What’s the difference between fried chicken and Southern fried chicken?
Surprisingly, the answer doesn’t have anything to do with how either batch of chicken looks.
So, to tackle the question about the difference between fried chicken and Southern fried chicken, I think we should first start with the often preceding question:
What is the difference between soul food and Southern food?
Soul food vs. Southern food
Most soul food is Southern. But not all Southern food is soul food.
Get it?
You see, soul food and Southern are often compared.
But enslaved African Americans developed soul food’s distinct and authentic character by creating outstanding meals from what was thought to be less-than-desirable cuts of meat and produce.
Those something-from-nothing meals over the years were elevated by generations of Black cooks with outstanding seasoning and flavors. Known today as the culinary delicacy soul food!
On the other hand, Southern food can be described as down South, home-cooked comfort food recipes where you can taste the hospitality.
Flavorful seasonings are not required to make Southern food. Whereas Southern food must be seasoned and flavorful to be considered soul food!
Now back to the original question about the difference between fried chicken and Southern fried chicken?
Simply put, the difference between fried chicken and Southern fried chicken is in the flavor.
Fried chicken vs. Southern fried chicken
So here’s how you can tell if a batch of fried chicken (chicken battered in flour) is a Southern (soul food) recipe: Crunchy, flavorful outside with juicy, seasoned, tender meat inside.
Yep – that’s a Black folks’ soul food Southern fried chicken recipe!
Soul food fried chicken
When people ask, “What is Southern fried chicken?”
I think they should ask instead…
“What is the secret to good fried chicken?”
Or, “What is the secret to making great fried chicken?”
The answer is soul food Southern fried chicken. A recipe that Black folks created and perfected!
There’s no denying that chicken with a balance of flavorful, tender meat on the inside and crispy seasoning on the outside is a soul food specialty.
So I’m sharing the secrets to a savory batch of Southern fried chicken the soul food way!
The difference between fried chicken and Southern fried chicken and the secret to good fried chicken is a recipe that includes three components for making crunchy and flavorful chicken on the outside with juicy, seasoned, tender meat inside.
How do you make a traditional Black folks’ soul food Southern fried chicken recipe?
How do you make the best fried chicken that’s both crispy and tender?
To do this, you no longer need years of experience perfecting the precise temperature for hot oil in a Dutch oven or cast-iron skillet.
You can still use these stovetop accessories or give yourself some grace and plop your battered chicken pieces in a deep fryer!
How do you season chicken before cooking?
Soul food seasoning rule number one:
Always season your chicken or meat!
Seasoning chicken before cooking allows the spices to penetrate the meat and helps release the flavor during the cooking process.
Black people fried chicken recipe
In moderation, you can enjoy a batch of deep-fried Black folks’ soul food Southern fried chicken recipe and taste the difference between regular fried chicken and Southern fried chicken.
Southern fried chicken is a soul food Sunday dinner staple and another darling recipe of the South, akin to Southern potato salad, cornbread, and collard greens.
Or sardines and pork and beans (for my DC Chocolate City peeps).
Which part of the chicken should you use for this Black folks soul food Southern fried chicken recipe?
You can use whatever chicken pieces you like. Whole chicken, half, or just your favorite parts of the chicken – chicken wings, legs, chicken breast, chicken thighs, or drumsticks.
Pro tips:
- Some Southern cooks like using a baking sheet or a large bowl to separate dark and white meat. They dredge the dark meat first, fry, and then dredge the remaining chicken (the white meat) and fry.
- What else can you use to season the flour? Other than a sprinkle of salt and pepper, some Southern fried chicken recipes call for cornstarch to thicken the batter for extra crunch or hot sauce for more heat.
- You may also consider a buttermilk marinade to tenderize the chicken before frying.
FAQs: What is the difference between fried chicken and Southern fried chicken?
What is the difference between fried chicken and chicken-fried?
Traditionally, fried chicken is bone-in chicken pieces coated in flour and then fried in oil for delicious, crispy, crunchy skin.
Chicken-fried is a term often used when referring to boneless fried chicken tenderloins or chicken cutlets. These chicken pieces are fried the same way, only there’s no bone in the chicken.
Is fried chicken a Southern thing?
The American South is the birthplace of American-style fried chicken. Southern fried chicken.
However, many people believe fried chicken was brought from Africa.
Chicken, especially fried chicken, is the most popular soul food thrown on the doorsteps of Black people as a way to identify us.
But, of course, you know, African Americans didn’t invent the chicken?
We just perfected seasoning it!
That’s how soul food Southern fried chicken became arguably the most popular of the many soul food recipes, distinctively establishing the difference between fried chicken and Southern fried chicken.
Why is it called Southern fried?
Because of fried chicken’s birthplace in the American South, it’s called “Southern” fried chicken.
From its inception, Southerners have made fried chicken a centerpiece for gatherings and special occasions.
What are the different styles of frying chicken?
- Pan-skillet fried chicken
- Deep fryer fried chicken
- Dutch oven-fried chicken
- Air fryer fried chicken
- Instant Pot fried chicken
Can Southern fried chicken be made in an air fryer?
Do air fryers work for soul food Southern fried chicken?
The answer is yes, and you won’t believe how good and crispy the chicken tastes!
Can you make a Southern fried chicken recipe in your Instant Pot?
So how do you fry chicken in a pressure cooker?
We’re not going to attempt pressure-frying chicken in this recipe!
Instead, we’re using the pressure in the pot to tenderize the chicken with a buttermilk brine. This helps the soul food seasoning and flavors to quickly infuse into the meat.
Instant Pot pressure cooking the chicken before frying will shorten the marinating process from 24 hours to only 20 minutes!
Get the best Southern fried chicken recipes below:
🎙 Listen to The Soul Food Pod episode: Mama’s Fried Chicken
Check out the podcast episode show notes about Mama’s fried chicken.
Did you enjoy this soul food recipe guide about the difference between fried chicken and Southern fried chicken?
Have you had it?
Would you make it?
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