| While some people believe that no batter should touch | | | | and the mixture will turn to batter right on the chicken. |
| their chicken, many more love the crisp bite into a | | | | There are also many ways to get the desired crunch. |
| battered chicken. Batter can be applied to whole | | | | Some people love crushed cornflakes or seasoned |
| pieces, wings or cut up slices to make chicken strips or | | | | bread crumbs. Others like wet batters that fry up nice |
| nuggets. Battering is a popular way to prepare chicken | | | | and crunchy. Panko breadcrumbs from Japan make a |
| all over the world. There are almost as many chicken | | | | nice, light crispness. If someone wants a light crunch |
| batters as there are chickens! | | | | without the crumbs, they can try tempura batter. |
| Different Batters of the World | | | | For diners who prefer a southern fried chicken recipe, |
| Batter can be made with corn meal, wheat flour, rice | | | | there are many to be found in cookbooks or online. |
| flour, or graham flour. Ethnic chicken recipes often use | | | | While some are a simple combination of flour, salt, and |
| different flours. Each region will have their own special | | | | pepper mixed with milk, others include many fresh or |
| blend of spices and herbs as well, giving the fried | | | | dried herbs or spices. |
| chicken a flavor that will be recognizable from that | | | | The Controversy over Fried Chicken Pans |
| corner of the world. | | | | There is an ongoing debate on whether it is best to |
| Indian chicken may be coated with a batter made of | | | | deep fry battered chicken, cook it in a cast iron skillet |
| graham flour, cinnamon, cumin, cloves, ginger, nutmeg, | | | | or use a pressure cooker. There are cooks who are |
| curds, and red chili powder. The batter is used on | | | | devoted to their own preferences, each sure that their |
| boiled chicken meat, and then fried until the surface is | | | | method is the very best. The deep-frying camp will try |
| crisp. | | | | to convince you with the quick cooking time and lack |
| A wonderful Asian recipe uses a rice flour batter on | | | | of spatter. |
| marinated chicken. Marinate the pieces in soy sauce; | | | | The cast iron camp will wax eloquent about even |
| five spice powder, sesame oil, garlic, and onion | | | | heating and the perfect crisp to the skin. The pressure |
| overnight. The next day, dip the chicken in a batter | | | | cooker camp are not truly frying their chicken... they |
| made of water, baking powder, salt and rice flour. The | | | | must brown it first, then cook it in the pressure cooker |
| light colored batter is almost translucent. | | | | for about 15 minutes to get juicy chicken. You must be |
| Some cooks will use nothing but beer batter. The | | | | cautious with a pressure cooker... do not open it until all |
| yeast in the beer makes a light batter with a tangy | | | | the pressure has been removed. |
| accent. Another way to impart a tang to your chicken | | | | With all these options for batters, you are sure to keep |
| is to soak it in buttermilk before dusting it lightly with | | | | busy in the kitchen for years. Enjoy your battered |
| seasoned flour. Let the chicken sit for a few minutes | | | | chicken, no matter which method appeals to you! |