How to boil chicken for soup - step-by-step recipe with photos

How long does it take to cook chicken for soup?

To prepare first courses, two types of meat are used: gray and white. They can be combined or boiled separately, but a whole carcass is rarely taken because of the inconvenience of cutting it and other boiling tricks. If poultry is used, it is still first cut into parts: the giblets are removed, the wings, legs, and breasts are separated.

Advice! To make a low-fat but nutritious soup, do not boil the chicken with the skin on. It is also undesirable to use wings, since there is not much meat in them, and there is plenty of fat in the skin. Leave them for barbecue or fry them on a grill pan.

Different parts of the chicken for the soup take about the same amount of time to cook. Be sure to check the meat by removing it from the pan and cutting it - there should be no pink juice:

soup from drumsticks or legs is cooked for at least 50 minutes;
chicken breast soup will be ready in 40 minutes;
broth from a set of white and gray meat is boiled for 45-55 minutes;
The chicken carcass is cooked for at least 70-80 minutes if it is medium in size.

After this, it will take another 20-30 minutes to process the remaining ingredients of the soup. The total cooking time takes from 1.5 to 2 hours.

How Long to Cook Chicken and Why Chicken's Internal Temperature Matters

Basic rules for cooking poultry to perfection.

Photo by Eric Putz.

You're not alone if you've ever wondered about the proper cooking time for chicken. Whether it's simmering on the stove or cooking in the oven, this dinner staple can be a little unnerving when it comes to food safety. Undercooked chicken and poultry are not only unappetizing, but they also pose a serious health hazard because raw poultry can contain Salmonella and Campylobacter bacteria, which lead to food poisoning.

Our sure-fire solution to achieving perfect texture and flavor while avoiding potential contamination is to use a meat thermometer. High enough heat should kill any bacteria contained in the food itself, so the best way to ensure that chicken is bacteria-free is to cook it to the correct internal temperature. But the benefits of using a thermometer go beyond food safety; it's also a convenient way to avoid overcooking lean meats.

If you've never used a meat thermometer, don't be intimidated, it will quickly become your tool. We've put together a handy primer showing target temperatures for different cuts of poultry and their average cooking times to help you work with confidence in the kitchen.

How to Tell When Chicken Is Cooked

Know the safe internal temperature of cooked chicken

There's a fine line between a properly cooked bird and a dry, chewy chicken breast, so aim for the target temperatures listed below to prevent foodborne illness while still achieving delicious results.

Chickens should be cooked to an internal temperature of 180F.
Chicken thighs, breasts, legs and wings (including ground chicken) should be cooked to 165F.

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MythBuster: Checking for doneness by looking at clear juices is not a reliable method for knowing when your chicken is cooked. According to Cooks Illustrated, the juices may also turn clear on an undercooked piece of chicken and pink on a fully cooked one. In addition to heat and cooking time, the age and development of the bird are important, as is a molecule called myoglobin (which determines the color). Learn how to use a meat thermometer.

How long to cook chicken

While these temperatures are the best marker of doneness, timing estimates are useful when planning menus or purchasing ingredients for quick meal prep.

Whole chicken

When thinking about how long it will take to get a fried chicken on the table, a good general rule for a whole bird without stuffing is to estimate 20 to 30 minutes per pound (when cooked at 375F) for a medium-sized bird you'll find at the grocery store. , weighs about four pounds, so cook for 1.5 to 2 hours.

Not fast enough? Significantly reduce cooking time by cocking the bird (removing the backbone and flattening the bird in the roasting pan). Learn how to cook chicken here.

Internal temperature: 180F. When the thickest part of the breast or thigh reaches this mark, the bird is cooked.

Cooking time for chicken depends on the size, cooking method, and whether you have bone-in or boneless chicken.

Chicken stuffed

Ground meat can easily add up to 30 minutes to the total cooking time due to its moist consistency, which not only slows down the cooking process, but also creates an ideal environment for bacteria to grow. For faster (and safer) results, cook the minced meat in a separate bowl next to the bird.

Note: If you prefer to use ground poultry, we also recommend checking the temperature of the ground meat. The thermometer should read at least 165F for proper cooking.

Chicken internal temperature: 180F. Internal packing temperature: 165F.

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Boneless Chicken Breast and Boneless Chicken Breast

The average cooking time for boneless chicken breasts is 35 to 45 minutes at 350°F (depending on size). Expect to add another 5 minutes or more to the cooking time for bone-in pieces as the bones absorb heat, increasing the time it takes for the chicken to fully cook.

Internal temperature: 165F.

Dark meat vs white meat

Dark meats, such as chicken thighs or legs, take longer to cook because they have a higher fat content and higher density.

Cook boneless thighs for 20 to 30 minutes at 350 F (depending on size).
Bone-in cuts will require another 15 minutes in the oven.

Internal temperature: 165F.

Tip: Need a really quick weeknight dinner? Avoid buying chicken legs; they take the longest to cook—40 minutes to an hour for larger pieces.

Photography, Sian Richards.

Cook chicken on the stove for quick results.

Cooking chicken in the skillet takes less time than cooking it in the oven, so it's a faster way to dinner or meal prep for the week. This is also a good option for single-person households because it avoids having to preheat the oven to cook a single serving.

Boneless, skinless chicken breasts: 8 to 11 minutes per side (depending on size)
Boneless, skinless thighs: 5 to 7 minutes
Chicken with bones: add another 3-4 minutes per side
Chicken burgers: 8 minutes per side.

Internal temperature: 165F.

How long can cooked chicken last in the refrigerator?

Cooked chicken will keep in the refrigerator for 2 to 4 days. To safely store leftovers, shred, bone, and place meat in shallow containers to help it cool faster. Once the food has stopped steaming, cover it and place it in the refrigerator.

