Chicken Wing Internal Temperatures

Chicken wing internal temperatures can let you know if your meat is undercooked, safe to eat, or perfectly juicy and ready to enjoy! Whether they are being grilled, deep fried, baked, or popped into the air fryer, it is crucial to ensure they reach the proper temperature. I'm going to walk you through how to check them for doneness as well as what temperature makes the most delicious wings!

Internal Temperatures Of Chicken Wings

Internal temperatures are an important aspect of cooking any type of meat to ensure your food is cooked properly and is safe to eat. Undercooked chicken can lead to foodborne illnesses, while overcooked wings are dry and unappetizing.

After you've mastered the basics of wing temperatures, you'll be able to prepare them perfectly every single time you make them. It doesn't even matter what cooking method you prefer!

Jump to:

• Internal Temperatures Of Chicken Wings
• Ideal Internal Temperatures For Chicken Wings
• How Chicken Wings Are Different
• How To Measure The Internal Temperature
• Difficulties With Chicken Wing Temperatures
• How To Tell When Chicken Wings Are Done
• 🍗 Best Chicken Wing Recipes
• 📖 Recipe Card
• 💬 Comments & Reviews

If you're getting ready to make some tasty wings, check out my collection of sauces for chicken wings and Wingstop flavors for some flavorful ideas!

Ideal Internal Temperatures For Chicken Wings

There are two temperatures to remember when it comes to preparing chicken wings. These are the safe-to-eat temperature and the temperature range that will yield the best-tasting meat.

Believe it or not, these are two completely different temperatures!

Safe To Eat

According to the USDA, chicken wings are considered safe to eat once the internal temperature reads 165°F (74°C). However, that doesn't mean it is the best temperature for eating.

Chicken wings have a lot of fat underneath the skin, which needs to be cooked longer to render out. If you eat your chicken wings once the temperature is 165°F (74°C), they will be rubbery and unappetizing (even though they are technically done and safe to eat).

Best Results

If you want some super delicious wings, you'll want the internal temperature to fall somewhere between 185-200°F (85-93°C). At this point, the meat is tender, juicy, and will easily pull off of the bone.

Take a look at my guide on chicken internal temperatures to learn more.

How Chicken Wings Are Different

Of course, the general safety guideline for cooking chicken is to reach an internal temperature of 165°F (74°C). This is the perfect temperature for many parts of the chicken since pieces like chicken breasts will begin to dry out if you continue to cook them.

However, as mentioned above, wings definitely benefit from a little extra cook time. This is due to the fact that while wings are white meat (like chicken breasts), they tend to cook much more like dark meat (such as thighs or legs).

Wings, and other dark meat, have a much higher collagen content which takes longer to break down and become tender and juicy. However, wings are particularly unique because they have the highest ratio of skin to meat (and skin contains a lot of collagen).

By cooking your chicken wings to an internal temperature of 185-200°F (85-93°C), the collagen and fat can render into gelatin for crispy skin and tender meat.

How To Measure The Internal Temperature

First off, you'll need a digital instant-read meat thermometer to be able to check the temperature. Once you have one, simply insert the probe into the thickest part of the meat while avoiding touching the bone.

Then you can read the temperature and decide if you need to let them cook longer or if they are ready to be pulled from the heat. Check the temperature of more than one wing just to be sure of your readings.

Difficulties With Chicken Wing Temperatures

The internal temperatures of your chicken wings can certainly be a great way to check for doneness. However, there are some issues that come along with it.

• Given the size of chicken wings, it can be somewhat difficult to insert the thermometer probe properly. Avoid touching the bone to get an accurate reading.
• The wingettes are smaller than the drumettes and will therefore cook at a faster rate.
• You'd most likely have to probe every wing individually, as all wings can vary in size. Certain factors (such as how close or far they are from the heat source) can affect the individual temperatures.

How To Tell When Chicken Wings Are Done

While checking the internal temperatures of your chicken wings can be a great guideline, they can be somewhat difficult to probe due to their size. There are a few other visual cues for you to be able to tell if your wings are cooked properly.

• Fat underneath the skin will begin to bubble.
• The skin will become brown and crispy.
• The meat has begun to pull away from the bones.
• Juices run clear if you poke the meat with a fork.

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Now that you understand chicken wing internal temperatures, you are ready to get cooking! Leave a comment down below and let me know your favorite way to prepare chicken wings!

🍗 Best Chicken Wing Recipes

• Boneless Chicken Wings - Fried boneless wings are perfect for anyone who prefers to enjoy their wings without the bone.
• Baked Chicken Wings - Classic wings are baked in the oven for an effortless and mess-free meal.
• Baked Garlic Parmesan Wings - Crispy wings are tossed in a buttery garlic Parmesan sauce.
• General Tso's Chicken Wings - Chicken wings are fried until crispy and then coated in a sweet and tangy sauce.
• Hunan Chicken Wings - Chili pepper gives these wings just the right amount of heat.
• Chipotle Dry Rubbed Smoked Chicken Wings - Wings are rubbed down with a Chipotle dry rub and then smoked.

📖 Recipe Card