Discover How to Cook Chicken Drumsticks in a Frying Pan

I accidentally cooked chicken drumsticks in a frying pan and was surprised by how great they tasted. Today, I'll teach you how to cook chicken drumsticks in a frying pan.

How to Cook Chicken Drumsticks in a Frying Pan

Cooking chicken drumsticks in a frying pan is simple, but if you want to keep them tender and juicy, you need some skills:

Ingredient Preparation

First, gather all the ingredients. I usually prepare chicken drumsticks, salt, black pepper, olive oil, garlic, rosemary, and other ingredients and seasonings.

Preparing the Chicken Drumsticks

Then wash the chicken drumsticks thoroughly, pat them dry with kitchen paper, sprinkle them evenly with salt and black pepper, and marinate for at least 30 minutes to let the flavors soak in. Marinating is the key to keeping the chicken drumsticks tender.

Frying the Chicken Drumsticks

Get the frying pan ready, pour an appropriate amount of olive oil, and heat it over medium-low heat.

When the oil is hot, place the chicken drumsticks in the pan, skin side down. First, fry them over medium heat until the skin turns golden and crispy. Remember not to flip the chicken drumsticks too soon to avoid damaging the integrity of the skin.

After the chicken skin is fried to a golden color, flip the chicken drumsticks and continue frying the other side until both sides are golden.

Then add an appropriate amount of garlic and rosemary for flavor.

After that, turn the heat to low, cover the pan, and simmer the chicken drumsticks for 15 - 20 minutes until they are fully cooked and juicy inside.

Completion and Serving

Once the chicken drumsticks are tender and juicy, they are done.

How Long Does It Take to Fry Chicken Drumsticks in a Frying Pan?

The time required to fry chicken drumsticks in a frying pan depends on the size and thickness of the chicken drumsticks. Under normal circumstances, I recommend frying the chicken drumsticks over medium-low heat for about 5 - 7 minutes on each side.

Before frying the chicken drumsticks, blot the moisture from them using kitchen paper. Then make a few incisions on the surface of the chicken drumsticks to allow for more even heating, which will speed up the frying process.

Also, remember to heat the pan before frying the chicken drumsticks. This will make the chicken skin extra crispy.

How Long Do Chicken Drumsticks Need to Be Cooked on the Stovetop?

The cooking time for chicken drumsticks on the stovetop depends on their size and the cooking method.

Under normal circumstances, whole chicken drumsticks cooked over medium-low heat take approximately 30 - 45 minutes to ensure they are completely cooked through from the inside out.

If the chicken drumsticks are cut into pieces, simmer them over medium-low heat for about 20 - 30 minutes after bringing to a boil.

However, if you use a pressure cooker, the cooking time will be significantly reduced, taking about 15 - 20 minutes to cook.

Tips

When simmering chicken drumsticks, it is recommended to turn the heat to low after the water boils and simmer slowly to make the chicken drumsticks more flavorful and maintain a tender texture.

During the simmering process, you can poke the thickest part of the chicken drumstick with a chopstick. If no blood oozes out, it means the chicken is cooked.

Can You Cook Chicken Drumsticks in a Frying Pan?

Yes, you can cook chicken drumsticks in a frying pan.

The flat bottom and relatively large surface area of a frying pan allow the chicken drumsticks to be heated more evenly. However, due to the limited depth of the frying pan, pay attention to the amount of water to ensure the chicken drumsticks are completely submerged in the water to cook evenly and thoroughly.

When cooking chicken drumsticks in a frying pan, I recommend first adding an appropriate amount of water to the pan, then putting in the chicken drumsticks, together with ginger slices, scallions, and cooking wine to remove the fishy smell. Bring the water to a boil over high heat and then turn to medium-low heat to simmer slowly.

If it's a bone-in chicken drumstick, cook for about 15 - 20 minutes; for a boneless chicken drumstick, cook for 8 - 12 minutes. Adjust the time according to the size and thickness of the chicken drumsticks.

How to Cook Boneless Chicken Drumsticks?

Preparations:

Choose fresh boneless chicken drumsticks, wash them thoroughly, and pat the surface dry with kitchen paper.

Then make a few incisions on the surface of the chicken drumstick meat to help the flavors penetrate.

Get ready the seasonings such as salt, black pepper, light soy sauce, cooking wine, and oyster sauce.

Marinating the Chicken Drumsticks:

Put the boneless chicken drumsticks into a bowl, add 1 tablespoon of salt, 1 tablespoon of black pepper, 2 tablespoons of light soy sauce, 1 tablespoon of cooking wine, 1 tablespoon of oyster sauce, mix well, and marinate for 20 - 30 minutes.

Let the chicken drumsticks fully absorb the flavors of the seasonings.

The Frying Process:

Heat the pan and add cold oil. Place the marinated chicken drumsticks in the frying pan skin side down and fry over medium-low heat.

Don't flip them too soon at the beginning. Fry for 2 - 3 minutes until the chicken skin turns golden and crispy. Then flip them over and fry the other side for 2 - 3 minutes.

If you feel the heat is not enough, you can extend the time appropriately until both sides are an attractive golden color and thoroughly cooked.

You can insert a chopstick into the thickest part of the chicken drumstick. If no blood oozes out, it means it is cooked.

Seasoning and Serving:

After frying, season with some more black pepper or pepper salt according to your personal taste, and then it's ready to serve.

How to Determine if Chicken Drumsticks are Cooked?

You can determine this through the following methods:

Observe the color: When the meat of the chicken drumstick changes from light pink to white or almost all white, it indicates that it is close to being fully cooked.

Chopstick test: Insert a chopstick or fork into the thickest part of the chicken drumstick. If you can easily insert and remove it without any blood oozing out, it means the chicken is cooked.

Listen to the sound: Gently shake the chicken drumstick. If you can't hear the sound of the juice sloshing inside, it may also mean it is cooked.

Thermometer measurement: You can use a kitchen thermometer to measure the temperature at the center of the chicken. For poultry cooked to a safe level, the internal temperature should reach 165°F (about 74°C).