You can reheat chicken in the microwave, just heat only enough (reheating the same leftovers more than once is not recommended.)

Can you reheat the chicken after it's cooked?

Yes. But for better results, add moisture. Start by cutting leftovers into smaller pieces to help them heat through evenly. Place one layer in a baking dish with a little chicken broth or broth (this will help prevent them from drying out), cover with foil and heat in a 350F oven. To make sure the chicken is heated through enough, get out your trusty food thermometer and make sure the internal temperature reaches 165F (this should take about 30 minutes). For faster reheating, follow the same protocol, but instead heat the chicken in a covered, microwave-safe oven dishes in the microwave. Always avoid reheating the same leftovers more than once.

Watch: How to cut a whole chicken into 9 pieces

Technology for cooking chicken for soup

Chicken is not a picky product, and it’s easy to prepare it for soup. To make the broth clear, aromatic and nutritious, follow the technology:

The chicken meat is washed well and dried with a paper towel, after which film and fat can be removed from it, or skin if breast or legs are used.
The meat is placed in cold water - for the broth you need to take quite a lot of it, at least 2 liters per 0.5 kg of chicken. Place in the cold for 20-30 minutes. The chicken will release its juices and the broth will be more flavorful.
Place on high heat and bring to a boil.
Skim off the foam to obtain a clear broth before the soup boils. As soon as the product boils for 1-2 minutes, reduce the heat and cover the pan with a lid.
Cook for the required time, about 10-15 minutes after boiling, add an onion and carrots, cut into 2-3 parts.
Salt the broth 5-10 minutes before it is ready, but if potatoes are used in the soup, then this procedure is postponed until it is cooked. At the same time, add bay leaves and peppercorns.
As soon as the chicken is ready, it gives up all its juices to the broth, it is taken out along with the vegetables, and the preparation of the soup continues according to the chosen recipe.

If the meat is cooked not in pieces, but as a whole carcass, then after the first boil, you need to drain the water and add new water. In this case, the broth is salted immediately after changing the liquid.

Advice! If you think that the fillet or legs are too watery and contain a lot of antibiotics, then they can also be boiled in 2 waters. Changing the liquid will also reduce the calorie content of the finished product.

Secrets and useful tips

Create the perfect chicken soup with soft and tender, but not crumbly meat, following these simple recommendations:

When choosing a breast or cutting up a chicken carcass, pay attention to the breast bone. If it is soft, then the bird was young, and such meat can be cooked a little less;
Frozen meat must first be de-iced in the refrigerator; it is not advisable to use a microwave for defrosting;
if the chicken has bluish and thin skin, then it is a rooster. They are usually not sold in stores, but poultry sellers may try to deceive the buyer;
Do not wash meat in hot water, otherwise it will become less tasty;
During the preparation of soup, you cannot add water, otherwise the broth will turn out tasteless;
The broth should be cooked at a moderate boil so that it does not become cloudy;
When reheating the broth, do not bring it to a boil.

A simple preparation in the form of chicken broth with a minimal set of spices will be an excellent basis for many recipes.

How long to cook chicken breast

Americans eat a lot of chicken, ranging from stewed chicken to marinated grilled chicken. Many people prefer chicken breast over other meats—it's easy to cook, affordable, and a great source of lean protein—but this particular cut has a bad reputation for drying out during cooking.

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Chicken breast loses its juiciness when overcooked. The time it takes to cook chicken breast depends on its thickness and cooking method. The most accurate way to determine how long to cook chicken breast is to use a meat thermometer and cook the chicken to a certain temperature. If you cook a chicken breast to 160 degrees Fahrenheit and then let it rest for five minutes before serving, it will reach the FDA recommended 165 degrees Fahrenheit without overcooking.

If you don't have a meat thermometer, here are some general guidelines for cooking chicken breast in different ways.

Grill: Approximately 6 to 8 minutes per side when direct heat, 10 to 12 minutes per side when indirect heat In the oven: Approximately 20 to 30 minutes when baking or broiling at 375 degrees F. On the stovetop: Approximately 2 minutes per side when sautéing over high heat, 4 to 6 minutes per side when frying over medium-low heat If deep-frying: Approximately 8 to 12 minutes in oil at 350 to 365 degrees Fahrenheit

After this time, your chicken will be cooked perfectly every time, so why not try some of these 35 chicken recipes for busy weeknights.

Delicious and quick chicken soup recipes

Chicken-based soups are very tasty and varied. The unobtrusive aroma of poultry meat is complemented by cereals, potatoes, noodles and even cream, thanks to which you can get a delicate puree soup.

Clear soup with rice

A simple and quick recipe that requires a minimum of effort is prepared from 300 g of chicken thigh meat, 1.7 liters of water, carrots, 3 potatoes and an onion. Add 90 g of round rice, dry dill and 1 tsp. salt:

prepare food - peel vegetables, remove skin from chicken, wash it;
meat and vegetables, put in cold water, boil for 50 minutes;
cut potatoes into cubes or slices;
Having taken out the cooked chicken and vegetables, add potatoes and well-washed rice to the broth;
bring to a boil and cook for 25 minutes over low heat so that the broth does not boil too much;
carrots and meat are chopped, the onion is not used;
add everything 5 minutes before readiness, including dill, boil again and leave to steep for 10-15 minutes.

Dried dill in this recipe can be replaced with fresh; it is added to the already prepared soup so that the greens do not overcook. Rice can be replaced with buckwheat or pasta, only the flour product is added 10-15 minutes before readiness, it is advisable to use gossamer or other small options made from durum wheat.

Creamy soup

Making creamy chicken soup is simple: take 300 g fillet, 1 tbsp. l. flour, 50 g of celery and the same amount of butter, as well as 200 g of cream from 10% to 20% fat. The minimum spices are pepper and salt, as well as fresh herbs.

