How To Cook Chicken Breast

Chicken breast is one of the most well-loved proteins; without the skin, it's also one of the most healthy and perfect if your aim is to lose weigh. Nonetheless, cooking it can be rather tricky. In order to come up with juicy, delectable chicken breasts, it's necessary to understand a few things.

When cooking poultry, one of the things to consider is the possibility of salmonella. This is a serious health hazard, and can only be addressed by proper food preparation. For poultry to be suitable for human consumption, it requires an internal temperature of 160 degrees Fahrenheit. To deal with this danger however, most novice cooks tend to use to too much heat for far too long. This always results in dry, rubbery chicken breasts.

It must also be remembered that chicken breast is a very delicate cut, and it can go from juicy to dry in a matter of minutes. Perfect chicken breasts are supposed to be tasty, tender and moist. Cooking them successfully requires an amount of care and patience. One of the best allies for this task is a meat thermometer - it will allow you the precision you need, as well as eliminate the risk of overcooking.

How To Cook Chicken Breasts: A Step-By-Step Guide

You will need the following:

- boneless chicken breasts

- cling wrap or wax paper

- meat mallet

- meat thermometer

- non-stick skillet

- cooking spray

- cooking tongs

- seasoning of your choice

Instructions:

1. Completely defrost the chicken breast and let it sit in room temperature for 10 to 15 minutes. This is necessary to get rid of pockets of ice within the meat. Remember that insufficient thawing will result in uneven cooking.

2. Line your counter top with cling wrap or wax paper. Lay the chicken breast on it, smooth side up. Place another layer of cling wrap over the chicken.

3. Lightly pound the center of the chicken with a meat mallet. Use the smooth surface of the mallet, not the toothed side. Pound gently until the chicken has an even thickness all throughout. This will ensure that the chicken cooks evenly.

4. Season both sides with your desired seasoning or use your favourite recipe.

5. Heat a non-stick skillet over the medium-high setting. Spray lightly with cooking spray. Be sure the skillet is hot enough before you put the chicken in, or else the meat won't cook thoroughly. To check, drop a tiny amount of meat or water into the skillet. It should sizzle and steam slightly.

6. Place the chicken breasts in the skillet. Chicken needs ample space to cook properly, so make sure there is at least an inch between each piece. Crowding prevents the meat from acquiring the proper sear. Depending on the size of the skillet, this may mean cooking only one to two chicken breasts at a time.

7. One side may take from 5 to 10 minutes to cook dependant on the size of the chicken breast. As the cooking time may vary, it's very important to pay attention to the color. It has to be a nice golden brown. Use tongs to peek at the underside of the chicken, and flip when golden brown.

8. Cook the reverse side. As soon as it turns golden brown as well, check the temperature. To do this, insert about an inch of the thermometer into the side of the chicken. Chicken must have an internal temperature of 160 degrees Fahrenheit. Once it reaches the right temperature, remove immediately from heat.

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