Fried Chicken
Vanda Krosky, Nellie Wehrman and Marlene Wuertz all made their fried chicken by soaking the chicken in salt water brine and then frying in Crisco.
Main Ingredients
| Ingredients | |
|---|---|
| 1 | Whole Chicken cut into 11 pieces - 2 legs, 2 thighs, 2 wings, 1 breast cut in half, 2 back, 1 neck Make sure the chicken is a fryer (2.5 to 4.5 pounds). Otherwise it will take too long to fry and become too difficult to get the inside done while not burning the outside. |
| 3 Cups | All Purpose White Flour |
| 4 Cups | Buttermilk or (4 Cups of milk with 4 TBLS vinegar) |
| Canola oil or Crisco or Peanut Oil | |
Simple Spice Mix
| Ingredients | |
|---|---|
| salt to taste | |
| pepper to taste | |
KFC Spice Mix
| Ingredients | |
|---|---|
| 2 C | White Flour |
| 2 tsp | salt |
| 1/2 TBLS | Thyme - dried & ground |
| 1/2 TBLS | Basil - dried & ground |
| 1 tsp | Oregano - dried & ground |
| 1 TBLS | Celery Salt |
| 1 TBLS | Black Pepper |
| 1 TBLS | Dried Mustard |
| 4 TBLS | Paprika |
| 2 TBLS | Garlic Salt |
| 1 TBLS | Ground Ginger |
| 3 TBLS | White Pepper |
Preparation
- Season the chicken pieces generously with salt and pepper and then add them to one of the following brines.
- Buttermilk Brine: In a large bowl, soak the chicken in buttermilk for at least 15 minutes or put the soaking chicken in the fridge overnight.
- Salt Water Brine: In a large bowl, soak the chicken in 8 cups cold water, 2/3 cup of coarse salt,
- Salt Water Brine: (M. Stewart)
In a large bowl, soak the chicken in 8 cups cold water, 1/3 cup sugar, 1/3 cup molasses, 8 sprigs fresh thyme, 2 bay leaves
- Buttermilk Brine: In a large bowl, soak the chicken in buttermilk for at least 15 minutes or put the soaking chicken in the fridge overnight.
- Mix the flour and spice mix together and put it in a plastic bag.
- Shake each chicken piece in the seasoned flour to coat well.
- Put the battered chicken on a cookie sheet until the flour starts to gel. (20 to 30 minutes)
- Heat about canola oil in a cast iron pan until it reads 350° on a candy thermometer. I put the canola oil half way up the chicken
- In small batches, place a few pieces of the chicken in the oil at a time.
- Fry for 6-8 minutes.
- Using a slotted spoon, turn each piece over and cover the pan to cook for an additional 6 minutes. Chicken should read 170 degrees on a meat thermometer.
- Drain on paper towels and additionally salt if needed.
- Serve Hot or Cold
