Buffalo wings are a specialty at the Candlelight Inn Restaurant. Owner John Traci serves up plenty at game time. "Football and finger food, it's as simple as that. I mean I think Super Bowl day, just the day alone, we went over 8,000 pounds."
But if you don't have a favorite wing joint for game time, how good are frozen Buffalo wings? Consumer Reports just tested seven.
There were ones from Tyson, T.G.I. Friday's, and even some from the drugstore Walgreens. Testers sampled more than 800 to find the best.
"You want moist, tender chicken with a crispy coating, and you want spiciness but not so much that it overpowers the wings," said Adam Kaplan with Consumer Reports.
Consumer Reports says some came up a little short. "They didn't have that kind of crispy fried impression you get in a restaurant-quality wing."
Some didn't taste that great, either. The Weaver Buffalo Wings had a fake butter flavor. The great value Buffalo wings from Wal-Mart had chewy chicken and rubbery skin.
But there was a clear winner, Bell and Evans Buffalo Style Chicken Wings. "The Bell & Evans had a nice browned impression. They tasted roasted, and they had good heat and some cumin flavors that really came through."
They go for about $7 for a 16-ounce box. So if you don't have a favorite restaurant, Consumer Reports says give them a try.
For Buffalo wings that cost a little less, Consumer Reports has a surprising suggestion. They recommend the Walgreens Café W Wings. They were not quite as tasty as the Bell and Evans Chicken Wings, but testers said they were very good overall. A 10-ounce bag costs about $3.
