Easy Ways To Cook Moist Boneless Chicken

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.

You May Be Overcooking Your Chicken

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.

Add Moisture Before Cooking

Allowing your boneless chicken breasts and thighs to absorb some extra moisture before you cook can make a big difference. There are several options for doing this and getting a tender, tasty meal that does not suffer from dryness. One is to brine the chicken. This allows you to put extra moisture into the meat that will not evaporate while cooking is going on.

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.

Boneless chicken can also be marinated. Use a vinaigrette, light dressing, Italian Salad Dressing, or a homemade mixture to marinate your meat. Anything with a little acid makes a great marinade. A bonus of marinating your chicken recipes is that you will get some great flavor added.

Baking your chicken properly is another way to avoid drying out boneless chicken. Think about adding water or other liquid in the bottom of the pan, for instance. Red wine is a great choice. You can also put a liquid or sauce on top of the meat to keep the upper areas from getting dry and leathery.

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.

All you really need to do is take a little time to think about ways to add moisture to your chicken to improve your cooking. This truly convenient meat can be tricky to use if you do not know what you are doing. If you learn to work with it successfully, your meals can go from so-so to something special without much effort. There are plenty of great recipes and tips out there – take the time to find them.

Need some easy chicken recipes why not try one of our grilled chicken recipes.