Chicken Can Be The Key To Healthy Cooking

Posted by Christine Szalay-Kudra on October 4, 2010

Lots of us are looking for new recipe options that will give us something new in our lives, taste great, and still be healthier than restaurant fare or processed foods. Much of the time, this involves focusing on high protein foods that are low in fat, particularly saturated fat. That is why so many people are cooking with chicken. It is a great choice for anyone trying to eat more healthily, since chicken is mostly made up of lean protein.

Choosing a healthy chicken recipe over red meat can help you cut down your cholesterol levels, reduce hypertension, and even lose weight without giving up on great taste. Chicken is a fabulously versatile food that can be used in nearly all cuisines and with almost every cooking style.

Many people are deciding to spice up their salads a little with marinated grilled chicken, to make delicious chicken wraps and Latin American or Asian inspired dishes. There are lots of easy chicken recipes out there. Remember that the chicken you use is going to affect how healthy the dish is and how good it tastes, with cage reared chickens often producing lower quality meat, even if it is less expensive than the alternatives.

One alternative that will still allow you to enjoy great, low fat foods that are high in protein is organic or free range chicken. Be sure to know what each label means. However, these chickens have generally been raised according to certain standards, which improve the health and well being of the animal and the quality of the meat they produce. While it is more expensive, chicken recipes made with organic or other specialty chicken meat are worth the extra cost in terms of flavor and healthiness.

You may find that this meat contains less fat and more muscle. If you are still concerned about an excess of fat, it is easy to trim off. You can even remove the skin to further reduce fat, resulting in a truly low fat meal that does not sacrifice much in the way of taste.

Remember, no matter what you are using, to treat your chicken carefully. For safety, do not let raw chicken sit at room temperature, and refrigerate cooked chicken within two hours. Frozen chicken is safe to store for up to a year in the freezer, however.

Chicken should always be washed in cold water, and a clean cutting board and knife should be used in all cases. Once the chicken has been prepared, anything that touched the raw meat needs to be cleaned immediately. If you handle your meat correctly, the danger of contamination is significantly less.

Thankfully, safe preparation of chicken is not a hard thing to do, and cooking it in a healthy way is not difficult, either. Just spend a little time working on creative ways to cook this versatile food, or look online to find lots of great recipes. You will enjoy some quality meals and you will feel a lot better.

Chicken is a great choice for cooking in parchment. Slice it up and it will cook quickly. For more ideas for boneless chicken, check out BonelessChickenRecipe.com. There are lots of recipes and articles to learn more about this tasty, convenient ingredient.

Keeping Your Boneless Chicken Recipes Moist

Posted by Christine Szalay-Kudra on August 23, 2010

If you generally cook with boneless chicken, you know how convenient it is, but you also might run into one of its biggest problems. Chicken without bones all too often becomes dry and tough; making you feel like every bite has to be washed down. Fortunately, you do not have to put up with dry chicken. There are plenty of things you can do about it, including some methods used by professional chefs. Here is how to make moist, delicious chicken every time.

You May Be Overcooking Your Chicken

The biggest reason that most people end up with dishes that are dry and tasteless is that they are overcooking. Chicken without bones in it can cook much faster than chicken that is bone-in. However, you cannot just reduce cooking time, since you might undercook your chicken or end up with a dish that is not done yet. There are other ways to keep chicken moist.

Adding Moisture Saves The Day

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.

Take some time to consider ways to add moisture to your meat, and your cooking will improve. Boneless chicken is an extremely convenient meat, but it can be tricky to cook well. Learning to work with it can take your meals from edible to spectacular, with only a little effort. There are lots of great options out there, so take the time to find out more.

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