What’s the Correct Order for Breading Chicken?
Q: When dredging chicken cutlets, do you the use flour, buttermilk, and eggs before coating in breadcrumbs?
Sent by Phyllis
Editor: Each element in the breading process has a purpose. When you know what each does, it’s easy to remember what order to use when breading chicken (or whatever protein you’re using). This will also help you out with substitutions when you need them.
Here’s the basic method to remember: wet → dry → wet → dry.
Wet Protein → Dry Flour
No matter how well you dry the chicken, it will still have a rather moist surface. If you dipped it directly in the egg, it would slip right off, leaving nothing for the breadcrumbs or panko to cling to.
Dipping the chicken in the flour forms an even base. You can use a number of other dry options here, like almond flour, coconut flour, and even chickpea flour.
Wet Eggs → Dry Breadcrumbs
So now you’ve got a nice floury coating on the chicken: Time to dip it in eggs. Eggs are sticky, and when they mingle with the flour, they make a gluey paste for the breadcrumbs to stick to. If you’re looking to create a nice, thick coating on the chicken, this is the way to go. If you want to skip the eggs, you can use buttermilk, Greek yogurt, mayo, or even Dijon mustard.