Quick answer: Broast is chicken that is marinated, coated and cooked in a pressure fryer. Regular fried chicken is cooked in an open fryer. Pressure cooking usually gives juicier meat and a thinner crisp coating, while open frying gives the thicker, crunchier crust most people expect from fried chicken.
You’ll often see both on the same menu, and they look almost identical. The difference is in how they’re cooked, and you notice it with the first bite.
What Is Broast?
“Broast” isn’t a recipe. It’s a cooking method. The name blends “broiled” and “roasted”, and it’s a trademark of the Broaster Company, which developed the process. The chicken is marinated, coated, then cooked in a sealed pressure fryer instead of an open one.
How Is Broast Cooked Differently from Fried Chicken?
In an open fryer, chicken sits in hot oil with no lid. In a pressure fryer, the lid is sealed, so steam and moisture stay trapped inside the chicken as it cooks. Most of what you taste comes down to that one change.
Broast vs Fried Chicken: What You’ll Notice
- Juiciness: broast usually stays moist, even in leaner pieces like the breast.
- Coating: broast tends to have a thinner crust that sticks close to the meat. Fried chicken has the thicker, craggier crunch.
- Feel: many people find broast a little lighter. Fried chicken is richer and heavier.
Which One Should You Order?
It depends on what you’re after. If the crunch is the whole point, go for fried chicken. If you care more about tender meat, broast is the better pick.
Ordering for a group? A bucket lets everyone try different pieces. Our post on what makes a great fried chicken bucket for sharing covers how much to get.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is broast chicken?
Broast chicken is chicken that is marinated, coated and cooked in a sealed pressure fryer. The pressure keeps moisture inside the meat, so it’s usually juicy with a fairly thin, crisp coating.
Is broast the same as fried chicken?
No. Both are deep-fried, but broast uses a pressure fryer and regular fried chicken uses an open fryer. That changes the texture: broast is usually juicier, and fried chicken is usually crunchier.
Is broast healthier than fried chicken?
Not necessarily. Both are fried foods. Some people find broast less greasy, but it depends on the oil, the portion and how it’s prepared, so treat both as an occasional meal.
Why is broast juicier than fried chicken?
Cooking under pressure traps steam inside the chicken. The meat cooks quickly and loses less moisture, so even pieces that dry out easily, like the breast, stay tender.
Which is crunchier, broast or fried chicken?
Regular fried chicken is usually crunchier because it has a thicker, rougher coating. Broast has a lighter crisp that clings to the meat instead of forming a heavy crust.