What Is a Good Stove Pan to Cook Chicken on

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The key to crispy chicken on the stovetop is using the right deep-frying pan. And here's the secret: The best pan for deep-frying isn't a pan at all!

Fried chicken is nearly universally loved. And with so many great recipes, there are heated debates about which seasonings to use, the role of buttermilk, how long to let the chicken rest before frying and single- vs. double-dipping. But home cooks too often deprive themselves of the joys of crispy, juicy, home-fried chicken for one reason: fear.

The Scary Truth About Deep-Frying

It's not as if the fear is completely irrational. Unless you own an electric deep-fryer, you're cooking with hot oil on the stovetop, which is known for its tendency to spatter. (Be sure to use a deep fry thermometer for accuracy). Plus, there's an added concern: The vast majority of house fires start in the kitchen, and grease fires are notoriously bad. So as much as we love fried chicken, it's understandable that some might hesitate to fill a skillet with oil, light the burner and stand back.

Our Answer

Luckily, the answer is simple. Forget the skillet, and don't even think about using any other shallow cooking pan. Our Test Kitchen recommends grabbing a pot instead. The key to fright-free deep-frying is using a pot with high sides. A cast-iron Dutch oven is the perfect vessel. It'll give you plenty of room for a generous layer of oil while keeping the spattering mess to a minimum, and in the unlikely event of a fire, it's a split-second's work to set the pot's lid on top to starve the fire of oxygen.

Test Kitchen Tip: Hot oil is crucial to a successful fry. If the oil isn't hot enough, the coating will get soggy. Work with a few pieces of chicken at a time to ensure the oil temperature doesn't drop too much. Once you've removed the cooked chicken, wait for the oil to come all the way back up to temperature before adding the next batch.

Now that you're no longer afraid of the process, you can reap the rewards that home deep-frying brings to our favorite comfort food. And if you still can't overcome your fear of frying, there are many great recipes for oven-fried chicken, which has a beauty all its own!

Try Our Best Fried Chicken Recipes

Taste of Home

Southern Fried Chicken Strips

What's not to love with these crowd-pleasing golden fried chicken strips? A hint of garlic makes this fried chicken tenders recipe irresistible. —Genise Krause, Sturgeon Bay, WI Go to Recipe Got leftovers? Here's how to reheat fried chicken and keep it crispy.

Best-Ever Fried Chicken

Crispy, juicy and perfectly seasoned, this really is the best fried chicken recipe, ever. Summer reunions and neighborly gatherings will never be the same. When I was growing up, my parents had a farm, and every year, Dad would hire teenage boys to help by haying time. They looked forward to coming because they knew they would be treated to some of Mom's deep fryer recipes, including this delicious fried chicken. —Lola Clifton, Vinton, Virginia

Want even more? Find the rest of our best chicken recipes.

Air-Fryer Nashville Hot Chicken

I live in Tennessee and absolutely love our state's famous Nashville hot chicken. To make cooking it easier, I thought I'd try air-frying. I'm so glad I did—this Nashville hot chicken recipe is almost better than the original. —April Lane, Greeneville, Tennessee

Looking for an air fryer? Here's our Test Kitchen's favorite brand. Check out these other air-fryer chicken recipes, too.

Best Ever Fried Chicken Wings

For game days, I shake up these saucy wings. When I run out, friends hover by the snack table until I bring out more. When they ask me how to fry chicken wings, they never believe it's so easy! —Nick Iverson, Denver, Colorado

Gram's Fried Chicken

As a boy, I wolfed down my grandmother's fried chicken. I never knew how she made it, but my recipe using potato flakes is crispy close. —David Nelson, Lincolnton, North Carolina

Craving more country cookin'? Check out these top-notch Southern chicken recipes.

