{"id":23528,"date":"2018-01-01T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2017-09-08T00:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/origin-www.tasteofhome.com\/recipes\/picnic-fried-chicken\/"},"modified":"2024-09-19T15:47:34","modified_gmt":"2024-09-19T20:47:34","slug":"picnic-fried-chicken","status":"publish","type":"recipe","link":"https:\/\/www.tasteofhome.com\/recipes\/picnic-fried-chicken\/","title":{"rendered":"Buttermilk Fried Chicken"},"content":{"rendered":"

The smell of buttermilk fried chicken is powerful enough to spark a trip down memory lane. That greasy (and oh-so-good) scent might bring you back to family picnics or community potlucks. For me, it triggers memories of block parties where super-sized buckets of Kentucky Fried Chicken towered so high on the table that I had to get on my tippy toes to see inside! It wasn’t until much later that I learned how to deep-fry at home with confidence<\/a> and recreate those crispy-fried memories.<\/p>\n

There are many theories about what makes the best fried chicken recipe<\/a>. And I’ve explored nearly all of them in my quest to create the juiciest, most flavorful chicken. My trial-and-error testing methods led me to two factors that ensure fried chicken success: tenderizing the meat and creating a crisp crust that locks moisture inside.<\/p>\n

Why make fried chicken with buttermilk?<\/h2>\n

Buttermilk tenderizes chicken, helps meat hold onto moisture and adds tangy flavor. In short, it creates fried chicken that’s juicy and flavorful from the inside out. How does it work? Modern buttermilk<\/a> is cultured with safe lactic acid bacteria. Those acids break down the meat’s proteins and muscle fibers to make it softer and capable of retaining more moisture. The process is similar to a saltwater brine<\/a>, except buttermilk also adds a rich, tangy taste.<\/p>\n

As a bonus, soaking chicken in buttermilk means you won’t have to mess with a traditional dredging station to make fried chicken. Normally, fried chicken is dipped in flour, then in egg wash and flour again. With buttermilk fried chicken, you can move the chicken directly from the buttermilk to the seasoned flour. The coating clings to the chicken, creating a solid crust that locks moisture inside as the chicken cooks.<\/p>\n

Buttermilk Fried Chicken Ingredients<\/h2>\n

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