Problembeginnerdraft

Poultry skin won't crisp

Also searched as: flabby chicken skin, rubbery skin, soggy skin

In short: The skin is too moist or sits in steam, so its fat cannot render.

Picture it

Like washing hung in the bathroom after a shower: nothing dries in damp air.

What happened in your kitchen?

Question 1

Was the skin completely dry before cooking?

Skin wet
As long as there is water on the skin, it stays at 100 °C and does not brown.
Next time: Pat dry · Dry uncovered in the fridge overnight
Cooked in its own steam
A tight dish or lots of vegetables around it give off steam that keeps the skin soft.
Next time: Cook on a rack or with space around it · No lid
Too little heat at the end
The fat layer under the skin must render, or the skin stays chewy.
Next time: Finish for 10 minutes on high heat or under the grill

Sources · 1