Tender and Juicy Baked Chicken Drumsticks: Oven vs. Air Fryer Comparison
Tender and Juicy Baked Chicken Drumsticks: Oven vs. Air Fryer Comparison
Comparing Oven and Air Fryer Methods for Korean-Style Baked Chicken Drumsticks
It’s the peak of summer, and you’re looking for a revitalizing meal, aren’t you? Today, instead of the traditional samgyetang, we’re making delicious baked chicken drumsticks that burst with flavor in every bite. We’ll be cooking them using both an oven and an air fryer, comparing their pros and cons to find the ultimate recipe. Discover the secrets to achieving restaurant-quality taste right in your own kitchen! I bought a pack of 11 prepped chicken drumsticks for 9,800 won, and on this breezy summer day, I embarked on a culinary experiment. Which appliance will yield the most delicious baked chicken drumsticks?
Main Ingredients- 11 prepped chicken drumsticks
Cooking Instructions
Step 1
Prepare the 11 freshly prepped chicken drumsticks. To remove any gamey odor and tenderize the meat, soak the drumsticks completely in soy milk. (If you have milk, you can use that, but soy milk can add a richer, nuttier flavor.)
Step 2
Let the drumsticks soak in the soy milk for about 1 hour. Afterward, remove them, rinse lightly under cold running water, and then make 2-3 shallow cuts across the meat with a knife. These cuts will help the marinade penetrate deeply. Be careful not to cut too deep into the bone.
Step 3
In a bowl, combine 4 Tbsp soy sauce, 3 Tbsp mirin, 1 Tbsp teriyaki sauce, 2 Tbsp oyster sauce, and 3 Tbsp honey. Add 1 Tbsp minced garlic, 10g of butter for richness, a pinch of black pepper, and a pinch of dried parsley flakes. Whisk everything together thoroughly until you have a delicious, well-emulsified marinade.
Step 4
Add the chicken drumsticks to the prepared marinade and toss to coat evenly. Reserve about 1/3 of the marinade for basting later, and use 2/3 for the initial marination. This reserved sauce will be brushed on during the cooking process. Let the drumsticks marinate for at least 30 minutes to allow the flavors to meld.
Step 5
Now, let’s begin the cooking comparison. Place 4 drumsticks in the air fryer and the remaining 7 in the oven. Start the first cooking phase at 180°C (350°F) for 15 minutes for both. We’ll cook them under the same conditions for a fair comparison.
Step 6
After 15 minutes, remove the drumsticks from their cooking appliances. They won’t be fully cooked yet, and you might notice some pinkness; this is normal. Prepare for the next step.
Step 7
Using a brush, generously coat the surface of the drumsticks with the reserved marinade. Basting with the extra sauce will enhance the rich flavor and create a beautiful, appetizing color.
Step 8
Return the basted drumsticks to their respective appliances and set them to cook at 180°C (350°F) for another 15 minutes. The total cooking time of 30 minutes aims to achieve a crispy exterior and a moist interior.
Step 9
After the anxious 30 minutes, we pull out the baked drumsticks. The air fryer drumsticks look nicely browned, but the skin appears slightly charred. The oven-baked drumsticks have a visually appealing golden-brown surface, but we need to check if they are cooked through completely.
Step 10
Despite the appetizing appearance, upon checking the interior of the oven-baked drumsticks after 30 minutes, some parts are still not fully cooked. With a slight sigh, they need to go back into the oven for further cooking.
Step 11
Bake the oven drumsticks for an additional 10 minutes at 180°C (350°F). This brings the total cooking time to 40 minutes, ensuring the drumsticks are perfectly cooked all the way through.
Step 12
The hot and delicious baked chicken drumsticks are ready! To make them easy to handle, wrap the ends of the drumsticks with aluminum foil. Unfortunately, my dining companions are out, so I’ll have to savor this deliciousness alone. But I’m already excited to enjoy every bite of these perfectly cooked drumsticks!
