My air fryer basket cracked after 8 months, now I brine everything
I used to think soaking chicken in salt water was pointless, just extra steps. Then last Tuesday the nonstick coating on my basket started flaking off and I had to toss a whole batch of wings. I grabbed a cheap glass bowl and did a basic brine with salt and sugar for 40 minutes before air frying at 380. The skin came out way crispier and juicier than anything I got before. Has anyone else switched their prep method after a gear failure like this?
Forty minutes is hardly a fair test, you didn't even give the old method a real chance to compare. A cracked basket is annoying, but it sounds like you just wanted a reason to be fancy with your chicken.