Roasting a chicken on a Sunday afternoon is the epitome of comfort food. The author experimented with cooking a whole chicken in an air fryer for the first time and was amazed by the results. The chicken was cooked in record time, with incredibly crispy skin and tender meat. The author wonders why they hadn’t tried it sooner and highlights the benefits of using an air fryer for cooking, as it crisps food faster than a deep fryer.
The key to a great roasted chicken is high heat without overcooking the bird, resulting in crispy skin and moist, tender meat. An air fryer is ideal for this method as it surrounds the food with hot, quickly moving air to crisp the outer layers. The smaller cooking chamber of an air fryer also ensures more consistent temperatures throughout the cooking process. Many air fryers are capable of handling a 3- to 4-pound chicken, making them suitable for roasting poultry.
The author used a Dreo 6-quart ChefMaker smart air fryer oven to cook a full 4-pound chicken. Despite the air fryer’s advanced features like a steam function and smart cooking programs, the author opted for basic air fryer mode at 360 degrees Fahrenheit for 55 minutes. Minimal preparation was required, with a simple marinade of olive oil, mustard, salt, pepper, and seasoning blend, along with stuffing the chicken with orange, green onions, and parsley before cooking.
The air fryer chicken was served with rice cooked in a rice cooker, but the author suggests adding diced root vegetables alongside the chicken for a complete meal. It is essential to monitor the cooking of the chicken closely, especially towards the end, to prevent burning the skin due to the intense heat of the air fryer. The chicken is ready when its internal temperature reaches 160 degrees Fahrenheit, ensuring it is cooked through.
The recipe for air fryer roast chicken includes a 4-pound chicken, olive oil, grain mustard, seasoning blend, salt, pepper, lemon or orange, and fresh herbs. The cooking process involves preheating the air fryer, preparing a marinade, rubbing it over the chicken, cooking the chicken in the air fryer basket, flipping it halfway through, and checking for doneness by clear juices or a thermometer reading. The chicken should be allowed to rest for 5 minutes before serving.
In conclusion, cooking a whole roasted chicken in an air fryer is a quick and convenient way to enjoy this classic comfort food. With the right preparation and monitoring, the air fryer can deliver a perfectly crispy-skinned and tender meat chicken that rivals traditional oven-roasted methods. The simplicity of the recipe, along with the versatility of the air fryer, makes it a winning combination for a delicious meal.
