Cooking Tips

The Secret to Crispy Chicken in the Air Fryer . . . is the Microwave

Pre-toast your breadcrumbs. It makes a huge difference. 
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Published Jan. 30, 2023.

Panko-crusted air fryer chicken is crispy, golden, and delicious.

But simply coating your chicken in panko and throwing it into the air fryer leads to uneven browning.

No one likes a burnt patch on one side and a bald, non-crispy patch on the other.

Which is why you should pre-toast your breadcrumbs.

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It’s easy! All you need is your microwave.

Toss 1 cup panko with 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil in a shallow dish until evenly coated. Microwave, stirring frequently, until panko is light golden brown, 1 to 3 minutes.

Then coat your chicken breast, pork chops, or even fish, and air-fry away!

Perfectly golden. Evenly golden. Each and every time.

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Healthy Air Fryer

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Pro tip: Pre-toast a big batch of panko and store it in a zipper-lock bag for up to 7 days.

That way you can easily make any (or all) of these recipes throughout the week:

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