How to Cook Cornish Hens in Air Fryer?

Cornish hens are a complete meal. They are all full of protein. So when you air Cornish fry hens, their nutritional values add up.

You can call it a gourmet meal that requires only a few ingredients and cooks in just 45 minutes. It

Cornish hens are cooked fresh or frozen using herbs and spices for flavor. They can be any dinner or holiday dish. It is crispy from the outside and juicy tender from the inside.

It doesn’t need any oil to air fry it at all. Just a spray is enough to cook the entire chicken.

What is a Cornish Hen?

Cornish hen is a particular breed of chicken; they are also referred to as game hens. Its taste and flavor are almost similar to chicken. The weight is more than two pounds each.

Preparing Cornish hens is the same as preparing chickens; you have many flavors to choose from.

You can serve each hen to two persons; that means it is a lot easier to portion it than a whole chicken. Just slice in half.

What is an Air Fryer?

An air fryer is an electronic appliance most suitable for your kitchen counter, as it is stylish and elegant.

An air fryer is more like a conventional oven; you can toast, bake and grill in it. Therefore, it is best for everyday use.

Cooking in an air fryer tastes the same as a deep-fried dish. The difference is that it will be less messy as compared to deep frying. Also, you don’t need any oil to air fry the food.

One of the most attractive features of an air fryer is that it doesn’t need defrosting. Instead, just put the frozen food inside it and get it cooked within minutes.

How does an Air Fryer work?

An air fryer is a user-friendly appliance. It is effortless to cook food in it. Just put the frozen food in an air fryer basket. Set the timer and temperature according to the recipe and let the food cook. If needed, flip the food halfway.

Usually, an air fryer doesn’t need to be preheated. However, all brands are different.

What is the Time and Temperature to Air Fry Cornish Hens?

Air frying Cornish hen is easy. It needs 45 minutes to cook; the exterior gets a deep golden brown color while the interior is juicy.

Cook the Cornish hen for 25 minutes for one side at 350 degrees. Once done, flip the side and cook for additional 10-15 minutes at the same temperature.

Cook until it reaches an internal temperature of 165 degrees; use a meat thermometer if you can.

Can we Cook Frozen Cornish hen in an Air Ffryer?

Yes, at 350 degrees for 20 minutes, we can cook frozen Cornish hen without defrosting it. Open-air fryer season the hen and then flip to the other side to season that side as well.

Cook the other side for additional 20 minutes at the same temperature.

What is the Best Seasoning for Cornish Hens?

You can use rotisserie chicken seasoning or seasoning. Remember, these seasonings already have salt, so you don’t need to add any extra salt.

You can also go with your seasonings. Make it at home, or season with pepper, salt, and garlic powder.

For two Cornish hens, one to two tablespoons of seasoning is enough.

Add extra salt or pepper if needed before serving.

Recipe

• Preparation time-5 minutes
• Cooking time-45 minutes
• Total time-50 minutes
• Serves-4 persons
• Calories-430kcal

Equipment  needed:

Air fryer

Ingredients:

• Cornish hens (2)
• Olive oil (1-2 tablespoons)
• Poultry or chicken seasoning (1-2 tablespoons)
• Salt (to taste)
• Pepper (to taste)

Method:

1. Preheat the air fryer:

Use oil to grease the rack or air fryer basket—Preheat the air fryer to 375 degrees. Use paper towels to pat the Cornish hen until it dry.

2. Put the Cornish hen in an air fryer:

Now use olive oil to rub the Cornish hens and then sprinkle seasoning. Carefully put it on the cooking rack. Remember, the breast side should be downwards.

3. Cook it:

Now let it cook for 30 minutes. After that, flip and let the other side cook for 10-15 minutes, or the internal temperature is 165 degrees.

4. Use Seasoning:

Once the skin is crispy brown, allow the Cornish hen to cool down for ten minutes before cutting it. Then, season it using salt and pepper as per your taste.

Notes :

It is essential to check the temperature of the hen. Use an instant thermometer for it.

First, put it in the thickest part of the Cornish hen, which is the thigh area. Suppose you don’t have the thermometer, then check the doneness by pulling the leg of the hen or cut a small slit in it is adequately cooked that the meat should not be pink.

Cooking Tips to Air fry Cornish hens:

1. Never overcrowd the air fryer basket. Instead, spread the food to cook it evenly.
2. The use of a thermometer is vital for cooking poultry. It helps to ensure that the poultry is cooked thoroughly.
3. Rotate the basket or rack halfway for better browning.
4. If necessary, preheat the air fryer. Some air fryers need to be preheated while others don’t. Read the manual.
5. Coat the air fryer racks or basket with oil. The reason is that it will ensure that your hen does not stick.

What can we do with Leftover Cornish Hens?

If you have any leftovers, just like the chicken, store them in the refrigerator for three days. You can also reheat it in the air fryer at 400 degrees for 1 to 2 minutes.

When you freeze it, make sure that you use an air-tight container. Don’t freeze it for more than three months.

Bottom line:

Cornish hens are the best options to be served at a dinner party. Not only does the dish itself look good but also the taste is exquisite!

It is crispy from the outside and juicy from the inside; this is why it’s best for family gatherings or a weekday meal.