While the chicken broth is cooking, fry the flour in butter, add the celery and, stirring continuously, fry for 5 minutes. Add chopped meat and a third of cream to the base of the soup. Simmer for another 2-3 minutes. Place the mixture in a blender and beat, pour in the remaining cream and about 100 ml of broth. Beat again and pour into plates.

It's hard to remember a simpler first course than chicken soup. Considering how many additional ingredients can be added to the recipe, it is not surprising that it continues to be popular in many cuisines around the world. There are so many things you can cook with chicken broth!

Such soups are very healthy, which is why they are present in children's and dietary diets. However, it is not necessary to make this first dish exclusively in a light version. You can safely include hearty potatoes, curly vermicelli, nutritious buckwheat and rice in the recipe. You can also prepare a delicious cheese soup with the addition of fresh peas or replace fresh chicken with smoked chicken to enhance the taste and aroma. But you need to start with the main thing.

Chicken appetizer

Products

Chicken breast - 2 pieces (about 500 grams) Fresh cucumber - 4 pieces Basil - leaves for decoration Pesto sauce - 2 tablespoons Mayonnaise - 6 tablespoons Freshly ground pepper - 1 teaspoon Salt - 1 teaspoon

How to make a chicken appetizer with cucumbers

1. Boil the chicken: place in cold water and keep on fire for 30 minutes. Remove skin and bones, cut chicken into small pieces. 2. Add 6 tablespoons of mayonnaise, combine with two tablespoons of Pesto sauce, add a pinch of freshly ground pepper, salt, and mix well until a homogeneous mass is formed. 3. Wash and cut 4 fresh cucumbers into elongated oval slices 0.5 centimeters thick, place them on a flat-bottomed plate and place a teaspoon of the resulting boiled chicken mixture on each of them. 4. Rinse fresh basil under running water and place on top of each serving of appetizer.

Proper chicken broth

You can prepare the basis for first courses from different types of meat. But the easiest way is to make chicken broth. It boils faster, although the recipe has several secrets. And they will all be revealed!

Secret 1. Carefully clean the chicken from transparent films and pieces of cartilage. If there are bone fragments, they will need to be removed. It is also necessary to wash the bird and gently pat dry with several napkins.
Secret 2. It is better to place chicken parts in water brought to a boil. Then less protein will be released inside the pan, which means there won’t be as much foam.
Secret 3. How to cook chicken for soup in a saucepan to get a clear broth? It is recommended to do this on low heat. Yes, it will take more time, but the first dish will ultimately turn out amazingly beautiful.
Secret 4. Since it is permissible to use any part of the bird for broth, the question of how long to cook chicken for soup is very relevant. Fillet cooks the fastest, about 20 minutes. It is better to keep the drumsticks or wings in boiling water for at least half an hour. It is recommended to boil chicken spine, legs or thighs for at least 45 minutes.
Secret 5. How to properly process chicken stock for soup? Remove the foam from the surface with a slotted spoon, strain the liquid itself, return it to a small burner in a clean saucepan and bring to a light boil again.

How long should you bake chicken?

According to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), a 4-ounce chicken breast should be roasted at 350°F (177°C) for 25 to 30 minutes.

Cooking can be dangerous (especially if you're a fan of flambé!). When you're preparing food in the kitchen, the risks are relatively low, but roasting chicken or cooking any poultry always poses the risk of foodborne illness.

Luckily, knowing how to properly cook chicken can keep you safe and well-nourished.

Salmonella is a foodborne bacterium that causes 1.2 million illnesses and 450 deaths annually.

Salmonella is primarily found in raw poultry. Cooking poultry properly is safe, but if it is undercooked or mishandled raw, it can lead to trouble.

All poultry in the United States is tested for signs of disease, but this does not mean it is free of bacteria. In fact, it is not unusual for raw poultry to contain many different types of bacteria.

Cooking tips

Thaw frozen chicken slowly in the refrigerator or more quickly by placing it in an airtight container or plastic bag and immersing it in cold tap water.
Bake 4 oz. chicken breast at 350°F (177°C) for 25-30 minutes.
Use a meat thermometer to check that the internal temperature is 165°F (74°C).

The USDA has provided this guide for frying, braising, and grilling chicken:

This guide can help you estimate how long to cook chicken, but because ovens have slight differences in temperature and chicken breasts can be larger or smaller than average, it's important to double-check the internal temperature of the meat.

In order to kill any possible infections in your poultry, you should bring the internal temperature of the meat to 165°F (74°C).

You can check if you have reached 165°F (74°C) by inserting a meat thermometer into the thickest part of the breast. In this case, closing is not enough, so be sure to put it back in the oven if it does not reach this threshold.

Don't rely on how your chicken breast looks to determine if it's done. Pink meat does not necessarily mean that it is undercooked. Likewise, white meat does not necessarily mean that all bacteria have been destroyed.

Be careful about cross-contamination if you cut the chicken to check its appearance. When raw poultry comes in contact with work surfaces, knives, and even your hands, it can harbor bacteria.

These bacteria can be transferred from surface to surface and end up on your salad, on your fork, and ultimately in your mouth.

Wash and thoroughly disinfect surfaces that come into contact with raw poultry. Use paper towels so that they can be discarded after removing any possible contamination.

Preparation and storage are also important. The USDA recommends that frozen chicken always be thawed in the refrigerator, microwave, or an airtight bag submerged in cold water.

Chicken should always be cooked immediately after thawing. Bacteria are more likely to grow on raw meat that is between 40°F (4°C) and 140°F (60°C).

Cooked chicken breasts should be refrigerated within two hours of cooking. Your leftovers should be safe for two to three days.

Preparation and Cleaning

Wash surfaces that come into contact with raw chicken.
Wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds after handling raw chicken.
Wash utensils with hot, soapy water after handling raw meat.

