Achieving the best fried chicken in Ephrata, PA, is not easy. It requires the right ingredients and the right methods. Choose Redner’s Markets to get your hands on delicious, juicy fried chicken made by our deli professionals or the ingredients needed to master the technique yourself.
Redner’s Fried Chicken
Golden, juicy, and fresh fried chicken from Redner’s Markets are available in a variation of combinations (no substitutions available):
- 8 pieces (2 breasts, 2 wings, 2 thighs, 2 drumsticks – $9.99)
- 12 pieces (6 drumsticks, 6 thighs – $8.99)
- 16 pieces (4 breasts, 4 wings, 4 thighs, 4 drumsticks – $18.99)
- 20 pieces (5 breasts, 5 wings, 5 thighs, 5 drumsticks – $25.00)
- 32 pieces (8 breasts, 8 wings, 8 thighs, 8 drumsticks – $38.00)
- 50 pieces (12 breasts, 12 wings, 13 thighs, 13 drumsticks – $60.00)
- 100 pieces (24 breasts, 24 wings, 26 thighs, 26 drumsticks – $100.00).
The Perfect Fried Chicken
The best fried chicken comes from a combination of the right ingredients and conditions. Let’s break down a few of the elements that make fried chicken great.
Crunchy Skin
The first bite of great fried chicken is a balance of crunchy skin and juicy meat. How do you get that perfect crunchy, golden exterior?
The perfect coating comes from the following ingredients:
- Four for structure
- Cornstarch for crispiness and lightness
- Seasoning for added flavor – salt, pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, and cayenne
Marinating chicken in buttermilk before coating it with batter is a step that some master cooks swear by. Not only does it tenderize and add flavor to the chicken, but it also enhances the ability of the coating to stay on during frying and remain crispy and whole.
Cooking Techniques
The technique used to prepare fried chicken is essential. Frying is easy, right? Just drop the chicken in heated grease. Nope.
To fry chicken, the grease needs to reach the right temperature and stay there throughout the cooking process. The Goldilocks temperature range is 325°F-350°F – hotter and you’ll burn the “skin” before the meat is cooked; colder and you’ll end up with soggy, greasy chicken that’s absorbed too much of the grease.
Many cooks choose to deep fry chicken because the cook is more consistent, but you can pan-fry successfully. The key is to batch cook and avoid overcrowding.
Other cooks choose to double fry the chicken – cooking once for a short period at a lower temp and then again at a higher temp to crisp the skin.
Juicy, Flavorful Meat
Fried chicken can be golden and crispy and also a complete fail. How, you ask? Dried-out chicken.
Good fried chicken is tender and juicy, full of flavor in each bite. Marinating the chicken is a great way to create moist chicken, with buttermilk being the marinade of choice. Adding seasonings is also helpful, with popular add-ins including garlic, hot sauce, and herbs.
Great cooks also avoid overcooking and allow the chicken to rest before serving.
Click here to check your Redner’s Rewards balance before making your shopping list to make the best fried chicken in Ephrata, PA. Redner’s Markets stocks all of the ingredients needed to cook incredible chicken and sides, whether you prefer your chicken with seasoned green beans, mashed potatoes, coleslaw, rolls, hot sauce, or honey.
Ready for the best fried chicken in Ephrata, PA? Choose the Redner’s Markets on North Reading Road for the ingredients to make your own or the tastiest, juiciest, ready-to-devour bucket of Redner’s Fried Chicken.