Avoid These Chicken Cooking Mistakes
By Sara Butler
Chicken is a staple in the kitchens of many people. It’s a great choice too since it’s a great source of affordable, lean protein. You can also find just about every cut of chicken in the store to use in a variety of recipes that are often easy to make. But if you find yourself eating dry, dull chicken, then you may be making a few of these chicken cooking mistakes.
Mistake No. 1: Using Only Chicken Breasts
When you’re watching your health and trying to cook food that’s nutritious and delicious, chicken breasts often come out as the top option. But if you’re only cooking chicken breasts, you may be missing out on other, flavorful cuts of chicken -- such as chicken thighs. Chicken thighs are a great cut because they’re difficult to overcook and often retain more flavor than the breast. Plus, they’re usually less expensive and because they’re dark meat have more Vitamin B, zinc, and iron than the breast. Branch out and enjoy some thighs!
Mistake No. 2: Cooking Cold Meat
It’s a good practice to keep your meat refrigerated until you’re ready to use it, but when you’re ready to cook the meat it’s a good idea to let it sit out of the refrigerator for about 20 minutes before you cook it. Warming it up a little before cooking will help to keep it from drying out as you cook it since the outside cooks faster than the inside.
Mistake No. 3: Playing the Guessing Game
How do you know when your chicken is cooked appropriately? If you’re not using a meat thermometer, then you’re doing it wrong. Remember, the thickest part of the chicken should reach an internal temperature of 165 degrees Fahrenheit before you know it’s done. If you’re trying to guess when the chicken is done, then you risk undercooking it or overcooking it -- both of which are bad in their own way.
It’s a good idea to let the chicken rest for a few minutes after taking it off the heat, too. The meat will rise in temperature during this time, so keep that in mind.
Avoiding these mistakes can help to improve your overall health since healthy eating can be tasty eating too! If you're going to eat chicken, then make sure you're eating it right and at it's very best.
To learn more about your health, wellness, and fitness, see your local chiropractor at The Joint Chiropractic in Lake Forest, Calif.