Buffalo Wild Wings is one of the most popular wing chains in America, known for serving a variety of boldly-flavored chicken wings and other bar food items. A key part of their menu is their fried chicken wings, which come in a selection of dry rubs and wet sauces. But what exactly does Buffalo Wild Wings use to fry their famous wings before tossing them in sauce?
The Frying Oil
According to Buffalo Wild Wings, their traditional bone-in wings are fried in a blend of canola and soybean oil. This combination provides a neutral flavor that allows the sauce and seasoning to shine. The oil has a high smoke point so that the wings can fry up crispy and golden brown without burning. The specific oil blend may vary between locations, but it is typically a vegetable oil that can withstand high frying temperatures.
For their boneless wings, Buffalo Wild Wings fries those in peanut oil. The lighter peanut oil allows the batter to fry up extra crispy. So the main factor is choosing oils that can fry the different types of wings correctly at high heat.
Fryers Used
Buffalo Wild Wings locations use large commercial deep fryers to cook up all those wings. Their fryers have baskets and conveyor belts to carefully lower the wings into the hot oil and lift them out when finished. Commercial fryers allow for consistent frying with big batches of wings. The fryers maintain temperatures between 350-375°F to properly cook the wings without drying them out.
Each restaurant has multiple large fryers to handle all the orders during busy times. The wings fry for roughly 6-8 minutes before being shaken in the chosen sauce. Having multiple big fryers ensures the kitchen can keep up with wing demand and serve them fresh and hot.
Frying Process
Here is an overview of how Buffalo Wild Wings fries their traditional bone-in wings:
- Raw chicken wings are seasoned lightly with salt and pepper or another dry rub blend.
- The wings are placed carefully in fryer baskets and lowered into the hot oil.
- The wings fry for 5-6 minutes until golden brown and cooked through.
- The fryer baskets are lifted back up and shaken to flip the wings.
- The wings fry for another 2-3 minutes to crisp up the other side.
- Once done, the cooked wings are removed from the oil and allowed to drain.
- The hot wings are tossed in a sauce or dry seasoning blend.
- The sauced wings are served hot along with sides like fries and celery.
For boneless wings, the process is slightly different since they are coated in a wet batter before frying:
- Bite-sized pieces of boneless chicken are coated in a wet batter.
- The battered chicken goes into the peanut oil fryer for around 3-4 minutes.
- The boneless wings are flipped halfway through frying until golden brown.
- Once cooked, they are removed from the oil and sauced or seasoned.
- The finished boneless wings are served hot and delicious.
Quality of Oil
Buffalo Wild Wings takes measures to ensure their frying oil is fresh and high quality for great wings every time. The oil used for frying is replaced frequently to prevent any burnt flavours or residue from building up over time. Employees filter and clean the fryers daily as well.
For food safety, Buffalo Wild Wings follows careful protocols regarding changing the frying oil. In general, they aim to change the oil every 1-2 days depending on usage. More oil is added between changes as needed to maintain levels. But frequent oil replacement provides the cleanest, best-tasting wings for customers.
Why Frying Makes Wings So Tasty
Deep frying is essential to getting the perfect texture for Buffalo Wild Wings’ wings. Frying allows the wings to get crispy and browned on the outside while keeping the inside juicy. The hot oil cooks the proteins quickly to lock in moisture. Here are some key benefits of frying chicken wings:
- Browning reaction creates complex, robust flavors
- Skin and coating get ultra crispy and crunchy
- Seals in juices so meat stays moist and tender
- Hot oil cooks wings evenly and quickly
- Adds richness from the small amount of oil absorbed
Frying also creates a perfect surface to cling to all the sauces and dry rubs offered at Buffalo Wild Wings. The wings would not have the same crunch or flavor if they were baked or grilled instead. So frying plays a key role in achieving their signature taste and texture.