So now that you know how to safely handle chicken breasts, what should you do with them?

Chicken breasts are very versatile, and the options for preparing them are almost endless. For starters, you can cut them into salads, use them in sandwiches, or grill them.

For a healthy take on the classic, try this oven-roasted chicken breast recipe or these flavorful herb-roasted chicken breasts.

Don't be afraid to cook chicken. If you know how to handle it properly, chicken breast is a lean protein that is both delicious and safe.

Chicken soup recipes with potatoes

Having prepared the base for the soup, it’s time to figure out what ingredients can be included in the recipe. The first option is potato soup with chicken. It can be safely called one of the most popular, and for preparation we will need:

chicken broth - 1 liter;
potatoes - 210 g;
carrots - 55 g;
fresh parsley, salt.

Carefully add the prepared ingredients into the slowly boiling broth. While stirring, add salt and season with chopped parsley. Boil the soup with potatoes and chicken for a quarter of an hour. During this time, chop the chicken meat remaining after cooking the broth and throw it into the pan. Pour the first into plates, if desired, add a small amount of chopped herbs.

In addition to the classic version, chicken soup with potatoes and cereals is often prepared. To do this, just add rice or buckwheat instead of potatoes. This will not increase the total cooking time, since it takes no more than twenty minutes for the grains to soften.

It is especially important to note the chicken soup with potatoes and noodles. This first recipe is perfect for children, especially if you use shaped pasta of different colors. But let’s focus on the classic version, for which you need to take:

chicken broth - 1 l;
fresh potatoes - 190 g;
any curly vermicelli - 100 g;
carrots - 55 g;
salt pepper;
fresh greens.

Return the pre-cooked chicken broth to the stove in a washed pan. Set the heat to minimum, and during this time peel the potatoes and carrots. Chop the first root vegetable into cubes and grate the second. Add small shaped noodles, potatoes, salt, carrots and black pepper into a low boiling broth.

Cook the noodle soup with chicken for about a third of an hour. Check the readiness of all ingredients, season with chopped fresh dill and serve in portioned plates.

Classic chicken shurpa recipe

chicken – 1.2-1.4 kg;
water – 2-2.5 l;
potatoes – 0.5 kg;
carrots – 0.25 kg;
onions – 150 g;
sweet pepper – 0.25 kg;
bitter capsicum – 25 g;
tomatoes – 0.3 kg;
apple cider vinegar (6 percent) – 40 ml;
fresh parsley – 50 g;
fresh cilantro – 50 g;
wheat flour – 20 g;
salt - to taste;
vegetable oil - how much will be needed.

Wash the chicken, cut into large pieces, place in a saucepan. Fill with cold water and place over medium heat. When the broth boils, add a little salt to it. Remove any foam that appears on the surface. Cover the pan with a lid, leaving a gap. Cook the chicken for about an hour. Remove it from the pan with a slotted spoon and cool. Strain the broth.
Peel the potatoes and cut into large pieces. Medium-sized tubers need to be divided into 4 parts with a knife.

Chicken and Pea Soup Recipes

Another first dish that will be useful for both adults and children is pea soup with chicken. It can be made with dry split beans, fresh beans, or canned beans. It all depends on the situation or taste, but in any case it’s simple. Required Products:

chicken broth - 1.5 liters;
split peas - 2/3 cup;
potatoes - 230 g;
carrots - 65 g;
onions - 65 g; frying oil;
Bay leaf;
salt, fresh dill, pepper.

Before you start boiling the broth, to which it is important to add bay leaves, steam half a glass of split peas in boiling water. During this time, peel the root vegetables: carrots, onions and potatoes. Grind the first ones, and cut the third into cubes. Heat some oil and fry the carrots and onions for 2-3 minutes.

Add peas to the strained broth without laurel and cook on a medium burner for about 40 minutes, skimming off the foam. Then transfer the roasted vegetables and add potato cubes. Add black pepper, shredded chicken and rock salt. Cook for another third of an hour, pour into plates and cover with chopped dill.

Do you want to make the taste of your first dish more vibrant? Prepare pea soup with smoked chicken, for which you will need to add the disassembled bird along with potatoes and fried onions and carrots.

The latter will appeal to fans of more complex dressing dishes. Cheese soup with melted cheese and chicken with the addition of fresh or canned peas will absolutely decorate the dinner table. For everything to work, you need to take:

fresh (canned) peas - 1.5 cups;
liter of chicken broth;
potatoes - 300 g;
processed cheese - 2 pcs.;
large white onion;
salt, white pepper;
greens and croutons.

Peel and wash fresh potatoes and white onions. Finely chop both ingredients and boil in chicken broth for 15 minutes. Add washed fresh or canned peas without marinade. Boil the same amount at low temperature.

Next, remove the pan from the stove and use an immersion blender to puree the pea soup with chicken to a puree consistency. Press the mixture through a sieve and pour back into a clean pan. Season with salt and ground white pepper. Add processed cheese cut into cubes. Stirring constantly, achieve homogeneity, then pour the hot soup into bowls and add croutons and herbs.

Chicken soup is a fairly hearty and simple dish that is considered dietary. It is suitable for all family members and every housewife should be able to cook it. The first question that interests a novice cook is: how long to cook chicken for soup? Because The cooking time for different parts of the carcass varies significantly. Next, we’ll take a closer look at how long to cook chicken for soup.

With vegetables in the oven

What is tasty and simple to cook from chicken breast? The answer is fillet baked with vegetables. This dish will save time because it cooks very quickly and can serve as a full dinner, without the need for a side dish. However, since it is very easy to dry out chicken, it is important to follow the recipe described exactly. How to cook chicken breast with vegetables in the oven?

Ingredients:

large tomato;
chicken breast – 0.8 kg;
spices;
eggplant;
mozzarella – 150 g;
basil sprigs – 2-3 pcs.

