Fried ChickenServing Food

How to Keep Fried Chicken Hot and Crispy for a Party

It’s important to know how to keep fried chicken hot and crispy for a party. The foil-lined cardboard boxes that it typically arrives in from restaurants and grocery stores won’t keep it warm or crisp. The oven won’t either. It will stay hot in the oven, but it will dry out if uncovered. Cover it up, and the skin will become soggy and unappetizing. It requires direct heat, and it can’t form condensation. Those serving fried food can keep it crunchy and delicious for hours using the following easy method. It’s the best option available for graduation open houses, birthday parties, first communions, Super Bowl parties, and more.

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The Secret to Keeping Fried Chicken Crisp and Hot

How to Keep Fried Chicken Hot and Crispy for a Party
Crisp Fried Chicken is Mouthwatering and Delicious!

Needless to say, nothing is worse than soggy fried food, right? The very best way to keep fried chicken hot and crispy for a party either indoors or outdoors is with a stainless steel chafer, but you have to use it with the lid off at all times. Keep the lid open if you want the crust to stay crisp and delicious.

Close the lid and condensation will form and cause soft soggy skin. The gel fuel will effectively heat the stainless steel, and the warmth will transfer to the food. Stainless steel is a great conductor of heat, and that’s why it’s the best material for the job.

Have One on Hand for Your Next Party

Find out more…

“Tiger Chef 8 Quart Full Size Stainless Steel Chafer with Folding Frame and Cool-Touch Plastic on Top

View at Amazon – Tiger Chef 8 Quart Full Size Stainless Steel Chafer with Folding Frame and Cool-Touch Plastic on Top

What You’ll Need to Do –

About every 30 minutes, gently rotate the chicken. The pieces that were on the bottom should be rotated to the top, and the lid must stay open. That’s the secret to keeping fried chicken crisp and hot when serving a crowd. The skin will pop and crunch in your mouth, and the meat will be juicy and flavorful. My mouth is watering just thinking about it. Who doesn’t love fried chicken? It’s perfect for a party. 

How Many Pieces Will Fit in the Pan?

Now that you know how to keep broasted chicken hot and crisp, you’ll need to know another important bit of info. How many pieces of fried chicken fit in an 8-quart chafer? The pan listed below holds between 40 and 50 pieces, depending on their size. With proper placement, even the largest pieces of chicken will fit.

Are Flies and/or Bees a Concern?

Leaving the lids open on food can draw flies and even bees if the party is outdoors. They don’t seem to mind the heat. If insects are a concern, use a rectangular screened cover. It will keep flies and bees away while allowing the steam to adequately escape. As long as guests put it back unwelcome diners won’t be an issue. The chicken will stay crispy, warm, and free from pests.

Remember to occasionally rotate the chicken! In areas with major flying insect problems, you may want to consider a screened party shelter. Without one, guests won’t be able to enjoy their food anyway. They shouldn’t be expected to wear insect repellent. Keep in mind that some people can’t.

It’s Ideal for Graduation Open Houses, Super Bowl Parties, and More

Using chafers is essentially the same method that buffet restaurants use, but theirs are electric. Think about it. Their pans are also open. If you entertain at least once or even just twice a year, the aforementioned high-quality stainless steel chafing dish will pay for itself.

It’s good for more than just keeping fried chicken crisp, moist, and warm too. It can be used for many fried foods and heated dishes including French fries, pizza, baked potatoes, grilled steak, seafood and even individual plates, and without drying out the food. It will last for years to come, and it’s perfect for graduation open houses, birthday parties, anniversaries, Super Bowl parties, and other indoor or outdoor celebrations.

Find out more…

“Prodyne Buffet-On-Ice, 19.75

View at Amazon – Prodyne Buffet-On-Ice, 19.75″ x 11.75″ Oblong, Clear

When wondering how to keep fried chicken hot and crispy for a party, the 8-quart stainless steel chafer listed above does a phenomenal job, but remember, you have to keep the lid open. I can’t repeat that part enough. It can be used outdoors in dry conditions as well as inside. Those who enjoy entertaining often decide to buy more than one.

One thing is for certain – I wouldn’t buy or prepare fried chicken or other fried foods for a party if I couldn’t keep it hot and crispy. After all, why bother if the texture is going to change for the worse? It’s not a matter of if it changes. It’s going to get soggy if it’s kept covered. At least, you can keep fried chicken hot and crispy for a party using the right tools for the job and in ways that won’t ruin the consistency of the food.

Other phenomenal ideas…

Kim

Kimberly Dalessandro (a.k.a. Crystal Ray) began her online writing career in 2005 with PageWise Incorporated and went on to become a top writer for both Associated Content and Yahoo Voices under the pen name Crystal Ray. In early 2017 she launched Blue Crystal Sky ~ Everything Under the Sun. She is continually coming up with new ideas to share with the world.

11 thoughts on “How to Keep Fried Chicken Hot and Crispy for a Party

  • hi, my favorite chicken diner makes the best fried chicken, yet if i take it home and i let it cool down, it always becomes hard, so i must always eat it fresh. Is there a way to keep chicken in the same condition, to be enjoyed later without it becoming hard?

    • kimdalessandro

      Hi, Mnce. It’s the way it’s reheated that changes the texture. If you like it soft, I would cover it with aluminum foil and heat it in the oven or a toaster oven. In any case, I would never microwave chicken.

  • If I MUST leave it open without a lid, how do I keep the flies away, specially if I’m doing an outdoor party in the summer?

    • kimdalessandro

      A screened cover can be used to keep flies away when they’re a problem in your area.

  • Do you put water under the top chafing pan or is the chafing pan right over the flame?

    • kimdalessandro

      Hi, Ingrid. Thanks for asking. 🙂 You add water to the outer chafing pan. The water helps to keep the food evenly heated.

      Keep in mind that chafing pans are also great for keeping chilled food cold. Simply add ice to the outer pan and place the chilled food in the inner pan.

  • jessica romero

    how many pieces of fried chicken can you usually fit on a 8qt chafer?

    • kimdalessandro

      Hi, Jessica. Thanks for asking. You can fit between 40 and 50 pieces of fried chicken in an 8-quart chafer.

  • nerdieeds

    I shared this on Twitter. Thank you for this. My friend @edsamarcos loves preparing food for family gatherings.

  • kimdalessandro

    Yes, it also keeps other foods hot and ready to eat. It’s great to have for keeping countless foods hot. It’s ideal for those who entertain and host holiday parties. There is no other really good way to keep fried chicken and other fried foods hot and crisp. Other methods dry it out or result in soggy coating.

  • Anja Poulsen

    What can I say? You made me hungry. That does look like a good idea, and I can imagine it helps with other foods as well.

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