Chicken Shack has been serving up delicious mouthwatering fried chicken for over 60 years. This popular fast food chain, founded in Michigan in 1956 has perfected the art of making juicy, flavorful chicken with a crispy crust. But have you ever wondered exactly how Chicken Shack cooks their chicken so perfectly?
In this article, we’ll uncover the secrets behind Chicken Shack’s cooking process We’ll look at how they source their chicken, the ingredients they use, their cooking techniques, and the equipment that helps them churn out consistent, high-quality chicken day after day Read on to learn how Chicken Shack achieves chicken perfection!
Sourcing Only the Freshest Chicken
The first step to great tasting chicken is starting with quality ingredients. Chicken Shack sources only the freshest, highest quality chicken they can find. They use fresh, never frozen chicken sourced from trusted local suppliers.
Chicken Shack opts for whole chickens rather than pre-cut pieces. This allows their cooks to hand trim and prep the chicken themselves, ensuring the ideal thicknesses for even cooking. The most commonly used cuts are breast, thighs, drumsticks and wings. These cuts achieve the perfect balance of juicy meat and crispy skin when fried.
The Secret Spice Blend
Before the chicken even hits the fryer, Chicken Shack infuses it with flavors using their secret marinade recipe. The exact blend is a closely guarded secret, but it contains spices like garlic, paprika, salt, pepper and other herbs and seasonings.
Some locations even marinate the chicken for 24 hours before cooking to ensure the spices fully penetrate the meat. This marination makes the chicken incredibly juicy and flavorful. The blend of spices gives Chicken Shack chicken its signature taste.
Coating with Seasoned Breading
In addition to marinating, Chicken Shack double dips its chicken in a seasoned breading before frying. The breading is made with a seasoned blend of flour, cornmeal, and spices. Some of the key ingredients in the breading include:
- Flour – provides structure and crunch
- Cornmeal – adds texture
- Spices like garlic powder, paprika, salt, and pepper
The breading helps seal in the moisture and complements the spice marinade. Dredging the marinated chicken in this mixture before frying really locks in the flavors.
The Art of Frying
The key cooking technique that makes Chicken Shack chicken so delectable is frying. Their chicken is fried in a high-quality pressure fryer that allows the chicken to cook perfectly inside and out.
The fryers maintain temperatures between 325-350°F. This high heat helps achieve Chicken Shack’s signature crunch while sealing in juiciness. Chicken pieces fry for 12-15 minutes depending on size. Skilled cooks constantly monitor the fryers to ensure ideal doneness.
The protein-rich peanut oil Chicken Shack uses also contributes to the chicken’s taste and texture. It has a high smoke point and imparts a light nutty flavor.
Resting for Maximum Juiciness
Once fried, Chicken Shack chicken isn’t ready quite yet. It’s removed from the fryer and allowed to rest for 5-10 minutes. This resting period allows the juices to redistribute evenly throughout the meat.
The chicken pieces are also carefully drained after frying to remove excess surface oil while preserving the chicken’s inherent moisture content. This finishing step ensures every piece of Chicken Shack chicken is deliciously juicy.
The Perfect Accompaniments
No Chicken Shack meal is complete without their famous side dishes and sauces. Customer favorites include crispy fries, coleslaw, biscuits, and dipping sauces like honey mustard and barbecue sauce.
These accompaniments perfectly complement the chicken, offering sweet, tangy, and creamy flavors to balance the chicken’s crunch and spice. Chicken Shack pays just as much attention to sides and sauces to deliver a complete flavor experience.
Maintaining Consistency with Specialized Equipment
Cooking delicious chicken consistently at the high volumes Chicken Shack deals with requires the right equipment. Their kitchens boast top-of-the-line pressure fryers, holding cabinets, prep tools, and more.