Cooking method:

Cut the eggplant in half lengthwise, then into thin slices, and add salt.
The meat should be cut into small pieces, seasoned and fried for 3 minutes on each side.
Cut the tomatoes into small slices, the cheese into thin slices.
Preheat the oven to 220 degrees.
Rinse the eggplant under water, let the excess liquid drain and fry in a frying pan. Place half of the prepared vegetable in a baking dish, place the breast on top, then cover the chicken with the rest of the blue tomatoes.
Sprinkle the dish with grated cheese, chopped basil and bake for 10 minutes in the oven.

Below is another option for how to cook chicken breast. The meat with vegetables turns out to be very aromatic, soft, juicy, so even a child will eat it with pleasure. The optimal solution is to use fresh, chilled product for cooking, rather than frozen chicken. If you still have to defrost the fillet, it is better to do it in the refrigerator rather than at room temperature.

Ingredients:

potatoes – 5 pcs.;
breast – 2 pcs.;
garlic cloves – 3 pcs.;
mixture of frozen vegetables with carrots, broccoli, cauliflower – 0.4 kg;
sour cream - 1 tbsp.;
spices.

Cooking method:

The meat should be cut into 2 parts, the potatoes should be peeled and chopped into thin nickels.
To prepare the sauce, mix sour cream with crushed garlic and spices.
Cut the foil into rectangles and place the shiny side up. Place a handful of vegetable mixture, potatoes, and a piece of fillet coated with sauce on it.
Wrap each portion so that the foil remains intact and does not tear.
Bake the dish for an hour at 200 degrees.

Even experienced chefs sometimes spoil chicken by drying it out too much, so it is important to know the secrets of cooking such meat. How to cook chicken breast quickly and tasty:

if you don’t beat the fillet, it will turn out more juicy;
It is better to bake meat in a sleeve or foil, to fry it in breading;
to cook delicious chicken, add bay leaves to the water, and keep the cooked product in the broth longer to make the meat juicier;
Spices will help highlight the taste - turmeric, paprika, basil, Italian herbs;
To prepare a soft, juicy fillet, first soak it in the marinade for at least 15 minutes.

How long does it take to cook homemade chicken?

Usually you can find young broiler chickens on sale, the meat of which cooks quite quickly, about 1 hour. The same cannot be said about homemade chicken, the meat of which is much tougher and takes longer to cook. Cooking time also depends on the age of the bird. The age of a bird can be determined by the bone on its chest (keel). If it bends, then the bird is young, but if the keel is hard, then the bird is already more than a year old. Depending on the age, size, and veininess of the chicken for soup, after boiling, it should be cooked for 1 to 3 hours.

Let's evaluate the harm and benefits of chicken skin

Chicken meat has special benefits due to its unique composition.
You need to know how to prepare it correctly in order to preserve all the positive properties of the product. Before use, you should familiarize yourself with the contraindications and possible harm of chicken meat. Chicken is the most common poultry. It is grown in almost every country on earth. No type of meat contains as many substances important for the human body as there are in chicken. It is low in fat and high in amino acids, and contains virtually no carbohydrates or cholesterol.

The product is rich in vitamins and minerals. Among them:

vitamins A, B1, B2, B2, B3, B5, B6, B9, C, E;
potassium;
sulfur;
sodium;
magnesium;
iron;
zinc;
calcium;
phosphorus;
chlorine.

Chicken meat contains amino acids:

Tryptophan. Converts to serotonin, causing mental relaxation. If a person does not have enough tryptophan in the blood, he is susceptible to frequent depression, insomnia, anxiety and headaches.
Leucine. The amino acid is an activator of muscle growth and plays a special role in protein synthesis.
Lysine. Increases mental and physical activity, strengthens nails and hair, and is important for the body’s immune system.
Valin. The substance makes up about 70% of all proteins in the body. It is necessary for tissue growth and repair, normal functioning of the liver and gall bladder, and corrects the balance of amino acids.
Isoleucine. Its deficiency leads to headaches, fatigue, decreased appetite, and nervousness.
Purin. Provides energy exchange and fills cells with oxygen. Its lack in the blood can cause joint diseases.
Taurine. The amino acid is used in medications for the treatment of eye diseases, tissue restoration and regeneration.
Arginine. Plays an important role in male reproductive function, improves fertility, increases the quality and quantity of sperm.

Despite the significant advantages of eating chicken, there are some negative aspects, including:

Fatty tissue of the skin. Harmful substances for the body are concentrated in it. It is not recommended for people with liver problems, excess weight and poor skin.
Poor quality products in the store. Sometimes store-bought meat contains hormones and antibiotics. Manufacturers may treat it with chlorine. This product is harmful and even dangerous.
Possibility of poisoning. If chicken has been poorly processed, eating it can cause bacteria to grow in the intestines.
Bad cholesterol. Too much of it in the body can be caused by eating fried and smoked chicken.

You should not overuse smoked meat, as it contributes to the development of malignant tumors. The fact is that during the smoking process, natural smoke contributes to the accumulation of carcinogens in the product, which enter the body. Sometimes harmful substances are used during such processing: phenol, acetone, formaldehyde.

As for contraindications, chicken meat should not be consumed by people who are allergic to chicken protein. The broth should not be given to children under 2 years of age. Only poultry should be used to feed the baby. If this is not possible, you should carefully process purchased meat.

Women who follow a diet based on animal proteins should not overuse chicken meat. This can cause ovulation problems and lead to infertility. There is no need to completely abandon the product, because it also contains important elements necessary for the normal functioning of the body. It is recommended to consume no more than 80 g of chicken meat per day.

