How to cook chicken?

trouts mom

TCS Member
Thread starter
Top Cat
Joined
Mar 4, 2006
Messages
23,949
Purraise
16
Location
Snowy Santa Land
Hey guys,

I am completely ignorant when it comes to cooking, and I need some help.

When a recipe calls for 1/2 cup "diced cooked chicken" how exactly do I "cook" the chicken?

I usually only use recipes that tell me how to cook the meat along with everything else..but this one doesn't tell me how to cook it..


Help?
 

fwan

TCS Member
Top Cat
Joined
Dec 5, 2004
Messages
13,279
Purraise
2
Location
Australia
You can use left overs from the night before, or simply just fry it untill done or if you like the taste boil it with some broth for a 10 minutes or untill its cooked through
 

AbbysMom

At Abby's beck and call
Staff Member
Moderator
Joined
May 18, 2005
Messages
78,298
Purraise
19,403
Location
Massachusetts
You could just put it in the oven and bake it.
What type of chicken are you using?
 

white cat lover

TCS Member
Veteran
Joined
Nov 17, 2005
Messages
22,206
Purraise
35
You could bake it in the over, I prefer to fry it in a frying pan because it's easier for me.
 
  • Thread Starter Thread Starter
  • #5

trouts mom

TCS Member
Thread starter
Top Cat
Joined
Mar 4, 2006
Messages
23,949
Purraise
16
Location
Snowy Santa Land
Okay, I will use boneless skinless breast...

And guys, I literally need temperatures and times please...
 

beck4582

TCS Member
Super Cat
Joined
Jan 3, 2008
Messages
856
Purraise
1
Location
Hampton Roads, Virginia
In the oven, cook at 350 for about 30 minutes - if frozen, it will need 50 minutes or so. If you have a thermometer, it needs to be 170 degrees inside the chicken.

In the skillet, use a little olive oil and a drop of water (to steam). Cover and cook on medium heat. Turn over after about 10 minutes. When it starts to turn light brown, cut into it. If there is no pink, it's done.

Good luck!
 

butzie

TCS Member
Top Cat
Joined
Sep 22, 2007
Messages
5,299
Purraise
1
Location
Secret Santa Land
Natalie,
You won't need very much chicken to make 1/2 cup. Buy about a 6-oz boneless, skinless chicken breast. Skinless, because, I think it will be better for your recipe. Grill the chicken in a grill pan with ridges, in a George Forman grill, or on an outside grill (although "freezing in my boots" makes me think the outside thing is not going to happen
).
Grill for 8 - 12 minutes. If you need to turn the breast over, check after 5 minutes and if it is brown, turn it over (no need to do this in a Forman grill).

Lastly, you can cook it in a fry pan. Heat 1 Tbsp. olive oil in a skillet. Saute the chicken over medium high heat for about 5 minutes per side.
It is always better to undercook a breast. If you have a microwave, you can always use it to complete cooking. Let the chicken rest for a couple of minutes to determine if it needs further cooking. You do this by cutting into it to see if it is pink or not.

Okay, this is a long post, but I
to cook.
 

brandi

TCS Member
Top Cat
Joined
Apr 21, 2007
Messages
1,410
Purraise
11
Location
back home in VA!
I would say to cut about 2 breasts into 4 strips then cut all 8 strips into bite size pieces and fry in a frying pan when the meat turns white on all sides about 10-15 minutes later cut the largest piece in half if it is white all the way through the chicken is done, I cook mine on high stirring about every 1 and a half minutes!
 

cococat

TCS Member
Top Cat
Joined
Feb 2, 2007
Messages
4,953
Purraise
12
Location
USA
Do you have Swanson's canned chicken there? That would be your easiest bet for that small of an amount. It will work fine.
I cook chicken chunks (for Chinese) in a pan like wok on the stove. I put in 1.5 TBS of olive oil when the pan is hottest and cook it for several minutes, until I can get a knife and it cuts clean and easy in the middle and looks cooked.
Otherwise, my husband grills it on the grill. A few minutes on each side, depending upon the thickness of the chicken breast. When in doubt, do what I do, call my mom
 

natalie_ca

TCS Member
Top Cat
Joined
Jul 2, 2006
Messages
21,136
Purraise
223
Location
Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
Originally Posted by Trouts mom

Okay, I will use boneless skinless breast...

And guys, I literally need temperatures and times please...
What I would do is "poach" it. Put the chicken breast in a small pot. Add some salt and pepper, some chicken boulllion if you have any, a bay leave and some dried thyme... as much as you want, and some lemon juice... again, depends on what you want... I use the juice of a couple lemons which is about 4 tablespoons. Pour enough water over the chicken to cover it. Put the lid on the pot.

Bring to a boil over high heat, then lower it to medium heat and cook it for about 30 minutes.

Remove the chicken breast, let it cool for about 10 minutes, then cut it up.

Save the poaching liquid. Freeze it in a container and use it the next time you make some soup
 
  • Thread Starter Thread Starter
  • #11

trouts mom

TCS Member
Thread starter
Top Cat
Joined
Mar 4, 2006
Messages
23,949
Purraise
16
Location
Snowy Santa Land
Great thanks everyone!

One last thing, I should dice the chicken after its cooked? Or dice it and then cook it?
 

addiebee

TCS Member
Top Cat
Joined
Oct 30, 2007
Messages
7,724
Purraise
17
Location
Michigan
Cook then dice otherwise it will dry out! BTW, Natalie - what are you making?

????????
 
  • Thread Starter Thread Starter
  • #13

trouts mom

TCS Member
Thread starter
Top Cat
Joined
Mar 4, 2006
Messages
23,949
Purraise
16
Location
Snowy Santa Land
Originally Posted by AddieBee

Cook then dice otherwise it will dry out! BTW, Natalie - what are you making?

????????
Just chicken salad pitas
 

sarahp

TCS Member
Veteran
Joined
Jun 7, 2006
Messages
15,841
Purraise
28
Location
Australia
Originally Posted by Trouts mom

Great thanks everyone!

One last thing, I should dice the chicken after its cooked? Or dice it and then cook it?
Either is fine. If a recipe called for cooked diced chicken, I would chop it up then cook it in a frying pan until it was lightly browned.
 
  • Thread Starter Thread Starter
  • #15

trouts mom

TCS Member
Thread starter
Top Cat
Joined
Mar 4, 2006
Messages
23,949
Purraise
16
Location
Snowy Santa Land
Well...I am eating my chicken pita, and it is sooooo good


Wow, it is really worth it to cook
This beats canned soup
 
Top