My neighbor convinced me to try a whole chicken in the air fryer

I was talking to my neighbor, Carol, over the weekend and she mentioned she cooks a whole 4-pound chicken in her air fryer every Sunday. I told her that sounded like a mess and the skin would never get right. She just said, 'You have to trust the basket. It holds the bird up so the hot air gets all around it.' I tried it yesterday, and she was totally right. I patted the chicken dry, rubbed it with some oil and salt, and put it in at 360 degrees for about an hour. The skin was so crispy all over, and the meat was still juicy. I feel silly for thinking it was only good for small things like fries or wings. Has anyone else done a whole chicken, and do you have a favorite rub or seasoning mix for it?

3 comments

3 Comments

jenny472d ago

Tried it last week (with a lemon-herb rub) and was shocked by how perfectly it turned out.

jakejones1d ago

Yeah, I read somewhere that letting it sit overnight is the real trick. Makes all the difference.

wyatt_mitchell261d ago

That lemon-herb combo is a winner. I did a whole chicken with rosemary, thyme, and lemon zest under the skin last Sunday. Let it sit in the fridge for a full day, @jenny47, and the flavor went deep into the meat. The skin crisped up like nothing else, and even the breast stayed juicy. It's my new go-to method for sure.