To determine a quality product, it is recommended to pay attention to the following points:

Old chicken has harder bones and grayish meat.
A young bird has elastic meat that is white with a yellow tint. The skin should be light pink. It is better to avoid buying meat that is too red.
The appearance of the meat should be pleasant: no entrails, feathers, blood, or damage.
To determine the freshness of meat, you need to press on it with your finger. If the hole immediately levels out, then the product is unspoiled.
The product should not smell rotten. It is not recommended to purchase meat with seasonings; this usually “masks” the unpleasant odor.
You should examine the packaging. It should indicate shelf life and be marked “without chlorine.”
An unnaturally large size of a chicken may indicate that it is being fed modified foods and hormones. Such a bird cannot be purchased.

It is important to know how to properly store chicken meat. A chilled product can be kept in the refrigerator for no more than 3 days, and a frozen product in the freezer for up to 1 year, provided that the temperature in the chamber is from -20 degrees. Chilled chicken is healthier than frozen chicken. In addition, it is softer and more delicate in taste.

Someone's salivation sharply increases at the sight of a golden crispy chicken crust, while others disgustedly throw it in the trash. But knowing about the substances contained in chicken skin and their effect on the human body will be useful for both.

Do you like chicken? Do you cook it often? Do you know the benefits of white meat, beloved by many? Today on the site “Beautiful and Successful” there is a “chicken” question. More precisely, we are interested in the topic “Chicken: benefits and harm.”

Do you know what explains the dietary properties of chicken?

Firstly, white meat is quite high in protein and amino acids (about 92%).
Secondly, the calorie content is not that high - about 190 kcal, depending on the part of the carcass.

That's why chicken is a common ingredient in various dietary dishes.

Chicken is also rich in:

iron;
zinc;
potassium;
phosphorus;
selenium;
magnesium;
vitamins of groups A, B, C, E, PP.

Let's consider the benefits and harms of chicken raised under normal home conditions.

First of all, chicken is very beneficial for our immunity. Microelements create an excellent protective barrier against negative environmental influences. It is not surprising that those who regularly eat boiled chicken get sick much less often than those who eat pork, beef and carbohydrate foods.

Chicken is also an excellent way to restore strength. Remember what liquid is often recommended to drink in case of illness, physical exhaustion and impotence? Of course, we are talking about chicken broth.

Thanks to its rich set of vitamins, chicken is useful for various metabolic processes in the body. And in general, life processes in the body proceed more correctly. For example, thanks to vitamins, the process of hematopoiesis significantly improves.

Also, chicken in combination with “live” foods (vegetables, herbs) significantly improves the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract.

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B vitamins are very useful for our appearance, more precisely, for the health and beauty of hair, nails and skin.

Protein is one of the most important healthy components in chicken. And do you know why?

Firstly, it is an excellent building material for muscles and bones.
Secondly, protein has a great effect on brain development.

It is not surprising that chicken is often included in the diet of children and the elderly.

Another important property of chicken is its correct effect on the nervous system. A rich set of vitamins and elements has a beneficial effect on the functioning of nerve cells. It is especially useful to include chicken in the diet for insomnia, depression and other unpleasant “nervous” conditions.

Finally, thanks to acids, chicken meat serves as an excellent prophylactic against ischemia, heart attacks and strokes.

Let us also note the pleasure that many people get when they eat chicken, thanks to its delicate taste, aroma and easy digestibility.

As you can see, there are quite a lot of benefits from eating chicken. And the most useful part of the carcass is the boiled breast.

Fortunately, chicken brings more benefits to the human body than harm.

But nevertheless, chicken meat can also be a source of harm.

The greatest harm to the body can be caused by eating the skin and dark parts of chicken meat. It is in the skin that harmful substances that enter the chicken’s body during its life accumulate. Therefore, before boiling a piece of chicken, it is recommended to remove the skin from it.

Let us repeat that the described beneficial properties are mainly characteristic of village chickens, which eat well, grow naturally and do not get sick. Unfortunately, for many people such chickens are difficult to obtain.

But in almost any store you can buy meat from “industrial” chickens, chilled or frozen. And most stores supply chicken products from poultry farms, where the life of chickens can hardly be called joyful.

You've probably heard that factories add antibiotics, hormones and other components to chicken feed to accelerate weight gain and prevent diseases.

If this is true, then by consuming chicken meat, we receive a certain dose of drugs and hormones, for example, estrogens.

It is clear that there is no benefit, but what harm can come from chicken loaded with estrogens?

Such chicken can provoke hormonal imbalance and a number of diseases, including those in the reproductive system.

In the male body, excess estrogens can negatively affect potency over time.

Also, the benefits and harms of store-bought chicken depend on:

conditions for keeping chickens at a poultry farm;
water quality;
past diseases;
transportation conditions;
storage conditions in the store.

To get more benefits than harm from eating chicken, pay attention to the following recommendations:

buy chicken products only from trusted manufacturers and in good stores;
When choosing, pay attention to the expiration date, skin color, smell and shape of the chicken. The carcass must be without flaws. And the skin should be white;
try to cook the chicken yourself. The most useful part is the breast, boiled in clean drinking water;
do not store chicken after cooking for a long time;
Try not to eat too much chicken at one meal. Everything is good in moderation!

If you often fry, bake or cook grilled chicken, then create the safest possible cooking conditions. For example, use healthy vegetable oil. Carefully monitor the temperature and cooking time.

And a side dish in the form of light vegetables will help digest the chicken better.

The site “Beautiful and Successful” really hopes that our information about chicken, the benefits and harms of eating chicken meat will be useful to you. And by choosing the right chicken, you will only get pleasure from your favorite product and health benefits.

How long to cook chicken drumstick?

It's no secret that a carcass chopped into pieces cooks much faster than a whole one. If the parts have bones, then you need to cook the chicken for broth longer. However, meat with bones produces a richer broth for making soup.

This chicken meat is cooked at low boil for 30-45 minutes. If the boil is too active, chicken cannot be cooked, because... the broth will come out cloudy and unsightly. If the bird will be used for the first course, it can be boiled a little more to make it soft and juicy.

