Fried chicken is beloved globally, with countless regional variations and cooking methods. This taste test explored 30+ different fried chicken recipes to determine the best technique, American style, international style, and ultimately create the perfect hybrid fried chicken.
Recipes were scored on a 10 point scale:
The top scorers in each category were combined into one ultimate fried chicken.
6 common frying methods were tested to find the best technique:
Methods Tested:
All used same marinade and breading to control variables.
| Method | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Air Fryer | 7 | Soggy, faint metallic taste |
| Shallow Fry | 20 | Golden brown, uneven crispness |
| Pressure Cooker | 9 | Didn’t properly pressure cook |
| Baked | 7 | Not truly “fried” |
| Pan Fried | 26 | Crispy, rich, decadent |
| Deep Fried | 28 | Perfectly crispy, juicy, flaky |
Winner: Deep Frying
Deep frying produced the crispiest, juiciest, and most tender fried chicken.
14 popular American fried chicken recipes battled.
American Recipes Tested:
| Recipe | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Nashville Hot | 27 | Spicy, flavorful, juicy |
| Buttermilk | 27 | Classic, tender, delicious |
| Buffalo Wings | 30 | Perfectly fried, tangy hot sauce |
Winner: Buffalo Wings
The crisispy deep fried wings tossed in hot sauce achieved a rare perfect score.
15 beloved global recipes competed for best international fried chicken.
International Recipes Tested:
| Recipe | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Thai | 26 | Fresh, gingery, hint of sweetness |
| Karaage | 28 | Japanese pub favorite. Crispy, juicy. |
| Chongqing | 29 | Lip numbing Sichuan peppercorns |
Winner: Chongqing Chicken
The Sichuan peppercorns gave this Chinese dish a slightly numb spiciness that the judges loved.
With category winners selected, it was time to combine them into the ultimate fried chicken recipe:
This hybrid recipe merged the crispy deep frying technique with the spicy buffalo sauce and numbing Sichuan peppercorns.
The result was an utterly unique flavor profile unlike any other fried chicken. Sweet, spicy, savory, tangy, crispy, and tender all in perfect harmony.
| Category | Winning Recipe | Key Attributes |
|---|---|---|
| Method | Deep Fried | Juicy, crispy, flaky |
| American | Buffalo Wings | Vinegary hot sauce |
| International | Chongqing | Sichuan peppercorns |
While this may not be traditional, it represented the best of all styles in one glorious fried chicken masterpiece.
This exhaustive worldwide fried chicken taste test ultimately yielded a unique hybrid recipe that combined the best attributes of various traditions.
Frying technique proved critical, with deep frying emerging as the clear winner. American and international styles offered diverse flavor profiles from different cultures and ingredients.
Blending these elements formed a symphony of crispy, spicy, tangy, and lip-numbing fried chicken nirvana. An instant new classic was born through experimentation and an openness to fuse cuisines.
While traditionalists may scoff, this synthesis of global flavors showcases how food boundaries continue to be broken in our ever-connected world. And the end result tastes pretty amazing too.
What fried chicken styles or cooking methods would you like to see explored next?
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