#crispiness

#crispiness

It isn't hard to tell when you're eating good fried chicken. There's juicy meat, golden crust with an earth-shattering crunch, and secret spice blends that make you desperate for that old family recipe. But what if you could elevate your fried chicken with something you probably associate with ballparks and backyard BBQs? Because one secret to making the best fried chicken is mustard, and after you try it, you may never go back.

That pro tip comes from Chef Kieron Hales, Managing Partner and Head Chef at Zingerman's Cornman Farms. In an exchange with Tasting Table, Hales shared his go-to tips for nailing the ultimate breakfast potatoes. He explained that 375 degrees is "hot enough to crisp quickly without burning before the interior softens." There are also a few visual indicators that can help home cooks adjust their hash brown game.

We talked to Allie Hagerty, food blogger of Seasoned and Salted and One Bowl Bakery, about how she makes sure her beer batter delivers the crispiest bite. "A blend works best, I usually do about 70% all-purpose flour and 30% rice flour (or cornstarch)," she says. The secret lies in how rice flour differs from wheat flour. "Lower gluten gives you a lighter bite," Hagerty explains. "Plus you get a nice, crackly crust! The fish will also stay crisp longer after frying."