Are you ready to enjoy the best fried chicken in Emmaus, PA? Head to Redner’s Markets on Lehigh St. in Allentown for a bucket of world-class Redner’s Fried Chicken or fill your cart with the ingredients needed to make your own!
Masterclass in Fried Chicken
Follow this recipe to make incredible fried chicken that will rival a bucket from any professional chicken fryer around.
Best Fried Chicken Recipe
Yields 4-6 servings
Prep Time: 45 min; Cook Time: 45 min; Total Time: 1 hr 30 min.
Ingredients:
- 8 pieces chicken (bone-in) – save some cash, buy a whole chicken, and disarticulate it yourself
- Salt (1 TBSP + 1 tsp)
- Smoked paprika (1 TBSP + 1 tsp)
- 1 TBSP pepper
- 1 ¾ tsp garlic powder
- 1 ½ tsp ground ginger
- 1 ½ tsp celery salt
- 2 tsp white pepper
- 1 ½ tsp ground mustard
- 1 tsp thyme
- 1 tsp basil
- 1 tsp oregano
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 ½ TBSP cornstarch
- 1 ¼ cup buttermilk
- 2 egg whites
- 2 TBSP vodka
- 2 quarts oil (high smoke point like vegetable, peanut, or canola oil)
Instructions:
- For the juiciest possible chicken, dry brine with salt.
- Place the chicken pieces in a single layer and sprinkle them with a tablespoon of salt. Allow to rest at room temp for half an hour, or cover and refrigerate overnight.
- Mix the seasoning – smoked paprika, pepper, garlic powder, ground ginger, celery salt, white pepper, ground mustard, thyme, basil, and oregano.
- Coat the pieces of chicken with half of the seasoning mix.
- Prepare for dredging by mixing the flour, cornstarch, remaining salt, and remaining seasonings; mix well. Combine buttermilk, egg whites, and vodka in a separate bowl. Place a wire rack on a baking sheet.
- Take one piece of chicken, dip in the liquid mixture to coat, and then dredge the piece through the powder mixture. Cover the piece and press the flour coating into the chicken. Place the piece on the rack and repeat until all pieces are coated and resting on the rack.
- Allow the chicken to rest for a minimum of 10 minutes. While the chicken rests, heat the oil – resting can last up to half an hour.
- Heat the oil in a large Dutch oven or deep fryer until the oil reaches 350°F. Line a baking sheet with paper towels and a wire rack.
- Cook the chicken a few pieces at a time, rotating them every few minutes for about 13 minutes. Keep the oil temp at 325°F and make sure that the internal temp of the chicken reaches 165°F.
- 10.Cool the pieces of chicken on the wire rack for a minimum of ten minutes as the cooking process is complete.
Tips for Success
- Make your seasoning ahead for five days at a time.
- The chicken can be salt-brined for up to 24 hours.
- Salt brining is one of the most critical steps – don’t skip it. The process tenderizes and adds flavor to every bite.
- Store any leftover chicken in an airtight container on paper towels for a max of four days.
- The egg whites, vodka, and cornstarch all work to enhance the crispiness of the exterior.
Click here to begin filling your Redner’s Markets online cart with the ingredients needed to prepare the best fried chicken in Emmaus, PA. We also prepare some world-class fried chicken in our deli!