If you have been cooking with boneless chicken, you may have noticed one common problem. Your chicken can become dry and tasteless. If you have been washing down every bite of your meal with gulps of your drink because your chicken is less than ideal there are things that can improve this. If it feels like each meal is sandpapery on the inside, there are some things you can do to fix these issues. De-boned chicken does not have to be dry! Here are a few tips used by professionals and amateur chefs alike to get great results out of your chicken that is moist and tasty.
Overcooking May Be The Culprit
The biggest and most common reason that most people find their chicken is getting dry is that they are overcooking it. Boneless chicken often requires less cooking than many other forms of this meat, but you cannot just cut the cooking time to get a good dish. Other parts of your meal may be undercooked, or you may end up with meat that is not done in the middle. The good news is that you have another option.
Adding Moisture Saves The Day
If you allow your boneless chicken pieces to absorb more moisture before starting cooking, it can make a big difference in how the dish turns out. There are a number of options available to accomplish this. One is brining your chicken, which allows you to get extra moisture in, as well as some better flavor.
To make brine, combine salt, water, and desired seasonings. Remember not to include as much salt in other areas of the recipe if you choose to brine, and do not dissolve too much salt into the brining liquid itself. Otherwise, you could end up with a sodium laden bird that has other taste problems.
Marinating is an option for great chicken dishes without a lot of trouble, including some readymade marinades and use of products like vinaigrette and Italian salad dressing to add flavor and moisture. You can really use any flavorful mixture with a little acid to create a good marinade, so be willing to experiment or look up recipes.
Proper baking will keep boneless chicken from drying out. Something as simple as a cover on the pan, or some water or other liquid such as red wine in the bottom will do wonders for the moisture in your meals. You can add sauces or liquids on top of the chicken to keep the surface from getting too dry, too.
Popular choices are bechamel, marinara, salsa, and many others. Just be creative and you will find you have a recipe for boneless chicken that will be a hit with the whole family. Remember that cooking time and heat matter, too – three fifty degrees and twenty minutes are the most common.
You need to take a little time to think about how to keep the moisture in your chicken, but it will really improve the dish. Boneless chicken is a really versatile food, but sometimes tricky to make successfully. If you are willing to work with it, you will be able to take your meals from so-so to spectacular, and you will not need much effort. There are lots of choices and many great recipes out there.
Chicken is loved the world over and we have a nice group of international recipes like our orange chicken recipe.