Some of the key equipment that allows Chicken Shack cooks to expertly prepare chicken includes:
- Commercial pressure fryers – fry dozens of pieces quickly while sealing in moisture
- High-volume breading machines – coat chicken evenly in seconds
- Digital timers – ensure perfect cook times
- Heated holding cabinets – keep fried chicken hot and crisp until served
The right tools allow Chicken Shack locations to churn out the same high-quality results rapidly all day long.
Rigorous Quality Control
From sourcing to seasoning to frying, Chicken Shack employs strict quality control measures. Cooks are trained to meticulously follow recipes and protocols. All equipment is thoroughly cleaned and maintained. Oil quality is constantly monitored.
Chicken Shack also routinely sends chicken samples to labs for quality analysis. This ensures their high standards for texture, flavor, and food safety are met. By closely overseeing all aspects of operations, they deliver chicken that looks, tastes, and feels perfect every time.
The Legendary Chicken Shack Experience
Of course, the Chicken Shack experience is about more than just the fried chicken. From its humble start as a roadside stand in Michigan, Chicken Shack has become a beloved community gathering place.
The warm, welcoming environment and attentive service make you feel right at home. Meals feel like a trip down memory lane thanks to the vintage decor reminiscent of 1950s diners. Kids and adults alike enjoy experiencing the flavors that have made Chicken Shack a Midwest institution.
So next time you sink your teeth into Chicken Shack’s crunchy, juicy fried chicken, remember the care and dedication that went into creating that delightful experience. Their meticulous cooking process makes Chicken Shack chicken a cut above the rest.
Frequently Asked Questions About Chicken Shack’s Cooking Process
What cut of chicken does Chicken Shack use?
Chicken Shack uses fresh, never frozen whole chickens. Their cooks hand trim and prep them into ideal cuts like breast, thighs, drumsticks, and wings. These cuts achieve the perfect balance of juicy meat and crispy skin.
How long does Chicken Shack marinate their chicken?
Most Chicken Shack locations marinate their chicken for 24 hours before cooking. This long marination allows the spices and flavors to fully penetrate the meat for maximum juiciness and taste.
What oil does Chicken Shack use to fry their chicken?
Chicken Shack fries their chicken in peanut oil. It has a high smoke point and light, nutty flavor that enhances the chicken’s taste.
What temperature does Chicken Shack fry their chicken at?
Chicken Shack fries their chicken between 325-350°F. This high heat crisps the outside while sealing in moisture.
How long does Chicken Shack fry their chicken?
Chicken pieces fry for 12-15 minutes depending on size. Skilled cooks constantly monitor fry times for perfect doneness.
Does Chicken Shack bread their chicken before frying?
Yes, Chicken Shack double dips their marinated chicken in a seasoned breading before frying. This seals in moisture and flavor.
Try Making Chicken Shack-Style Chicken at Home
Want to recreate that signature Chicken Shack flavor at home? With the right ingredients and techniques, you can fry up chicken that tastes just like this classic fast food joint.
- Marinate chicken pieces overnight in buttermilk, hot sauce, garlic, paprika, salt and pepper.
- Double dip in flour and spice mixture before frying.
- Fry at 350°F for 12-15 minutes until golden brown.
- Rest chicken for 5 minutes after frying.
- Pair with fries, coleslaw, biscuits, and sauces.
With some practice, you can master the art of Chicken Shack-style fried chicken. Just be prepared for some very happy taste testers! Crispy, juicy, full of spice and flavor – this chicken is truly finger lickin’ good.
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WE BELIEVE FRESH FOOD IS BETTER THAN FAST FOOD.
In 1956, John Sobeck first experienced a totally new process of preparing and cooking chicken. The second he tasted it, he knew he could make something with this new technology. On June 6, 1956, after only 41 days of construction, John and Iola opened their first Chicken Shack in Royal Oak, Michigan. Their customers craved the food so much that the Sobeck’s couldn’t keep up with demand and had to purchase more equipment just to handle their expanding business!
Over sixty years later, and four generations strong, the Sobeck family is still working hard to serve to our fans the best tasting food in America and continue John and Iola’s legacy of bringing people together one plate at a time.