Fried Chicken: Reloaded

Moist, juicy deep-fried buttermilk chicken with a crisp, golden crust. Need I say more?

There is a scientific reason why we crave our chicken deep-fried. Our brains like contrast, which explains why creme brûlée is one of the most popular desserts on the planet. In that light, deep-fried chicken with its crunchy brown exterior and buttery soft meaty interior is kind of the perfect food.

I call this General's Chicken, because generals outrank colonels and you know exactly what I mean.

Note: If you really don't feel like handling cutting the chicken up yourself, you can ask your butcher (if you can find one in this day and age) or simply purchase a mixture of pre-cut bone-in pieces. I'm not a fan of breast meat, but if you go that way, make sure that the rib cage is still in place and that the entire wing has been removed.

When it comes time to dredge the chicken in flour, think of it more of a pressing and squeezing motion than a massage. (Or at least more shiatsu than Swedish.)

This recipe first appeared in Season 1 of Good Eats: Reloaded.

ACTIVE TIME: 1 5

TOTAL TIME: 6

Yield: servings

Software

1 (4- to 5-pound) chicken, cut into 10 pieces (see note)
2 tablespoons kosher salt
2 teaspoons freshly ground black pepper
2 teaspoons ground sumac
1 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1 teaspoon garlic powder
2 cups all-purpose flour
2 tablespoons cornstarch
1 cup low-fat buttermilk
1 large egg
2 tablespoons bourbon
2 quarts peanut oil, for frying

Specialized Hardware

Large Dutch oven
Candy/fry thermometer
Digital instant-read thermometer

Procedure

Place the chicken pieces on a wire rack set over a half sheet pan and sprinkle on all sides with the salt. Set aside at room temperature for 30 minutes.
Combine the black pepper, sumac, cayenne, and garlic powder in a small bowl, then divide the blend in half. Sprinkle the chicken on all sides with half of the spice mixture, then refrigerate, uncovered, for at least 4 hours or up to overnight.
When you're ready to cook, remove the chicken from the refrigerator. Whisk together the flour, cornstarch, and the remaining spice mixture in a large bowl. In another bowl, whisk together the buttermilk, egg, and bourbon.
One piece at a time, dunk the chicken pieces into the buttermilk mixture, then dredge in the flour mixture. Use your fingers to massage the flour coating onto the chicken. Place the coated pieces back on the wire rack and rest at least 10 minutes or up to 1 hour at room temperature.
Meanwhile, heat the peanut oil to 350ºF in a large Dutch oven over medium-high heat, about 15 minutes. Line a rimmed baking sheet with paper towels and place a wire cooling rack upside down on the paper towels.
When the oil is hot, fry the chicken in three batches, rotating the pieces every 3 to 4 minutes, until the chicken is golden brown and its interior temperature is 155°F, about 10 minutes. (It helps to fry the white meat pieces together in their own batches and the dark meat together in their own batches.) Adjust the heat as needed to maintain 325°F. Rest the chicken on the prepared rack for at least 5 minutes before serving. The chicken is equally good at room temperature as it is hot, so don’t worry about keeping it warm between batches.