|
Home / Food and Drink
The Best Way To Cook Chicken
By:Kelvin Ho
Boneless, skinless chicken breasts are probably the most popular cut of meat sold in America today. They are quick, easy, low fat, and universally popular. But when not cooked properly, they can be dry, tough, and stringy. What are the best ways of cooking them so you end up with moist, tender, flavorful meat?
Two Ways To Cook Chicken
First of all, there are two basic methods for cooking: dry heat and moist heat. Dry heat methods include baking, roasting, grilling, sauteing, and deep frying. Moist heat methods include microwaving, poaching, baking in parchment, steaming, and slow cooking.
How Long To Cook Chicken
Here are some general rules to help you. When cooking chicken breasts with dry heat, use high heat and cook for a short period of time. When using moist heat, use low heat and cook for a longer period of time. Now longer does not mean hours. Grilled chicken breasts cook in 8-10 minutes, while poached breasts cook in about 15 minutes. Here is another tip: when cooking with dry heat, pound the chicken breasts to an even thickness so they will cook evenly.
Chicken breasts have little connective tissue; that means they can be cooked quickly because the long cooking time needed to soften connective tissue is not necessary. They also have little fat, which means they can become dry if cooked too long.
Brining A Chicken
One way to ensure juicy, moist chicken is to brine it before cooking. To brine chicken, place thawed chicken breasts in a solution of salt and water for about 1 hour in the refrigerator. The cells will absorb water through osmosis. If your chicken has been pre-brined, I do not recommend brining again.
Cooking Chicken Breast
Many experts recommend that chicken breast meat must be cooked to an internal temperature of 170 degrees F, but others say 160 degrees F is fine. You will have a juicier chicken if you cook to 160 degrees F. Chicken must reach a temperature of 160 degrees F for 5.2 seconds to kill pathogens.
Recommended Temperature When Cooking Chicken
Currently, the USDA is recommending that, because of bird flu fears, chicken should be cooked to a temperature of 165 degrees F. Remember that the meat will continue to cook after it's removed from the heat; the internal temperature will rise about 5-10 degrees in the first few minutes it's off the heat.
The final temperature you choose should be based on the health and risk factors of those who will be eating the meat. If you have young children, elderly persons, or those with a compromised immune system in your household, choose the higher temperature. Healthy people above the age of 5 have built up a tolerance to low levels of bacteria and would not get sick when served chicken cooked to the lower temperatures.
Here is another tip for you. When cooling the meat, be sure to do it very quickly, preferably in a container placed in an ice water bath. Also do keep the cooked chicken in the refrigerator no longer than 3-4 days to ensure the quality of your food.
Conclusion
With these tips of cooking chicken, you should be able to dish out delicious chicken dishes from now on.
Digg
del.icio.us
Blink
Stumble
Spurl
Reddit
Netscape
Furl
Article keywords: how to cook chicken, chicken cooking tips, best way to cook chicken, cooking chicken breast
Article Source: http://www.articles2k.com
By the way, you can whip up restaurant recipes in your own kitchen from http://www.pickupcooking. Anyone can learn how to cook, even if you have not cooked before. For more cooking ideas, go to http://www.pickupcooking/cooking/.
|
|
| Top Food and Drink Articles |
- 1). Convection vs. Conventional Ovens... What's The Difference? By : Debbie Dragon
If you are in the market for a new oven and you’ve already begun shopping for one, you’ve probably noticed that there are a few different types. Two of the most popular oven types are conventional and convection, and many newer ovens have the option of cooking food in either fashion depending on the set mode. The difference in these two types of ovens is the way in which the heat in the oven is dispersed during the cooking process.
|
- 2). Fish Oil - It’s Health Benefits & Risks By : John H. Rogers
As the name implies, fish oil is oil that is removed from the tissues of oily fish and is often recommended as part of a healthy diet program. Many nutritionists recommend that individuals each fish at least once a week, but emphasis must be placed on the importance of avoiding fish that contain certain harmful contaminants. In avoiding predatory fish, such as sharks and others, individuals will prevent the consumption of unhealthy substances which can accumulate due to the fish’s predatory lifestyle.
|
|
|
- 4). Let's NOT Talk Turkey By : Kristin Johnson
The carving. The leftovers. The endless stuffing. Actually, you love the stuffing, cranberries and turkey trimmings. However, it's been se
|
|
|
- 6). Honey – Important Health Facts! By : Anita Morris
Honey is the most known apicultural product, it is a substance that the bees produce through a complicated process of elaboration, where they absorb the nectar and deposit it in their stomach, then go back to the beehive to deliver it, throwing up repeated times; this way ferments, acid and albumen are added to the nectar. It contains most of the essential mineral elements that our system needs.
|
- 7). Homemade Ice Cream - Easier Than You think! By : Scott Byers
If you are looking for some great fun and a delicious treat any time of year, you will want to know about making homemade ice cream. This is a fun thing to do alone or with someone else. No matter what you are doing or what the temperature is outside, you will want to have some homemade ice cream for a great snack or treat. You will love making it along with eating it as well.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| New Food and Drink Articles |
- 1). Do Aphrodisiac Foods Exist By : Kadence Buchanan
Many of us have heard that sea-food excite the human senses or that walnuts and honey are the best aphrodisiac. But do certain types of food affect the human erotic impulse?
|
|
|
|
|
- 4). How To Eat Good Quality Food While Traveling By : Gregg Hall
When you are traveling whether on the road or airport hopping finding good food to eat at a reasonable price is an important consideration. When you are traveling eating out at fancy restaurants can take you over your budget in a hurry.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
- 9). Cooking Tips For Outdoor Chefs By : Bob Alexander
Tips on how to light charcoal for barbeque cookouts and live to tell about it! Safety tips for the novice and experienced griller both. Delicious cooking ideas for smoking meats.
|
- 10). Fish Oil - It’s Health Benefits & Risks By : John H. Rogers
As the name implies, fish oil is oil that is removed from the tissues of oily fish and is often recommended as part of a healthy diet program. Many nutritionists recommend that individuals each fish at least once a week, but emphasis must be placed on the importance of avoiding fish that contain certain harmful contaminants. In avoiding predatory fish, such as sharks and others, individuals will prevent the consumption of unhealthy substances which can accumulate due to the fish’s predatory lifestyle.
|
|
|
