How To Boil Chicken

The foolproof method for boiling chicken can save meal preppers from a lot of trouble. My foolproof guide on boiling chicken will come in handy for meal prepper all over the world. It’s easy to get tender and juicy poultry. Boiling chicken is a simple process that involves bringing a large pot of water up to temperature. However, there are some tricks. Discover my top tips to boiling chicken perfect every time.

It is important to know the right method for boiling chicken, and how long you should boil it. This will prevent your poultry from becoming dry. The process of boiling water with chicken in it isn’t difficult, but you should follow a few guidelines to ensure the best outcome. Test Kitchen pros will always recommend the following method to anyone who asks about boiling chicken as a way to add a favorite protein to weeknight dishes.

How To Boil a Chicken

INGREDIENTS

• ChickenAny cut or whole chicken can be cooked this way, but chicken breasts seem to benefit the most. The solution to chicken breasts that are dry and tough is to boil them.
• Broth: Boiling meat in broth as opposed to water will give it a richer flavor. Add some aromatics to the pot while you are at it. You can never go wrong with carrots, celery, or onion. Or ginger and scallions.
• Sea Salt: Boiling/simmering poultry season the meat on the inside as well as the outside. Salt is essential to achieve this. A low-sodium version of chicken broth is only a partial solution. Additional salt will be needed to make sure the liquid is well-seasoned. If you’re using water, instead of broth or stock, add 1 tablespoon of kosher salt to every quart.

STEP-BY-STEP INSTRUCTIONS

Place the chicken into a large pot. Pour water or broth over it to cover. Season with plenty of salt and pepper. Start the chicken in liquid at room or cold temperature to ensure an even cook.

Bring the liquid to a boil over a medium-high flame. The heat should be immediately reduced (we don’t want to boil the bird!). Cover the pot. Simmer until the instant-read probe inserted in the thickest area of the breasts registers at 165 degrees. This should take about 10 minutes. Uncover the pot to check that the liquid has merely simmered. Adjust heat as required.

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Transferring the chicken onto the cutting board with tongs and letting it rest for at least 10 minutes ensures that all the juices are kept inside and won’t leak out once you start shredding. When the chicken is rested, you can shred the meat with two forks into large pieces. If you want smaller pieces, use your fingers.

Recipes Tips

• Begin with a liquid that has flavor: Sure, you can boil the chicken in plain water, but it seems a bit boring. 
• Start the chicken cold: Never put the chicken in boiling liquid. Start the chicken in a cold broth or water, and then heat both simultaneously. This method allows for a more even cooking of the chicken, as the outside will not overcook while the interior remains undercooked.
• Season well: Place the chicken thighs into a large pot and cover with enough liquid. This is important: season your liquid with salt and pepper. This is no different from boiling pasta. You can also add carrots, fresh herbs, and onions to the pot. The pot will be the source of all your flavor, so add as much as you can.
• Cook the chicken gently. Despite its name, it is not a good idea to boil chicken. You will end up with rubbery chicken. Once the liquid has reached a rolling boil, reduce the heat immediately and simmer the chicken.

Poached vs. Boiled Chicken

Both boiled and poached are interchangeable terms. The cooking of chicken breasts in boiling liquid can be ideal, as they tend to dry out quickly when roasted or grilled if you turn your head for even a minute. If you want to make a delicious broth from the boiling liquid, choose skin-on and bone-in chicken breasts. For a quicker cooking time, choose skinless and boneless halves of chicken breast. Use a cut-up breast of chicken for the fastest cooking time. You can either cut your chicken yourself at home or have it cut by a butcher at the store. You can use the chicken breast in many recipes after you have boiled it.

How long do you boil chicken breasts for?

How long do I boil chicken for the best tenderness and flavor? This depends on whether the breasts have bones and the size. Boneless, skinless chicken breasts cook for about 30 to 45 minutes. Cook skinless, boneless breast halves for 12 to 15 min. (This means boiling frozen poultry would take 18-22 minutes.) If you need to poach chicken faster, cut the chicken into pieces of 2 inches and cook it for eight to ten minutes.

Test kitchen tip: Thaw frozen chicken before boiling it. For a thaw of chicken breasts, please place them in the refrigerator for nine hours. You can speed the process up by using your microwave’s defrost function or the cold water method. U.S. Food Safety and Inspection Service recommends that you boil frozen chicken for 50% longer. Check the temperature inside to see if it’s done. These timings are guidelines. The only way to be sure that your chicken has reached the right temperature is to check it (165 degrees Fahrenheit).

How to store Boiled Chicken

By preparing boiled chicken in advance and storing it either in the refrigerator or freezer, you can store it for several days or even months. Cool the Chicken down completely, then transfer it to an airtight container. Cover, refrigerate or freeze the Chicken for up to two months. Label and date any freezer-safe container. Pour the broth; use a strong container. Cover and chill the broth for up to two days. You can also use the broth as a flavor booster by freezing it in ice cubes. Weeknight dinners are a breeze when you know the steps for making boiled Chicken. Try it in a dollar chicken casserole. For bolder flavors, you can also cook Chicken in a skillet. Try Chicken as a mild-flavored alternative.