Instructions

1. Preheat your oven to 450 degrees Fahrenheit. Turn it on before you start preparing the hot wings, since most ovens need a good 20 to 30 minutes to get up to this high a temperature. If your oven isn't adequately preheated, you won't get a nice, crisp skin on your chicken wings.

2. Fill a bowl with enough cooking oil or melted unsalted butter to dunk all the wings in. Add salt and pepper to taste. For extra hot wings, include some cayenne or other spicy powder to taste, too. Put in any other desired seasonings, such as garlic or onion powder, minced shallot or ginger, oregano, coriander or five spice. Sprinkle in about 1 tablespoon of all-purpose flour per pound of wings. Stir everything together.

3. Line one or more baking trays as needed with aluminum foil to keep them clean during baking. Grease the foil with a coating of nonstick cooking spray or cooking oil.

4. Dunk all the wings in the seasoned oil or butter, one at a time. Hold them over the bowl to let the excess drip off and place them on the lined baking trays.

5. Bake the chicken wings for about 45 minutes, turning them over once halfway through, until they're crispy and well-browned on the outside and cooked through on the inside. Transfer them into a large serving bowl.

6. If desired, melt a few tablespoons of unsalted butter and pour it while still hot into a bowl of your favorite hot sauce. Stir them together well. Pour a bit over the chicken wings and toss them, then pour in a little more and toss again. Repeat until you've coated all the wings and serve.