Spraying Skin

Austin_Jones_33108

Can anyone explain to me the purpose of spraying skin with water, as it's referenced in the wall of fire post? It seems counter-intuitive to me, since I've always considered crispness to coincide with dehydration. Thanks!

Ben_Johnson_34605

The reason for spraying the skin is the same reason for basting say a turkey. If you simply take skin from raw and cook it in a dry environment, it drys out and turns into a chewy, bitter unpleasant think to eat. The basting and spraying the skin allows it to cook in a "wet" environment so it breaks down and becomes tender and delicious. You do however have to stop the basting at some point before you are finished if you want it to dry out and become crispy. This is the same concept that is applied in our chicken skin recipe. If we just grilled chicken skin it would be chewy and weird. By pressure cooking it first, it breaks down into delicious unctuous chickeny bight.