Popeyes is a popular fast food chain known for its fried chicken and signature sides like Cajun fries and biscuits. One of their most popular menu items is the Popeyes chicken tenders, which come fried to a crispy golden brown. But are Popeyes chicken tenders actually crispy, or are they just average fast food tenders?
What Makes Fried Chicken Crispy?
For fried chicken to come out crispy, there are a few key factors:
Breading
The breading or batter coating on fried chicken plays a big role in crispiness. A light, thin, and crunchy breading that perfectly adheres to the chicken will lead to an extra crispy coating. Popeyes states they use a custom seasoned flour blend to bread their tenders.
Fry Oil
The oil used for frying also impacts crispiness. The right oil with a high smoke point that maintains its integrity at frying temperatures is ideal. Popeyes fries their tenders in a blend of canola and palm oil.
Frying Temperature
The oil needs to be at the right high heat, generally between 350-375°F, to instantly seal the breading and extract moisture from the chicken. This leads to a crispy outer layer.
Moisture Content
To get a crispy exterior, having boneless, skinless chicken with lower moisture content can help achieve crunch. Marinating or brining chicken first can also assist.
Cooking Time
The chicken needs to fry for the right amount of time to cook through fully while also crisping up the outside. Fried for too short or too long can lead to soft spots.
How Popeyes Fries Their Tenders
Now let’s take a look behind the scenes at how Popeyes actually fries up their fan favorite chicken tenders:
Use of Smaller Tenderloin Pieces
Popeyes states they cut their chicken tenderloin filets into smaller 2 oz pieces before breading. The smaller size allows them to fry up crunchy.
Marinating
Before breading, the tenderloin pieces marinate in a blend of Louisiana seasonings, herbs, and spices. This infuses flavor and starts the tenderizing process.
Light Breader
The marinated chicken then gets tossed in a seasoned flour blend batter that adheres well to the meat without getting too thick and bready.
Precise Cooking Oil
Popeyes fries the tenders in a proprietary oil blend that has been tested specifically for ideal frying performance.
High Heat
The frying oil is brought up to the proper high heat of 350-375°F to instantly seal in the crispy breading and cook the chicken through.
Cooking Time
Depending on size, the tender pieces fry for 5-7 minutes to achieve an ideal golden brown exterior and juicy interior.
How Customers Review Popeyes Tenders
To evaluate the crispiness of Popeyes chicken tenders, we can turn to reviews from customers who have ordered them:
Positive Reviews
Many satisfied customers rave about the crispy breading on Popeyes tenders. Here are some example positive reviews:
“The chicken tenders from Popeyes are so crispy! The batter is so crunchy and flaky.”
“Popeyes never disappoints when it comes to getting a perfect crispy crunch on their fried chicken. Their tenders are always consistently cooked to crunchy perfection.”
“I don’t know how they do it, but Popeyes tenders have the crispiest most satisfying outer shell while still being juicy.”
Negative Reviews
However, some customer reviews complain about Popeyes tenders not being crispy enough in certain instances:
“The last time I got Popeyes tenders they were not crispy at all. The batter had gone soggy and soft.”
“I wish Popeyes tenders were crisper. They are usually only moderately crunchy but never as crispy as other fried chicken places.”
“My order of Popeyes tenders was such a letdown. The breading had zero crunch.”
Crispiness Compared to Other Fried Chicken
How does the crispiness of Popeyes chicken tenders stack up against tenders and fried chicken from other popular fast food chains? Here is a comparison:
| Restaurant | Crispiness Level |
|---|---|
| Popeyes | High |
| Chick-fil-A | Moderate |
| KFC | Moderate |
| McDonald’s | Low |
| Wendy’s | Low |
Based on customer reviews and food testing, Popeyes comes out on top for crispiness. Their tenders are clearly quite crunchy compared to fried chicken from other chains.
Factors That Impact Crispiness
While Popeyes generally executes crispy tenders, there are some factors that can cause variability:
Employee Training
If employees aren’t properly trained or don’t closely follow frying protocols, tenders may come out underdone and limp.
Equipment Calibration
If fryers aren’t calibrated and temperature isn’t consistent, oil may not be hot enough to properly crisp the breading.
Oil Quality
As frying oil degrades with use, it can lead to lower frying temperatures and less crispy results.
Inventory Time
If tenders sit under heat lamps for too long before orders, it can soften the crispy coating.
Tips for Getting Crispy Tenders from Popeyes
If you want to maximize the chances of getting deliciously crispy Popeyes chicken tenders, here are some helpful tips:
Order Them Fresh
Request tenders that were just freshly fried so they haven’t had time to soften under heat lamps.
Avoid Soggy Sauces
Hold off on drizzling sauces like sweet chili or honey mustard until right before eating so the breading stays ultra crispy.
Eat Quickly
After getting your order, start eating the hot tenders right away so they maintain their straight from the fryer crunch.
Check Breadcrumb Color
Inspect tenders when ordering to ensure the breading looks golden brown rather than pale or orange, signaling properly crisped chicken.
Add Extra Crispy Request
Ask for your tenders to be cooked “extra crispy” to encourage the cook to fry them a little longer for maximum crunch factor.
Conclusion
Based on Popeyes custom preparations like marinating, battering, and frying methods, their chicken tenders are designed for a shatteringly crispy exterior. When executed properly, Popeyes tenders achieve an impressively crunchy breading that is hard to match among other fast food chains. However, crispiness can vary depending on factors like fryer temperatures and employee diligence. Your best bet is ordering fresh tenders and consuming them quickly while the crispy cracker-like coating is hot and intact. With the right precautions, Popeyes fans can enjoy fried chicken tenders with a supremely satisfying, extra crispy crunch.