Why is Korean Fried Chicken so Crispy

The Korean fried chicken is super crispy because potato starch is added to its batter and the chicken is fried twice. This second frying also cooks off the excess water in the chicken from the first frying. Korean fried chicken is known to stay extra crispy for a long time, even with a glazed surface.

What is different about Korean fried chicken?

Cooking – double fry method

Korean fried chicken is completely different than American fried chicken, reflecting an Asian frying technique that renders the fat in the skin and transforms it into a thin, crispy, almost transparent shell. (Chinese chefs call this “paper fried chicken.”) The chicken is unseasoned, barely dusted with very fine flour, and then dipped in a thin batter before entering the fryer. The oil temperature is a relatively low 350 degrees, and the chicken is cooked in two separate stages.

After 10 minutes, the chicken is removed from the oil, shaken vigorously in a wire strainer and cooled for two minutes. This slows down the cooking process and prevents the crust from becoming too brown before the meat is cooked through. It also scrapes off all the crusty bits and crumbs that American chefs strive for.

After another 10 minutes in the deep fryer, the chicken is smooth, firm, golden brown and cooked through. It is then served plain (seasoned with a small dish of salt and pepper) or lightly coated with sauce. When properly done, the sauce is absorbed into the shell, adding flavor without making it soggy.

Flouring

Potato starch is what is usually used to coat the chicken in Korean fried chicken. It is either purely potato starch or mainly potato starch mixed with a little wheat flour.

Pairing

The typical pairing of Korean fried chicken is chunks of pickled radish and lots of beer or soju; this combination produces an irresistible.

 

The Sauce

Korean-style fried chicken usually comes with a very wide range of unique sauces.

 

What is Korean fried chicken called?

Plain Korean fried chicken is called huraideu-chikin and Korean fried chicken with a sweet and spicy sauce glaze is called yangnyeom-chikin.

What does Korean fried chicken taste like?

Yangnyeom-chikin, or Korean fried chicken that is seasoned with a glaze, has a sweetened spicy flavor with hints of spices like garlic, ginger, and onion.

A quicky way to make Korean Fried Chicken

INGREDIENTS

WET MARINADE

• ▢2 lb (907.2 g) chicken skin-on, deboned thighs or wings/drumsticks
• ▢1 ½ tsp salt
• ▢½ tsp pepper
• ▢4 tbsp garlic powder
• ▢3 tbsp ginger powder
• ▢6 tbsp onion powder
• ▢¾ c water add more if needed
• ▢2 tbsp white vinegar

DRY BATTER & FRYING

• ▢neutral cooking oil vegetable oil preferred
• ▢1 c potato starch
• ▢½ c all purpose flour
• ▢1 ½ tsp salt

SAUCE

• ▢4 tsp sesame oil
• ▢4 cloves minced garlic
• ▢1 tbsp gojuchang
• ▢½ c honey
• ▢½ c ketchup
• ▢¼ c soy sauce

INSTRUCTIONS 

WET MARINADE

1. Prep your chicken by deboning chicken thighs or cutting the wings in half so that the wing and drumsticks are two separate pieces (this will help with frying and eating).
2. If you are using chicken thighs, cut them into 1 ½ to 2 inch pieces. I like to make sure each piece has skin.
3. In a bowl, combine the salt, pepper, garlic powder, ginger powder, and onion powder. Use a fork or whisk to mix dry ingredients thoroughly. Add the water and vinegar into the bowl and whisk until all the ingredients are combined. Your marinade should be on the thicker end, similar to applesauce. If you need more water, add one tablespoon at a time.
4. In an air-tight container, add the chicken pieces and pour the wet marinade on top. Make sure each piece is thoroughly coated. Leave it in the fridge to marinade at least 12 hours and up to 18 hours.

DRY BATTER & FRYING

1. Remove the marinated chicken from the fridge about 30 minutes before frying so it comes to room temp. If you fry them straight from the fridge, there is a possibility the centers will be raw when the outside is properly cooked.
2. In a heavy-bottomed pot, add about two inches of vegetable oil and heat it to 375 °F.
3. In a shallow bowl, combine the potato starch, all purpose flour, and salt.
4. Take one piece of chicken, remove excess marinade, and coat it with the dry batter thoroughly, pat excess powder off, and place on a drying rack over a half sheet pan. Repeat with all the pieces of chicken.
5. Before frying, make sure the oil reads 375 °F (repeat this when you are doing new batches too). Using tongs, carefully lower the pieces of chicken into the oil, but do not crowd the pot. Fry each batch for about two to four minutes depending on the size of the chicken. Turn over the chicken every so often so both sides brown. Use a thermometer to check the temperature–chicken should be at 165 °F. The outside should be light brown. Remove the chicken and lay flat on a paper towel lined wire rack. Repeat with the rest of the chicken pieces.
6. Second fry: once all chicken pieces are fried, fish out any charred or browned pieces at the bottom of your pot (I like to use a small strainer to fish these items out). In small batches double fry the chicken again by placing them back into the oil and cooking for another two to three minutes or until the outer layer is very crispy and medium to dark golden brown. Remove the chicken and dry them on paper towels over wire racks.

Order an authentic Korean Fried Chicken in NSW, AU.