A cereal coating provides a notably crunchy exterior. Compared to breadcrumbs, cornflakes, in particular, create crunchier fried chicken due to their larger crushed particles.

A combination of rice flour and cornstarch can yield a light and crisp tempura-like coating -- with the crunchy texture holding up even if you add sauce to your chicken after frying.

When developing my Harissa-Honey Popcorn Chicken, my goal was not only to achieve that elusive crispy-gone-just-barely-soggy bite, but also to fry up a snack that could withstand a couple hours of ...