Chicken meat is popular and versatile, binds well with many flavors, and is relatively inexpensive, as well as bringing many health benefits. To cook chicken properly, however, it is necessary to treat it properly and take into account some considerations. If you want to learn how to cook chicken, continue reading the article and follow these simple steps.
Ingrediants
Baked chicken
- 240 ml of Sour Cream
- 30 g of Dijon mustard
- 2 minced garlic cloves
- 2, 5 g of black pepper
- 2 Boneless and halved chicken breasts
- 50 g of crumbled Cornflakes
- 30 g of freeze-dried onion soup
- 45 g of melted butter
Sautéed Chicken
- Extra virgin olive oil
- 25 g of flour
- 3-4 g of black pepper
- 700 g of boneless and skinned chicken thighs (about 8 pieces)
- 240 ml of chicken broth
- 30 ml of fresh lemon juice
- 7 g of capers
Grilled Chicken
- 12 Chicken Thighs
- 120 ml of extra virgin olive oil
- 5 g of sea salt
- 2, 5 g of freshly ground black pepper
- 2, 5 g of Paprika
- 2, 5 g of Cumin
- 1-2 g of cayenne pepper
- 2 minced garlic cloves
- 45 g of chopped onion
- 15 g of chopped parsley
Steps
Method 1 of 4: Prepare the Chicken
Step 1. If you are not going to cook it immediately after purchase, store the chicken in the refrigerator or freezer
Chicken can be stored in the coldest part of the refrigerator for two days; if you want to cook it after several days, freeze it immediately after purchase. Do not partially cook the chicken and then store it in the refrigerator, as this will promote the proliferation of bacteria.
Step 2. Wash the chicken
Whether you want to cook whole chicken, legs, or any other part of the bird, you should wash the meat under cold water first. If the chicken has already been marinated and prepared, it has certainly already been washed. When you wash the chicken, wear disposable gloves to avoid contaminating it and not to come into contact with the bacteria in the meat. Before and after washing the chicken you should wash your hands thoroughly.
After washing it, it would be advisable to wash all surfaces that have come into contact with the meat, including the knives, cutting boards and the sink
Step 3. Dry the chicken
Blot the chicken with paper towels to remove any excess liquid.
Step 4. Cook the chicken
After washing and drying the chicken, the meat will be ready to be cooked. Whether you decide to roast, brown or grill it, be sure to use a meat thermometer to make sure the chicken has reached the correct doneness before eating it. The chicken should reach a temperature of 74 ° C. Here are some ideas to take inspiration from, choose the recipe you prefer among those proposed:
- Fried Chicken Popcorn
- Chicken Katsu
- Chicken Breast Cutlets
- Chicken Mole
- Chicken Breast Grilled in the Oven
- Cajun Style Chicken Breast
- Chicken Teriyaki
- Roast Chicken in the Oven
- Chicken with Sesame
- Roast chicken
Step 5. Store leftover chicken properly
When you freeze the chicken, wrap it in aluminum foil or place it in special food bags. Create small portions so that you can freeze only the amount you need. Appropriate wrapping will prevent any cold burns caused by contact with air.
- Fried chicken, 3-4 days in the refrigerator, 4 months in the freezer
- Chicken stew, 3-4 days in the refrigerator, 4-6 months in the freezer
- Chicken in pieces without sauce, 3-4 days in the refrigerator, 4 months in the freezer
- Chicken in sauce in pieces, 1-2 days in the refrigerator, 6 months in the freezer
- Chicken nuggets, chicken balls, 1-2 days in the refrigerator, 1-3 months in the freezer
Method 2 of 4: Grilled Chicken
Step 1. Place the chicken legs in a large food bag
Step 2. Prepare the marinade
Mix the extra virgin olive oil, salt, pepper, paprika, cumin and cayenne pepper. Pour the ingredients into a small bowl and mix to blend them evenly.
Step 3. Pour the marinade over the chicken legs
Pour it into the bag containing the chicken legs and seal it carefully. Remove as much air as possible before closing it. Move the chicken to season it evenly. After that, place the bag on a baking sheet and place it in the refrigerator for an hour or, better yet, overnight. From time to time, turn the bag upside down to distribute the marinade again.
Step 4. Prepare the grill
Brush the grill evenly with extra virgin olive oil. Then heat it to a temperature of 175 ° C.
Step 5. Arrange the chicken on the wire rack
Cook the chicken until golden and crispy on both sides. Turn it frequently to allow for even cooking. When cooked, the internal temperature of the meat should reach 74 ° C. Arrange the cooked chicken on a serving plate and let it cool for about 3-5 minutes before you start eating it.
Step 6. Serve it on the table
Enjoy your grilled chicken while it is still hot.
Method 3 of 4: Baked Chicken
Step 1. Preheat the oven to 200 ° C
Step 2. Butter a baking sheet
Butter it evenly, both on the bottom and on the sides.