Cornmeal Oven-Fried Chicken

This cornmeal fried chicken dish perks up the dinner table. Its flavorful cornmeal/bread-crumb coating is a good variation form the usual. —Deborah Williams, Peoria, Arizona

Fried Lemon-Pepper Wings

These lemon-pepper wings are perfect for game day. Try these out if you've been stuck in a chicken wing rut. Add grated lemon zest to the butter mixture if you want a more pronounced lemon flavor. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen, Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Crispy Sage Chicken Tenders

One of my mom's favorite chicken recipes used fresh sage. Her version was smothered with gravy, but we like these panko-crusted tenders as they are. —Deb Perry, Traverse City, Michigan

For more top-rated ideas, check out these 5-star chicken recipes.

Oven-Fried Chicken Drumsticks

This fabulous recipe uses Greek yogurt to create an amazing marinade that makes the chicken incredibly moist. No one will guess that it has been lightened up and is not even fried! — Kim Wallace, Dennison, Ohio

Copycat Chick-Fil-A Chicken Nuggets

I developed this recipe specifically to copycat Chick-fil-A chicken nuggets. The first time I made them I knew I had a winner because the whole family fought over who got the last one! For a dipping sauce, combine equal parts barbecue sauce and Dijon mustard, then stir in honey to taste. —Jeni Pittard, Statham, Georgia

Chicken Fingers

Almost everyone in my family requests these golden chicken fingers as their birthday dinner entree. I begin marinating the chicken strips early in the day to cut down on last-minute fuss. —Charlotte Baillargeon, Hinsdale, Massachusetts

Crispy Fried Chicken

If you've wanted to learn how to make crispy fried chicken, this is the recipe for you. Always a picnic favorite, this deep fried chicken recipe is delicious either hot or cold. Kids call it my Kentucky Fried Chicken! —Jeanne Schnitzler, Lima, Montana

This recipe reminds us of KFC. Discover more delicious copycat chicken recipes!

Sweet Potato-Crusted Chicken Nuggets

I was looking for ways to spice up traditional chicken nuggets and came up with this recipe. The chips add a crunchy texture and flavor, while the meat is tender on the inside. —Kristina Segarra, Yonkers, New York

Crispy Ranch Fried Chicken

It's almost impossible to improve crispy fried chicken. A sprinkling of ranch dressing mix in the coating makes it happen, though. The empty-in-seconds serving platter is proof. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen

Fried Chicken Strips

I recently made this recipe of Mom's for my in-laws and they told me it was the "best fried chicken ever." Slicing the chicken breasts into strips cuts down on cooking time and ensures every piece is crunchy and evenly coated. Serve the homemade chicken tenders with your favorite dipping sauce. —Genny Monchamp, Redding, California

Southern-Style Oven-Fried Chicken

I call this America's best-loved oven-fried chicken. The secret is in the breading, which makes the chicken super moist and flavorful, herby and golden brown. —Elaina Morgan, Rickman, Tennessee

Picnic Fried Chicken

For our family, it's not a picnic unless we have fried chicken! Chicken, deviled eggs and potato salad are all musts for a picnic as far as my husband is concerned. This is a golden oldie recipe for me—I've used it any number of times. —Edna Hoffman, Hebron, Indiana

Potato Chip Chicken Strips

This novel recipe is a fast and tasty change from fried chicken.—Sister Judith LaBrozzi, Canton, Ohio

Savory Mustard Chicken and Stuffing Waffles

Adding mustard to the chicken coating adds a tang that's amazing with the savory waffles and sweet maple syrup. —John Ginn, Carlisle, Pennsylvania

Spicy-Good Chicken Wings

We enjoy eating these chicken wings while watching football on TV, but make them for any special occasion for a crowd favorite! The pepper sauce gives just the right amount of heat.—Della Clutts, New Tazewell, Tennessee

Pigeon River Chicken

For a picnic on the Pigeon River, we made chicken marinated in yogurt with a touch of cayenne. It's delectable warm or cold. —Lib Jicha, Waynesville, North Carolina

What Is a Good Stove Pan to Cook Chicken on

Source: https://www.tasteofhome.com/article/the-best-pan-for-deep-frying-on-the-stovetop/

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