Buffalo Wing Kitchen Tools
Buffalo Wing Kitchen Tools
Buffalo wing kitchen tools, including deep fryers and deep frying equipment, come in a wide range of quality and price. You will often get what you pay for, but not always. The internet is filled with fake reviews and “top 10” product articles that often can’t be trusted. Over the years, I’ve found a handful of sources I have come to trust when researching kitchen tools, and I hope BuffWing earns that same kind of trust over time.
In many busy restaurant kitchens, you’ll find simple but good tools whose designs have changed very little over time because they work. That’s the same philosophy I prefer when looking for kitchen tools: simple tools that work well over flashy designs or unnecessary features.
Below is a list of kitchen tools I have used and believe work well for making Buffalo wings at home.
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Frying
Deep Fryers
Because Buffalo wings are best when fried, choosing the right frying method is one of the more important equipment decisions you will make.
Presto FryDaddy & GranPappy Electric Fryer
Small, simple, old-school home deep fryers that are inexpensive, compact, and surprisingly effective. There is no temperature control, but they naturally settle into a great frying temperature for Buffalo wings. The smaller FryDaddy is less expensive and works well for cooking wings for one or two people, while the slightly larger GranPappy gives you a little more room to work.
Crosson 8 Liter Electric Fryer
I bought this fryer specifically to experiment with for this website and my upcoming cookbook, The Perfect Buffalo Wing. It has worked perfectly for my needs. However, it is marketed more as a professional restaurant-style fryer than a typical home fryer and is priced accordingly. It also requires a large amount of oil, which can become costly and must be stored properly between uses. Because of that, it probably isn’t practical for most home cooks.
Bayou Classic High Pressure Propane Burner
This is the propane burner used for outdoor frying setups like the Bayou Classic turkey fryer and smaller fry pot. It connects to a standard propane tank, but the pot, oil, and other frying accessories are sold separately. Simple propane burners like this are powerful, reliable, and commonly used for outdoor cooking and frying.
Bayou Classic 14 Quart Fry Pot & Basket (Short Pot)
This is not a complete fryer setup, but rather a smaller fry pot and basket designed to work with an outdoor propane burner. I like it because it requires less oil and makes it easier to fry smaller batches without having to reach way down into a large pot. It does allow more oil to splatter out, but because I use it outdoors that has never been much of an issue.
Nexgrill 42 Qt Aluminum Pot with Strainer Basket & Lid (Tall Pot)
A large stock pot designed for frying whole turkeys and cooking larger batches of food outdoors. I use it mostly for cooking large quantities of Buffalo wings, but it also works well for frying turkeys.
Tongs & Wire Scoop
Heat-proof extensions of the arm used to safely get wings in and out of the fryer. One is clampy and one is scoopy.
Splatter Screen
Helps reduce the amount of hot oil that lands on walls, floors, skin, and clothing.
Baking Sheet & Wire Rack
Great for drying wings in the refrigerator and draining them after frying. The wire rack keeps the wings elevated, allowing air to circulate around them while drying and excess oil to drain away after frying.
Oil Funnel & Filter
Makes filtering and transferring used oil back into its bottle much easier. The filter helps remove smaller food particles from used cooking oil and extend the life of your oil.
Prep & Mixing
Knives
Cooking is always more fun and safer when using good, sharp knives.
Cutting Board
A good cutting board gives you a safe, stable work surface for preparing wings and other ingredients while also helping keep your knives sharper longer.
Colander
Great for defrosting frozen wings and draining excess water.
Silicone Spatula (Rubber Scraper)
Silicone spatulas are great for mixing Buffalo wing sauce, scraping bowls and pots clean, and ensuring every last drop of hot sauce or blue cheese dressing doesn’t go to waste.
Large Mixing Bowls
Great for tossing wings and mixing blue cheese dressing. Stainless steel bowls are commonly used in restaurants and large shallow bowls make tossing wings easier and less messy.
Small Pot
For melting butter used in Buffalo wing sauce.
Squeeze Bottles
Great for two things: storing Buffalo wing sauce and squirting Buffalo wing sauce. Squeeze bottles are commonly used in restaurants because they are the perfect tool for the job.
I keep different Buffalo wing sauce mixes (mild, medium, and hot) in these bottles and store them in the fridge ahead of time. Before frying, I place the bottles in warm water so the sauce will be melted and ready to use.
Measuring & Control
Instant Read Thermometer
Great for quickly checking the internal temperature of wings and other foods.
Wired Probe Thermometer
Great for continuously monitoring fry oil temperature.
Hygrometer
Used to measure humidity. The one linked here can be placed inside the refrigerator to monitor humidity and temperature from your phone without needing to open the fridge and let moisture in.
This is especially useful when drying wings in the refrigerator.
Kitchen Timer
An inexpensive dedicated kitchen timer won’t put your phone at risk from grease or heat.
Food Scale
The best and also the only way to measure by weight.
Measuring Cups
Useful for accurately measuring larger ingredient quantities.
Measuring Spoons
Useful for accurately measuring smaller ingredient quantities.
Cleanup & Safety
Apron
Cooking oil and Buffalo sauce have a way of ending up everywhere. Remember that whatever apron you buy will get stained, and that’s ok. I have used the same black apron for years and, though it has stains, they are hard to see.
Hot Pads & Oven Mitts
Useful for handling hot pots, baking sheets, fryer baskets, and anything else coming off high heat.
Cotton Towels
Creating Buffalo wings is hot and messy work. Keep a stack of cotton towels nearby. They are inexpensive, absorbent, and commonly used in restaurant kitchens for everything from wiping down counters to handling hot cookware. Avoid synthetic towels, which can melt under high heat.
Paper Towels
Buffalo wings are messy and people like hands that are not messy. Paper towels help. You should definitely still wash your hands though.
Fire Extinguisher
Better to have it and not need it. Grease fires are dangerous, and water can make burning oil much worse. Make sure your fire extinguisher is rated for grease or kitchen fires.
First Aid Kit
There are many ways to injure yourself in the kitchen, especially when working with hot oil and sharp knives. Have a first aid kit nearby and know how to use it. Also know when it’s time to call emergency services.
Serving Equipment
Serving Platters
Buffalo wings are one of the best foods in the world, and they should look that way. We eat with our eyes first, so take an extra moment before serving to make sure your wings look their best. Place them neatly on a serving dish worthy of their grandeur.
Wooden Bowls
Traditionally used for collecting Buffalo wing bones.
Floss
Chicken wing meat and skin have a way of getting stuck in your teeth, and my dentist insists that floss is the best way to remove it. Also, brush your teeth for 2 minutes and floss every day before going to bed, regardless of Buffalo wing consumption.