Step 3. Combine the sour cream, Dijon mustard, garlic, and pepper in a large bowl
Step 4. Dip the chicken into the mixture
Soak 4 skin and bone-free chicken breasts in the newly created mixture. Turn them to make sure they are evenly seasoned. After that, put them in the refrigerator for about 20-30 minutes, during this time the meat will further absorb the seasoning.
Step 5. Season the chicken with cornflakes and freeze-dried soup
Combine the two ingredients in a bowl and then gently press the chicken breasts into the dry mixture. Cover them evenly and then shake them to remove any excess.
Step 6. Arrange the chicken breasts on the baking sheet
Sprinkle them with 3 tablespoons of melted butter.
Step 7. Cook the chicken for 20-25 minutes until golden
When cooked, your meat thermometer should read a temperature of at least 74 ° C.
Method 4 of 4: Pan-fried Chicken
Step 1. Grease the bottom of a non-stick pan (30cm) and heat it over medium-high heat
Step 2. In a small bowl, mix the flour and pepper
After mixing the ingredients carefully, use them to sprinkle the chicken.
Step 3. Brown the chicken in the pan until golden on the underside
Place it in a pan in a single layer and cook for about 6-7 minutes. If you can't cook all of the chicken at once, divide it into two or more batches.
Step 4. Flip the chicken and continue cooking on the other side
It should take about another 4-5 minutes of cooking.
Step 5. Remove the chicken from the pan and set aside
Step 6. Pour the broth into the pan
After that, scrape the bottom of the pan gently using a wooden spoon and remove any cooking residue.
Step 7. Return the chicken to the pan, cover it, and simmer it over low heat
This should take about 3 minutes.
Step 8. Incorporate the lemon juice and capers
Heat the chicken for another 30 seconds, continuing to stir. After that, let the chicken rest on a plate for about 5-10 minutes.
Step 9. Serve him
Serve your delicious chicken thighs while they are still hot.
Purchase Tips
- Read the label Before cooking the chicken, make sure you have purchased quality meat.
- The label must state whether the chicken is fresh or whether it has been frozen or deep-frozen.
- Always check the expiration date. After that date, you can still eat it, but the quality of the meat may have declined. If the chicken had been frozen previously, you might be able to eat it safely even after its expiration date.
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Choose a suitable cut.
Whichever cut you choose, avoid meat that gives off a strange smell or that has a strange color skin.
- Whole Chicken - There are fry, grill, and roast chickens of many sizes.
- Quarter Chicken - You can take a piece of chicken that contains the thigh, or one that contains the breast and a wing.
- Whole Chicken Cut into Pieces - The whole chicken is cut into 8 or 9 pieces.
- Upper thighs or brisket - sold boneless and / or skinless.
- Chicken liver - sold separately.
- Neck, legs, crest, etc. - only available in some areas.
- Cook the chicken no more than two days after purchase, or freeze it at -17 ° C or more. If you freeze it, you can eat it at any time. Keep it from getting damaged by putting it in a freezer bag.
Advice
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Delicious Chicken Storage Ideas: Keep uneaten chicken aside for a long time. When the storage time is running out, prepare it in a completely different way:
- With a barbecue sauce, covered with slices of onion or garlic to give it flavor.
- Put chicken on pizza, spaghetti, soup or make skewers… the possibilities are endless.
- Make Indian Curry Chicken. You can purchase an Indian spice mix at an Indian food store. Add some onions and tomatoes and follow the instructions on the spice package.
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Be sure to flavor the chicken. Without flavorings, chicken is not very tasty. Make sure you choose flavors that go well together. A little oil with salt and chopped garlic sprinkled on the skin will give the chicken a classic and tasty flavor.
- To make a chicken as it is cooked in India (curry chicken), add curry or other spices. You can find the spices at a local grocery store, Indian store, or ethnic food store.
- Cut some tomatoes and onions and fry them with the still raw chicken. This way you can make an excellent "goulash" or "gumbo".
- Thaw the chicken in the refrigerator, under cold water, or in the microwave. Chicken thawed in the refrigerator can be eaten within a couple of days or refrozen. Chicken thawed under cold water or in the microwave should be cooked immediately. Do not thaw it by leaving it at room temperature. Do not cook frozen chicken in the microwave or simmer. You can cook frozen chicken in the oven, but cooking times will be about 50% longer.
Warnings
- Watch out for hot oil. Could be very dangerous if it comes into contact with the skin (or eyes).
- Be careful when handling sharp tools.
- Microwaving chicken may not cook completely, which increases the risk of food poisoning. This method is not recommended if a child or someone with health problems is eating the chicken.
- When cooking chicken, always make sure that it is completely cooked. Wash all utensils used to prepare the chicken (knives, cutting boards, etc.) to prevent bacterial infections. Chicken may taste good, but you should always be careful how you cook it.
