How to make chicken breast tender
Chicken breast has become the first choice for fitness enthusiasts and healthy eating enthusiasts due to its high protein and low fat properties. However, chicken breast is easily overcooked and tastes bad, giving many people a headache. This article will combine the hot topics and hot content on the Internet in the past 10 days to provide you with practical tips for making chicken breasts tender and juicy, and attach structured data for reference.
1. The principle of tenderizing chicken breasts
The main reasons why chicken breasts become soggy are excessive protein shrinkage and water loss. This problem can be avoided by:
| Principle | Solution |
|---|---|
| excessive protein contraction | Control cooking temperature and time |
| water loss | Pickled, breaded, and slow-cooked |
| Rough fiber | Physical processing (beating, flower cutting knife) |
2. 6 ways to tenderize chicken breasts
1.pickling method: Use acidic or enzymatic marinades to break down muscle fibers.
| Marinade type | Recommended ratio | Marinate time |
|---|---|---|
| Yogurt/milk | 1:1 (meat:liquid) | 2-4 hours |
| lemon juice/vinegar | 1 tablespoon/100g meat | 30 minutes |
| Pineapple/Papaya | Mash a small amount of pulp | 20 minutes |
2.temperature control method: Low temperature and slow cooking is the most scientific method.
| cooking method | temperature | time | Tenderness score (1-5) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Boiled | 70-75℃ | 15-20 minutes | 4 |
| Fried | medium heat | 2-3 minutes per side | 3 |
| oven | 160℃ | 20 minutes | 4 |
3.physical treatment method: Physically destroys muscle fibers.
• Beat evenly with a meat mallet until 1cm thick
• Use the back of a knife to loosen
• Surface-cut diamond-shaped flower knife (depth about 1/3)
4.breading method: Forms protective layer to lock in moisture.
| Breading type | Operation steps | Effect |
|---|---|---|
| starch | Pickled and then coated in thin starch | form protective film |
| egg white | Egg white + starch 1:1 | Double water lock |
5.rest method: Resting after cooking is very important.
• Let it rest for 5 minutes after frying/roasting before cutting
• Chill immediately for 1 minute after boiling
6.innovative approach: Recently popular skills on the Internet.
•Salt water soaking method: Soak in 5% salt water for 30 minutes (recently popular on Douyin)
•baking soda method: Add 1/4 teaspoon baking soda for every 500g of meat (a popular product from Xiaohongshu)
•vacuum cryomethod: 60℃ water bath for 1 hour (recommended by food bloggers)
3. Data comparison of different practices
| method | Tenderness | Operation difficulty | Time consuming | Suitable for the scene |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Traditional frying | ★★★ | simple | 10 minutes | everyday cooking |
| slow cook | ★★★★★ | Equipment required | 1 hour+ | Fine cuisine |
| Beat and marinate | ★★★★ | medium | 30 minutes+ | fitness meal |
4. Frequently Asked Questions
Q: How long does it take to cook chicken breast to make it tender?
A: Chicken breasts with a thickness of 1.5cm should be soaked in boiling water for 12-15 minutes before turning off the heat.
Q: Why is the chicken breast in the restaurant so tender?
A: Professional kitchens often use "sous vide cooking method" to accurately control the temperature at 60-65°C.
Q: How to deal with frozen chicken breasts?
A: Recommendations: 1) Refrigerate and defrost for 12 hours 2) Wipe dry after thawing 3) Use the back of a knife to fluff it before marinating.
5. The latest trends in meat tenderizing techniques in 2023
According to recent data from food bloggers and social platforms, the following methods have surged in popularity:
| Skills | heat index | Advantages |
|---|---|---|
| Enzyme pickling method | ★★★★ | No additives, purely natural |
| alternating ice and fire method | ★★★ | Quick results |
| Molecular gastronomy technology | ★★ | Ultimate taste |
With these tips, you can easily make tender, juicy chicken breasts that are both healthy and delicious. It is recommended to choose the appropriate method according to different cooking scenarios and try it a few times to find the method that suits you best.
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