Wondering which are the best methods to make chicken softer? Well, this article is for you.
Perhaps you’ve made a chicken dish and then realized how “hard” it was to pick it up by hand. I’m you know that while it tastes great — there’s something in the texture that is seriously lacking. This can make your meal just a little bit less than scrumptious.
Chicken is a very common food in our diet and it is also the most affordable protein source. One thing I like most about it is that it is its versatility. You can make many different dishes with it, including stir-fries, casseroles, soup, and even breaded chicken nuggets.
While it has a lot of benefits, if you are not careful, it can become dry and hard. Therefore, that’s why I have compiled tested and proven simple tricks you can use to make chicken softer next time so that you can enjoy your meal more easily.
1. Cook at an adequate temperature
One of the effective tricks to make chicken softer is to cook it at an adequate temperature. Cook your chicken at about 300 degrees Fahrenheit. This will ensure that the inside of your chicken is cooked thoroughly but not burned or dried out.
You can check the internal temperature of your chicken by inserting an instant-read thermometer into the thickest part of the breast and thigh. The internal temperature should be 165 degrees Fahrenheit or higher when done cooking.
SEE: How to Use a Food Thermometer to Avoid Undone Meal
2. Cut chicken into smaller pieces before cooking
Your best bet is to cut up small pieces of poultry that are similar in size so they cook more quickly and evenly. We recommend cutting each portion in half before cooking so that each piece cooks at a similar rate, which will result in more tender meat overall.
Besides making your chicken softer, cutting up your chicken before cooking can help reduce sagging and help keep it from sticking together while it cooks.
SEE: Things To Never Do With Your Kitchen Knife
3. Marinate your chicken
There are many marinades that you can use for this purpose. You should pick the one that suits your taste and preferences. For example, if you like sweet and sour flavors, then you should try using the sweet and sour sauce as a marinade.
However, if you prefer salty tastes, then you should use soy sauce or vinegar instead. The marinade will help retain moisture in the meat while cooking it at an adequate temperature. This way, your chicken will be soft and tender after cooking it thoroughly.
SEE: Yummy Foods to Make With Rotisserie Chicken Leftovers
4. Pound your chicken before cooking
The more you pound, the more tender your chicken will be. Place the chicken on a flat surface, such as a cutting board or table, with one end resting on the edge of the surface and the other end hanging over.
Using a meat mallet or rolling pin, lightly pound each side of your chicken until it is about 1/4-inch thick and as flat as possible. That way, you can be sure your chicken will cook evenly.
SEE: How To Use A Meat Grinder
5. Cook your chicken longer
When you cook chicken in a skillet, you’re going to want to cook it for at least 20 minutes per pound of meat. If you’re making boneless, skinless breasts, aim for 25 minutes per pound — this will ensure that they cook through without drying out too much (or burning).
If you have bone-in breasts, plan on 45 minutes per pound. This will ensure that your chicken is cooked through without drying out too much (or burning). The longer you cook your chicken, the softer it will be.
SEE: What Temp Is Low, Medium, and High Heat Settings on a Stove?
6. Debone the pieces of meat
When you’re buying pre-cut chicken parts, you’re probably buying them already deboned. This can make them easier to prepare, but sometimes it’s still difficult to find the bones without cutting into them. If this happens, simply remove all of the bones from your dish and discard them (or save them for another use).
This is actually one of the easiest ways to make your chicken more tender. Simply remove the bones from the meat before cooking it. This will also give the meat a better texture if you’re planning on eating it as part of a dish like fried rice or chow mein.
7. Choose the right pan and cooking method
The type of pan and cooking method you use will determine whether your chicken soothes or burns. Chicken can be cooked in several different ways, but if you’re looking for a quick fix, try frying or grilling it.
For example, if you’re making fried chicken, choose a pan with lots of surface area for browning and keep an eye on it so that it doesn’t burn.
Chicken is best cooked slowly at a low temperature over a long period of time — like in a slow cooker or oven at 300 degrees Fahrenheit or lower. This allows the meat to absorb all of its juices while being tenderized by heat and moisture.
If you want to grill your chicken, make sure that there’s plenty of room around the coals so that they won’t flare up too much when they catch fire.
SEE: Best Grill Temperatures to Make the Best Steaks
FAQs
Is it safe to use alcohol to cook chicken?
People use many types of spirits to cook chicken in order to its mild flavor and that’s okay. After cooking, you can grill, bake, or braise your chicken. You can choose to use beer, white or red wine, or liquor.
How long should you cook chicken legs in an air fryer?
Using an air fry at a temperature of 380 degrees (F), you cook chicken legs for 18-20 minutes.
How can you thaw chicken fast?
You can thaw chicken faster by putting it in a leak-proof package or plastic bag and submerging it in cold tap water
How long does it take to cook chicken whole?
Depending on how softer you want it, cooking a whole chicken (1.5kg for example) at a high temperature can take about 1 hr 20 mins.
Conclusion
Chicken is a very common meat in our kitchen, and it’s also one of the most affordable. But if you’re cooking it for the first time, it can be hard to know what to do with it. If you’re looking for a new way to make your chicken more tender, try any of the simple tricks above.
However, whether it’s to make it more palatable or to make it easier to apply seasoning and/or marinade, the best method for you will depend on your particular needs—and hopefully, the information above has helped you determine which option is right for you.
Finally, you should also check out these ways to know when your meat is done and how raw chicken last in the fridge before it goes bad.
Thank you for reading.
