How long to cook chicken breasts, how to cook until done

Preparing Chicken Breast

It is recommended to defrost the product. The meat will be much juicier and cook evenly. For gradual defrosting, it is better to use the refrigerator compartment. If you are in a hurry, place the breast in a plastic bag. Then place in a saucepan filled with cool water. Leave to warm up at room temperature.

Immediately before cooking, rinse the meat with running water. Cook the meat with the skin on if you want to make a soup base. If you plan to add chicken to the salad, fillet is better.

How long to cook chicken breast until done

The cooking time is determined by the cooking method and the size of the cubes.
Expect to spend 10-30 minutes. To check if the meat is done, regularly open the pan and pierce the chicken with the blade of a knife. If the knife sinks easily into the meat, it is ready. An indirect sign will be the release of clear juice. If in doubt, cut the breast with a knife. The finished meat is evenly colored - both outside and inside.

A little theory

If you pour hot water over a chicken breast, you will get meat that is used for salads. If you need to get aromatic chicken broth, then the meat should be poured with cold salted water. When meat is immersed in hot water, the protein coagulates (denatures), its deformation occurs, as a result of which the outside of the meat is covered with an invisible crust and does not allow the vitamins and minerals that the meat is rich in to come out. If you cook meat in cold water, then this method will make the broth saturated and the meat leaner, since fat and all substances will be released into the water. Having chosen the required method of heat treatment, you can determine the cooking time of the product.

How to cook chicken breast on the stove

To prepare dietary meat, place the breasts in a metal pan. Be sure to add your favorite spices. They will make the dish more flavorful. Bay leaf, salt and allspice work well. Fill the cooled product with water. Make sure that the water level covers the meat by 1-2 centimeters. Turn the heat to medium. Bring the water to a boil. Then reduce the heat. Place chopped carrots, garlic, and onions into the pan. Don't forget to skim off the foam regularly with a spoon.

If you want to cook meat for salad, put the breast in boiling water. When the water boils again, add the spices. Bay leaves, herbs, allspice will do. Be sure to add vegetables - garlic cloves, onions and chopped carrots. Salt the finished chicken. Leave to infuse for 20 minutes.

The bone-in breast is cooked in half an hour. Whole fillet is cooked for 25 minutes, pieces - 15 minutes.

Recommendations for using kitchen appliances

Before you cook chicken breast using one of the modern gadgets, you need to read the instructions that come with it. Often you can find recommendations in it that can simplify the procedure for boiling the product.

Double boiler. Rub the breast with salt and herbs, place in a steamer bowl and cook for about half an hour. Check the meat, if it is still tough, add 10 minutes.
Multicooker. Cook the component in the usual way for 30 minutes, using the “Stew” mode. Or we choose the “Steamed” option for cooking chicken, but in this case we put the product in a special basket. In both cases, we use spices and salt at the very beginning.
Microwave. Place the workpiece in a container of suitable volume, fill it with boiling water and cover with a lid. First, we carry out the treatment at maximum power for 10 minutes, then at medium power for 15 minutes. After this, there is no need to rush to get the chicken; it should be left for another 10 minutes.

If desired, even old chicken can be cooked deliciously. But it is better not to boil it, but to simmer it, moreover, in fresh milk with the addition of spices. Even steamed, it won’t turn out so tender and juicy.

How to cook breast meat in a steamer

You can use a steamer to cook chicken breast. Place the cooled product on a paper towel and dry. Rub with spice mixture. For example, you can mix salt and black pepper. Place the breast in the steamer. Cooking time will be 40 minutes.

You can cook the breasts in a steamer insert. The meat is ready in 15 minutes.

The best cooking methods: boiled, in the oven, in foil, in a frying pan, in a slow cooker, steamed

Chicken fillet is quite bland in taste. However, such meat perfectly absorbs spices, marinades, and is saturated with sauces and dressings during the cooking process. Among the best cooking methods, the following options can be distinguished: experiments with pork can be quite varied - the meat is combined with many vegetables, marinades, herbs, etc. The most popular methods of cooking on a diet:

In the oven. This meat turns out appetizing with a beautiful golden crust and a pleasant aroma. However, it is very important not to dry out the breast - during baking it can quickly lose its juiciness and become drier. A dietary marinade also plays an important role (for example, soy sauce, kefir, tomato juice of your choice) - it complements the taste of meat and makes it richer.
In foil. This cooking method protects the meat from drying out - the breast in foil turns out to be as tender as possible. It absorbs the smell of spices and slowly languishes in its own juice.
In a frying pan. For a dietary diet, you can fry white meat in a frying pan without adding oil (best with a non-stick coating). Otherwise, excess fat will increase the calorie content of the dish and reduce the rate of digestion in the stomach.
In a slow cooker. Chicken meat can be stewed or baked in a slow cooker - this cooking method preserves the natural taste and juiciness of the dish. An additional convenience is the ability to simultaneously make a side dish based on vegetables in chicken gravy by simmering them together.
For a couple. The option of cooking in a double boiler will provide juiciness and low calorie content to the dish. At the same time, the meat turns out soft and delicate in taste. Light steamed cutlets are especially popular.
Boiled. The preparation method is allowed within the framework of therapeutic diets and baby food. Properly cooked breast retains maximum benefits, contains a lot of protein and a minimum of calories. If desired, boiled fillet can be made the basis for soup or combined with spicy sauces and side dishes for a more interesting taste.

