Chicken takes the cake for being one of the most versatile and nutritious meats around. However, it often gets a bad rap for being dry and bland.
We can't all be master chefs without a little help, so here's our guide to help you cook up moist, finger-licking chicken!
The Best Chicken To Cook With
Step number one to cooking delicious chicken is using the highest quality chicken available. We believe air chilled chicken is the best, and that's why it's all we sell at Farm2Fork.
What is Air Chilled Chicken?
Air chilled chicken is chicken that has been blasted with cold air, or has been chilled in a cold chamber for the purposes of preventing pathogens and maintaining flavor. Some of the other benefits air chilling offers are:
- Better absorption of marinade
- A crispier outside
- Saving on water
Tenderizing Chicken
The next step is tenderizing. Tenderizing is the process of pounding meat until it becomes more "tender" - achieving a uniform thickness, and softening the meat by breaking down its connective tissue. This process is one we'd recommend when cooking chicken (remember to use boneless chicken, or debone the chicken you have if you plan to tenderize it!).
What should you use to tenderize your chicken?
You can purchase a tenderizing mallet to tenderize your chicken, but there are several other kitchen items that can work - here are just a few options:
- Rolling pin
- Pan
- Skillet
Marinading Chicken
Step 3 is marinading your chicken. This step is key to creating a dynamic flavor, infusing moisture into the chicken, and locking moisture in as well.
How long should you marinate chicken?
For the optimal level of juiciness we recommend marinating chicken for a minimum of two hours.
What should I marinate my chicken with?
Basic marinades consist of both an oil and an acid.
One of our recommendation is a complex mixture of:
- Only milk for 2 hours
- Then a mixture of soy sauce, olive oil, lemon juice, and maple syrup
- *Any other desired herbs & spices (chopped garlic, brown sugar, rosemary, etc). For help pairing spices, checkout our seasoning guide!
- Let sit for at least an hour, but the longer the better
Braising Chicken
The final step for cooking delicious chicken is the braising process.
Braising sounds complicated, but it is actually quite easy - you simply flash-fry your chicken before cooking it in juices.
How do I braise fry chicken?
- Fry the chicken for about 5 minutes on each side to brown it using butter or oil
- Once the chicken is browned, cook it in liquid
What liquids should I use?
Typical braising liquids include:
- White wine
- Chicken broth
- Apple juice
- Beer
These liquids are brought to a simmer, and the browned chicken is added to soak on low heat for an hour at 350°.
Is braising for everyone?
If you're prone to overcooking chicken, this method is for you. It's hard to overcook chicken when it's surrounded by liquid! Just be sure you don't undercook the chicken; the internal temperature of safe, cooked chicken is 165°F.
Final Result
What's the final result of our 4 step cooking process? The result is chicken with a juicy inner meat and a crispy golden outer layer holding it all in!
Ready to get cooking? Shop our premium chicken now and get delivery straight to your door!
