Crisping chicken skin after braising
I have a go-to chicken dish that I like a lot. I marinate thighs in a soy based marinade and then brown them. Then I mix the marinade flavors, chicken broth and rice and put the thighs in skin side down, cover, and cook over medium-low heat until the rice is nearly done. With 10 minutes or so left to go, I turn the thighs skin side up, lay them on top and finish cooking, uncovered, until the rice is done.
I like the skin done this way. I start the browning in a cold pan which really renders the fat nicely (you can see the fat in the first picture, I added no oil), but I know that a lot of people only like chicken skin crispy. The skin here isn't flabby, but it isn't crispy either. Does anyone have a good trick for crisping chicken skin that is already fully cooked by braising?
Best Answer
As some of the commenters have noted, this just might not be possible. Water is the enemy of crispy, and unfortunately for your chicken skin braising is all about moist heat. I would try searing the skin before braising, if you don't already, in order to get some of the fat rendered out and the Maillard reaction on it's way. Braise as you would, but remove the chicken five minutes before it hits doneness and place the thighs on wire rack. Put the thighs under a screaming hot broiler until, god willing, they're crispy. A torch or the searzall could also do the trick.
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How do you crisp chicken skin after braising?
Turn the broiler to high, and cook the chicken for about 2-4 minutes to brown and crisp up the skin (watch carefully). I recommend leaving the pan on the middle rack of the oven so it's not too close to the broiling element. This helps the skin brown more evenly. Serve promptly and enjoy!Can you crisp chicken skin after cooking?
If using an oven, cook on a rack over or on a baking tray in a preheated 350 degrees F (180 degrees C) oven for around 20 to 30 minutes or until the oven has dried out the skin enough to become crisp again.How do you make chicken skin crispy?
\u201cWhen the temperature drops, the fat under the chicken skin continues to render, but the chicken skin doesn't gain a lot more color during the next hour or so. If you stick the chicken in the oven at 375\u02daF and you've got it all set up properly and nice and dry, it's going to end up being really, really crispy.\u201dHow do I make my chicken skin crispy after marinating?
Light a grill and oil the grate. Remove the chicken thighs from the marinade and pat dry; season the skin with salt. Grill the chicken skin side down over moderately low heat until the skin is golden brown and very crisp, 18 to 20 minutes.How to Make Crispy Chicken Skin in Minutes - Pai's Kitchen
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Images: ROMAN ODINTSOV, Harry Dona, cottonbro, Angela Roma