Nutrition of Fried Wings
While fried chicken wings are delicious, they are higher in fat and calories than other cooking methods due to the oil. Here is the nutrition breakdown for 6 traditional fried wings from Buffalo Wild Wings:
| Nutrition Facts | Per Serving |
|---|---|
| Calories | 520 |
| Protein | 27g |
| Carbohydrates | 2g |
| Total Fat | 40g |
| Saturated Fat | 7g |
| Sodium | 960mg |
As you can see, a serving of 6 wings delivers over 500 calories and 40g total fat. The sodium content is also quite high. So while fried wings make for an indulgent treat, it’s best consumed in moderation as part of an overall balanced diet.
Frying Methods at Other Wing Chains
Deep frying is also the go-to cooking method for other popular wing chains like Hooters and Wingstop. Here is a brief overview of how some other major brands fry up their wings:
Hooters
Hooters fries their bone-in and boneless wings in a peanut oil blend. Their fryers run around 350-375°F to achieve crispy, fully cooked wings ready for saucing. Hooters aims to change their frying oil daily.
Wingstop
Wingstop deep fries their wings in 100% refined peanut oil. They tout this as a cleaner, higher quality oil than vegetable/soybean blends. Wingstop wings fry for roughly 7-8 minutes at higher heat around 400°F.
Pluckers
This Texas-based wing joint hand breads their wings before frying in non-hydrogenated peanut oil. Their wings fry for 5-7 minutes at around 335°F for optimal crispness. They also filter and change their fryer oil daily.
While the oil type and exact temperatures vary slightly, all major wing chains rely on high heat deep frying to achieve the ideal texture. Frying ensures the wings get crispy outside and juicy inside, absorbing just a touch of oil flavor.
How to Get Similar Wings at Home
Recreating crispy deep fried wings at home is totally possible with the right equipment and technique. Here are some tips for getting restaurant-quality wings:
- Use a heavy Dutch oven or deep fryer for safety and even heating.
- Fill pot with 2-3 inches of high smoke point oil like peanut or canola.
- Heat oil to 350-375°F and fry wings in batches to maintain temperature.
- Fry for 5-8 minutes depending on size until golden and cooked through.
- Let drain on a wire rack or paper towels before saucing as desired.
Be very careful with hot oil at home and always watch closely to prevent burning. Frying adds great flavor and crunch, but baking wings in the oven is also an option for a slightly healthier alternative.
Signature Sauces and Rubs for Wings
A key part of Buffalo Wild Wings’ menu is the array of signature sauces and dry rubs that can be tossed with wings. Their collection of flavors includes classics like Hot Buffalo, Mild, and Lemon Pepper along with creative new flavors like Thai Curry, Garlic Parmesan, and Caribbean Jerk. The sauces strike a perfect balance between savory, sweet, spicy, and tangy.
After frying, wings are shaken up in a bowl with the chosen sauce or dry rub. This evenly and lightly coats each wing, allowing the signature flavors to stick to the hot, crispy surface. The sauces and seasonings are what really make Buffalo Wild Wings’ fried wings stand out from other brands and recipes.
Some of their most popular wing sauces include:
- Hot Buffalo – Classic tangy, buttery cayenne pepper hot sauce.
- Mango Habanero – Sweet and spicy blend with tropical fruit.
- Garlic Parmesan – Garlicky flavor with cheese and herbs.
- Honey BBQ – Sweet, tangy and smoky BBQ flavor.
- Lemon Pepper – Zesty, citrus pepper seasoning.
For customers that prefer dry spices, seasoning blends like Cajun, Salt & Vinegar, and Caribbean Jerk are excellent options. The variety of flavors makes it easy to customize your order based on heat preference and taste.
