook the basket halfway through and that helped too. Anyone else tried this fridge drying trick? Does it work for drumsticks too?

2 comments

2 Comments

elizabeth_gonzalez12d ago

Oh man, that fridge drying trick is honestly a game changer. I was skeptical at first too because it sounds too simple, but I've been doing it for months now and it's the only way I can get wings that actually snap when you bite into them. The patting dry part is key though, I learned that the hard way when I just tossed them in wet and got sad soggy skin. For drumsticks, it works but you might have to add like 5 minutes or so since they're thicker. I also found that flipping them halfway is non negotiable, otherwise the bottom gets all steamy and defeats the purpose.

wesleypatel12d ago

Wait, you just toss them in the fridge uncovered on a baking sheet or do you put them on a wire rack too? I tried it on a plate and the bottoms didn't dry out as much as the tops lol. Also did you season before or after the fridge time? I'm wondering if salt draws out moisture and messes with the drying process if you do it too early.