How Long Does Fried Chicken Need To Rest After Cooking?

There are plenty of tricks and tips for cooking the best fried chicken. You want the right ratio of crispy coating to juicy chicken, so you need to get the batter, the breading, and the timing just right. But the timing doesn't only refer to how long the chicken cooks; it also refers to how long you let it rest. Resting is an essential part of the cooking process, and when cooking chicken, the meat should rest at room temperature for around 10 minutes after cooking and before serving.

To properly rest the chicken, try to avoid a solid surface, such as a plate or cutting board. This means the air can't circulate under the meat, leading to condensation that ultimately creates a soggy coating on the bottom. Instead, rest the chicken on a wire rack, so air can flow on both sides and moisture won't be able to pool. Place a baking sheet underneath to catch any grease that slides off the chicken as it dries.

Whatever you do, don't cut into the meat right off the heat. Yes, resting fried chicken is an extra step, but the reality is that resting plays a few key roles in making sure the chicken is as tasty as it can be. First, the chicken needs to dry. You'll notice that when you immediately remove it, some of that oil still remains, and the last thing you want to do is ingest hot oil. Not only can it burn you, but it also means the chicken hasn't had a chance to reach maximum crispness, so let the oil dry.

Second, resting the chicken allows its surface to slightly cool, making it easier to handle when it's time to serve. And finally, it gives the juices within the chicken a chance to redistribute throughout the meat. When we cook chicken, the juices are displaced (usually toward the center) as the temperature increases. When the chicken rests, those juices redistribute throughout the meat, meaning that if you let it properly rest, less juice — and flavor — will leak out when you bite into it.