Most Popular Wing Sauces at Buffalo Wild Wings
With so many wing sauces to choose from at Buffalo Wild Wings, some flavors rise to the top as customer favorites. Here are some of the most ordered wing sauces from the menu:
| Sauce | Heat Level | Flavor Profile |
|---|---|---|
| Hot Buffalo | Hot | Buttery, vinegary cayenne pepper sauce |
| Mild | Mild | Mildly spicy tomato-based sauce |
| Medium | Medium | Moderate heat buffalo-style sauce |
| Mango Habanero | Hot | Sweet and spicy mango with habanero peppers |
| Garlic Parmesan | Mild | Creamy, garlicky sauce with Parmesan cheese |
| Asian Zing | Mild/Medium | Sweet chili garlic sauce with ginger and sesame |
As shown, the classic Buffalo-style hot sauces are most popular for their nostalgic flavors with varying levels of heat. Diners also love the sweet and savory blends like Mango Habanero or Garlic Parmesan. Knowing which sauces customers prefer most helps Buffalo Wild Wings focus on core flavors and satisfy wing lovers.
Side Dishes and Menu Offerings
In addition to fried wings, Buffalo Wild Wings serves a variety of side dishes, sandwiches, burgers and appetizers. Some of their most popular menu items include:
- Boneless Wings – Hand-breaded chicken tenderloins fried and sauced.
- Chicken Tenders – Fried chicken tenderloins served with fries.
- Cheese Curds – Crispy fried cheese curds with ranch dressing.
- Chips and Queso – Hot queso cheese dip with tortilla chips.
- Onion Rings – Thick-cut onion rings fried crispy.
- Potato Wedges – Crispy fried seasoned potato wedges.
For sandwiches, the chain offers juicy burgers, chicken sandwiches, and wraps. There is also a variety of salads topped with grilled or crispy chicken. So there are lighter options available for those looking for an alternative to wings.
To complement the wings, sides like fries, coleslaw, and celery sticks are served. The full menu provides plenty of appetizing choices for meals, snacks, or sharing at the table.
Kids Menu Options
For children and smaller appetites, Buffalo Wild Wings offers a selection of kid-friendly meals. The kids menu includes:
- 4 Piece Fried Chicken Tenders with fries
- Cheeseburger Sliders with fries
- Grilled Chicken Sandwich with apple slices
- Mac & Cheese
- Mini Corn Dogs
Kids can also opt for smaller snack-sized portions of the boneless wings, chicken tenders, or cheese curds. The kids meals all come with options for sides like applesauce, Go-gurt, or a cookie for dessert. There are drinks like juice, soda, and milk to pair with the kid-size entrees too.
Gluten-Free and Dietary Restricted Options
For customers with food allergies or dietary needs, Buffalo Wild Wings aims to provide some safe menu options. All their fried foods are prepared in shared fryers, so nothing is completely free of cross-contamination. But they do offer the following modifications:
- Gluten-Sensitive Chicken Wings – Traditional wings fried in oil with lower gluten content.
- Cauliflower Wings – Fried cauliflower florets tossed in wing sauce. Meatless option.
- Lettuce Wraps – Any sandwich served wrapped in lettuce instead of a bun.
Those avoiding dairy can request wings without buttermilk ranch dressing or creamy sauces. Care is still required for gluten and allergen cross-contamination, but modifications help expand options.
Conclusion
The signature fried wings from Buffalo Wild Wings start with fresh chicken wings carefully fried in vegetable oil blends. The wings fry in high-heat commercial fryers to achieve the ideal crispy outside while retaining a juicy interior. After draining excess oil, the wings are tossed in beloved Buffalo-style sauces or dry rubs to add bold flavor.
Deep frying is vital to the taste and texture that makes Buffalo Wild Wings a go-to destination for wings. Their array of sauces and cooking methods have earned them a passionate fan base craving crispy fried chicken. While indulgent, the wings can be enjoyed in moderation as part of an balanced diet and active lifestyle. So next time you enjoy some boneless or traditional fried wings covered in your favorite sauce, you’ll know the secret behind how Buffalo Wild Wings makes them taste so good.