Recipes

Chicken is an affordable product that is sold in any store, but it is tasty and contains a huge amount of protein, amino acids and vitamins. What can you cook from chicken breast? It can be stewed, fried, boiled, baked on its own or with other products - potatoes, onions, mushrooms, tomatoes. In addition, it is important to use the right spices for chicken so that the meat is aromatic and has a rich taste. Honey with mustard, soy sauce, mayonnaise, adjika, etc. can serve as a marinade for chicken.

How long to cook chicken for soup?

To get rich chicken broth and delicious soup, it is better to cook the chicken for soup for at least 2 hours. To do this, the carcass is chopped into pieces, placed in cold water and brought to a boil. The foam is removed with a slotted spoon, and the meat is cooked until ready for soup at a low simmer until the meat is well separated from the bone. For a pleasant aroma, you can put a whole head of onion, parsley, parsnip or celery roots and your favorite seasonings in the pan. The broth is salted at the end of cooking, otherwise the meat will take longer to cook and will turn out tough.

"Tiger skin"

A plate with this salad really looks like the skin of a tiger. The top layer is bright orange carrots with black prune stripes.

Ingredients:

Chicken meat – 200 g;
Onions - 2 pieces;
Eggs – 3 pieces;
Cucumber – 1 piece;
Cheese – 100 g;
Carrots – 1 piece;
Garlic – 1 clove;
Prunes – 20 g.
Sunflower oil for frying;
Mayonnaise for dressing – 200 g.

This salad takes about 45 minutes to prepare.

Its calorie content is 300 kcal per 100 g.

Boil the chicken. Boil the eggs separately. Meanwhile, chop the onion coarsely into half rings, fry until golden brown, adding a little sunflower oil. The bottom layer will be onions. Slice the chicken and place on top of the onion. Grate the eggs and spread into the next layer.

Cut the fresh cucumber into cubes and place on the eggs. Sprinkle another layer with grated cheese. Grate the carrots, fry until tender, add squeezed garlic at the end. Place the cooled carrots in the last layer. The medicine can be used by both children and adults.

How long should you cook frozen chicken?

Thrifty housewives often have frozen chicken carcass in their freezer. This bird is perfect for making broth. The cooking time for frozen chicken largely depends on the age of the bird and its weight.

To prepare the broth, immediately place frozen chicken in a saucepan and bring the contents to a boil. Cook the broth at a low simmer. Total cooking time is increased by 15 minutes compared to similar fresh poultry.

Vitamin salad with boiled chicken

This simple salad is perfect for every day for girls on a diet and lovers of proper nutrition. It contains maximum benefits - vitamins and a lot of protein.

Required ingredients:

Chicken breast without skin – 100 g;
Sweet bell pepper – 1 piece;
Cherry tomatoes – 10 pieces;
Cucumber – 1 piece;
Arugula – bunch 50 g;
Any curd cheese or feta cheese – 50 g.
Pine nuts – a small handful;
Vegetable oil for dressing (unrefined) – 1 tbsp. spoon.

Cooking time: 10 min.

Calorie content – 145 kcal/100 g.

Boil the breast, preferably without salt. Wash the vegetables. Remove the middle and seeds from the pepper. Chop everything coarsely. Place vegetables, cheese cubes on a plate, pour oil, and distribute pine nuts on top.

How long should you cook chicken after boiling?

When the chicken broth has boiled and the foam has completely removed, the question arises: how long to cook the chicken after boiling. The answer depends on what part of the carcass is used to prepare the broth.

The breast, cut into pieces, is cooked for 20-25 minutes.

This means that all vegetables can be added immediately after the contents of the pan boil. The meat will have time to fully cook along with the vegetables.

Chicken legs are cooked for about half an hour after boiling. And the wings take 5 minutes less to cook.

The cooking time for the thigh depends on the presence of the bone. If the bone is cut, i.e. The broth is prepared from thigh fillet, then this meat is prepared after boiling for 20 minutes. The thigh with the bone is cooked for 30-40 minutes.

Chicken salad “Exotic”

This salad is served in the form of a pineapple and has an unusual, refined taste.

Ingredients:

Chicken fillet – 200 g;
Rice – 50 g;
Carrots – 1 piece;
Pineapple – 1 – 2 pieces;
Avocado – 1 piece;
Shrimp – 200 g;
Nori (pressed seaweed for making rolls) – 1 sheet;
Mayonnaise.

It takes 20 minutes to cook meat and rice and 30 minutes. decoration for serving. The calorie content of the dish is 300 calories per 100 g.

Boil the chicken. Cook the rice, to do this, wash the cereal, pour it with water in the proportion of 2 parts water: 1 part rice. Boil carrots. Boil shrimp for 5 minutes, peel.

Wash the pineapple, cut off the black skin and pulp, leaving the hard core and green part. Finely chop the pulp. Divide the avocado in half, peel, pit and cut. Grate the carrots.

Place ingredients in layers on a large round plate.

1 – rice, 2 – chicken, 3 – pineapple, mayonnaise, 4 – carrots, 5 – avocado, 6 – shrimp, cover the top layer generously with mayonnaise.

Make small rolls for decoration. Spread a thin layer of rice on a sheet of nori, with long strips of avocado at the bottom. Roll up the roll tightly and cut crosswise into rolls. Thread shrimp, roll, and a piece of pineapple onto a toothpick.

Insert an “island” of pineapple into the center of the dish with salad, and string the resulting canapés evenly. You'll get a delicious pineapple!

Harmful properties and contraindications

The benefits of chicken largely depend on how the bird was raised and how it was cooked.