Note! The basic rules for dietary preparation of breast include: minimum/absence of vegetable oil and moderate heat treatment.

How long to cook a breast in the microwave

Place the product in a microwave-safe container. Fill with hot water. The boiling water should completely cover the meat. Be sure to leave room for simmering. Cover the top with a lid.

Place the dishes in the oven. Cook for 15 minutes at 750 watts or 10 minutes at 1 kilowatt. After the beep, evaluate the readiness of the meat. Place the undercooked breast back in the microwave for a couple of minutes.

Cool the finished product in the broth.

Main conclusions

Chicken breast is a fairly popular diet product. It can be used to prepare a large number of hot dishes, snacks and soups. Useful properties of this product for losing weight:

is quickly absorbed in the body and contains a high percentage of protein;
satisfies the feeling of hunger for a long time;
the balanced composition prevents the appearance of vitamin deficiency during the diet;
promotes activation of metabolic processes in the body.

Low-calorie chicken fillet dishes can be cooked in the oven, steamed, in a slow cooker, or in a frying pan without oil. In combination with different sauces, dressings and spices, chicken can diversify the diet menu well.

Do you like dishes with chicken? Share your favorite recipes with fillet that are suitable for weight loss!

Curious facts

To make the breast cook faster, it is recommended to divide the product into several parts. Meat cut into pieces loses juice, so it turns out a little tough. An additional way to speed up the cooking time is to use a small saucepan. The water will boil much faster. The main thing is to make sure that the meat is completely covered with water.
Chicken breast contains a lot of protein and is good for bodybuilders. The abundance of protein promotes rapid muscle growth. To ensure that the meat always turns out tasty, it must first be marinated before cooking. The cooled product is left in the marinade with lemon and tomatoes. And during cooking, add vegetables.
To make breasts for soup, you need to salt the water at the very beginning. If the breast is cooked for salad, add salt 5 minutes before turning off the heat. Otherwise the meat will turn out dry.
For a harmonious taste, the meat is cooked in vegetable broth. Cooks advise adding allspice peas and laurel leaves. The meat will smell nicer if you add a stalk of celery to the pan.
The nutritional value of the finished product is 150 kcal. If the breast is skinned, the calorie content will be 120 kcal.
Meat goes well with any side dish.
Chicken breast is often used for first courses. If you do not remove the skin before cooking, you will end up with a fatty broth.
The average cost of a chilled product is 250 rubles per 1 kilogram (in 2016).
If you plan to add the breast to a cold dish, the meat should cool in the broth. Otherwise it will dry out quickly.
When purchasing a refrigerated product, look at the manufacturing date. The breast is stored for up to 5 days. The healthiest breasts are medium-sized (up to 350 g). If the weight exceeds 450 g, most likely the chicken was given chemical additives at the poultry farm.
You can check the quality of meat with your hands. Press the surface of the breast with your finger. If a trace remains, it means the meat has been defrosted. Consider the color of the product. Choose breasts without bluish spots. The surface should be pale pink.

Chicken fillet is an ideal product for proper nutrition, diet and weight loss

Breast is the least calorie part of the chicken (compared to wings or thighs). It includes a minimum percentage of fat and a maximum of protein, which is quickly absorbed. The calorie content of such a product is approximately 110 kcal, which allows fillet to be classified as the most dietary type of meat.

It contains a fairly large amount of B vitamins and mineral compounds - calcium, magnesium, molybdenum, phosphorus, iron, zinc, etc. This combination has a positive effect on the functioning of the nervous system and improves the body's resistance to stress.

Note! Chicken fillet is rich in essential amino acids, which support natural metabolism and promote the breakdown of fat.

White meat is ideal for safe weight loss. This influence is explained by a whole list of product characteristics:

Chicken fillet is quickly absorbed by the body and contains more protein than lean beef or pork. Protein supports muscles during weight loss and improves their recovery after physical activity;
quickly and for a long time satisfies hunger;
the nutritional composition prevents the occurrence of vitamin deficiency. This property is necessary for the prevention of weakness, fatigue and anemia during the period of weight loss;
promotes activation of metabolic processes.

In order for chicken fillet to exhibit all its beneficial properties, you need to know how to properly and tasty cook it for a diet or prepare it in another way.

Processed fillet goes well with stewed vegetables, light salads and herbs. You can also use brown rice as a side dish, which is much healthier than the white version.

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