Homemade chicken meat has the following beneficial properties:

normalizes metabolism;
has a positive effect on the functioning of the reproductive organs;
improves vision;
restores strength;
improves blood circulation;
strengthens teeth and nails;
relieves stress and depression;
maintains normal blood pressure.

It is easily digestible and is especially recommended:

For those who often catch colds. People with reduced immunity need to consume chicken broth. The amino acids it contains fight viral and colds.
For children. Even infants are allowed to give chicken pate and steamed meatballs. Meat promotes the growth and development of a child.
Diabetics. Chicken increases the amount of polyunsaturated acids and regulates blood sugar.
To old people. Consumption of the product helps reduce the risk of developing many age-related diseases.
Pregnant and lactating women. The vitamins contained in chicken are simply necessary for the nutrition of the expectant mother and her baby. They have a positive effect on the functioning of the genital organs.
Athletes. Chicken contains a sufficient amount of protein - a building material for muscles. People who are characterized by increased physical activity need to include boiled breast in their diet every day. Broth makes the body more resilient.

The product is also recommended to be included in the diet of people who suffer from the following pathologies:

obesity;
hypertension;
nervous overstrain;
gout;
anemia;
gastrointestinal ulcers;
polyarthritis;
stroke;
cardiac ischemia;
joint diseases.

Regular consumption of chicken meat helps strengthen the nervous system, improves the condition of the skin and hair, and helps relieve stress during menstruation in women. The positive effects of the product extend to other body systems.

The functioning of the digestive system is characterized by disturbances in the form of heartburn and heaviness in the stomach. Even those who lead a healthy lifestyle may experience gastrointestinal disorders. Therefore, you should choose easily digestible foods, especially for children and people with stomach diseases.

Chicken is considered a fairly easy to digest food and does not create any digestive problems. Chicken broth makes the stomach work even with reduced secretion. Poultry meat is indicated for gastrointestinal diseases, excess weight, it improves the human condition with gastritis, duodenal ulcers, and attracts excess acidity.

The immune system

Scientists have found that the immunity levels of many people have decreased markedly. The reasons for the weakening of the body’s protective functions lie in poor ecology, bad habits, the use of medications and many other factors. Therefore, it is important to maintain the condition of the immune system.

Chicken broth is very useful for strengthening the immune system and enriching the body with proteins. It must be used during colds, ARVI, and flu. Meat saturates the body with essential elements and creates a protective barrier against external microbes and viruses. It has been proven that people who regularly eat chicken are less susceptible to colds than those who eat beef or pork.

Heart and blood vessels

About 42% of all heart attacks occur between the ages of 50 and 59 years. There are more men than women among the patients. Young people are especially susceptible to heart muscle diseases. Therefore, you should think about your health and nutrition from an early age.

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Taurine, which is part of chicken meat, normalizes heart function, nicotinic acid reduces the risk of heart attacks and helps quickly recover from illness. Chicken lowers blood cholesterol levels and fights atherosclerosis. Chicken broth promotes the active work of the heart muscle, strengthens blood vessels, and increases their elasticity. All this has a positive effect on blood pressure levels.

The most alarming part of chicken skin is the fat: 15.6 g per 100 g of product. But is it always harmful to health?

All fats are divided into two large groups: saturated and unsaturated (in turn, monounsaturated and polyunsaturated).

Representatives of the first category are deposited in adipose tissue and provoke the development of atherosclerosis and gastrointestinal diseases. Therefore, their consumption should be limited (but not completely eliminated).
Unsaturated fats are vital for every person. They strengthen the immune system, help balance cholesterol levels in the blood, improve brain and heart function, and make the skin smoother and more elastic.

And even though poultry skin is a high-calorie product (212 kcal per 100 g), there is no need to be too afraid of consuming it.

Chicken is a dietary product. It has a lot of protein and fewer calories than other types of meat. White chicken meat is low in fat, while red meat is high in iron. If we talk about the dietary component, remove the skin from the chicken - it is harmful, there is a lot of fat, and prefer the breast to the legs.

What's healthy in chicken?

-proteins – 20%, fats – 8-9%, carbohydrates – about 1%, the rest is water. Calorie content from 160 kcal to 240 kcal will depend on the part of the carcass.

-iron 1.6 g, zinc – 2.1 g, potassium and phosphorus in small quantities.

- a lot of vitamins B, A, C, E, PP.

The beneficial properties of chicken meat have been known for a long time. But we are only talking about boiled or stewed chicken.

It also contains a lot of polyunsaturated fatty acids. This is important for people suffering from cardiovascular diseases.

And B vitamins will help improve the condition of nails, hair and skin.

If you suffer from insomnia or depression, chicken dishes are also for you.

What else is chicken meat good for?

It is perfectly absorbed because... there is little connective tissue in it. This meat is indicated for diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, obesity and diabetes. Elderly people should definitely include chicken in their diet.

A good amino acid composition is important for children's nutrition. It is a building material for bones and muscles, and the development of mental abilities.

Women especially of reproductive age should know that chicken meat has a beneficial effect on the female reproductive organs due to the vitamins B9 and B12 it contains. And pregnancy proceeds better for both the unborn child and the mother.

Chicken broth is also very useful. It is used to give energy and strength after illnesses, especially influenza and ROVI and acute respiratory infections.

For heart patients, 100-150 g of broth per day is recommended to normalize heart rate.

And attention! How do we cook the broth? Boil the chicken for 5 - 10 minutes and drain this first broth. It will contain possible additives, hormones, and other substances that are not beneficial for us. And then cook in new water until done according to your favorite recipes.

You know the benefits of chicken meat. Now, when eating chicken, do not forget about the harmfulness of fried, grilled and smoked chicken. Know your limits when determining the volume of a meat dish. And be sure to combine it with vegetables and herbs. This will facilitate digestion and prevent the formation of putrefactive processes in the intestines.

It is important to choose the right chicken meat. Be sure to read these tips here.