Stove-Top Chicken: A Simple Boiling Guide

Boiled chicken is a great way to add protein to your meals. It's a simple, basic cooking method that yields tender, juicy, shreddable chicken that can be used in casseroles, soups, salads, and more. You can use water or broth for boiling, and the latter is a great way to infuse the meat with flavour. You can also add aromatics like onions, celery, carrots, and herbs to the pot to enhance the flavour of the chicken. The cooking time will depend on the size and quantity of the chicken breasts, but it generally takes about 20-30 minutes for boneless, skinless chicken breasts, and 30 minutes for bone-in, skin-on chicken breasts.

Choosing your liquid: water, broth, or something more flavourful

When it comes to choosing a cooking liquid for boiling chicken, you have a few options. You can keep it simple with water, or boost the flavour with broth or stock, or even something more adventurous.

Water is a basic option, but it can be a good choice if you want the other flavours in your recipe to shine. It's also a good option if you're planning to use the cooking liquid for something else, such as cooking rice or pasta, as it will add extra flavour.

Chicken broth or stock is a popular choice for boiling chicken as it infuses the meat with flavour. You can use shop-bought or homemade broth, and if you're using a low-sodium variety, be sure to add extra salt so that the cooking liquid is highly seasoned.

If you want to get creative, you can experiment with other liquids to add flavour to your chicken. Apple cider, dry white wine, or a combination of liquids can be used for a more robust flavour. You can also add aromatics and seasonings to your cooking liquid to further enhance the flavour. Onions, carrots, celery, garlic, herbs, salt, and lemon juice or peel are all great options.

Remember, the flavour of your boiled chicken will come primarily from the liquid and seasonings you use, so don't be afraid to get creative and experiment with different combinations to find what works best for your taste preferences.

Preparing the chicken: seasoning, brining, and cooking from frozen

Preparing the chicken

Seasoning

When preparing chicken to be boiled on the stove, seasoning is an important step to ensure your chicken is tasty. You can season your chicken with salt and pepper, or get creative with blackened seasoning, taco seasoning, Cajun seasoning, Italian seasoning, or garlic powder. You can also add aromatics to the pot, such as onions, celery, carrots, ginger, or scallions.

Brining

Brining is a great way to ensure your chicken is juicy and tender. It involves soaking the chicken in a saltwater solution before cooking. You can also dry brine by sprinkling the chicken with salt and leaving it uncovered in the fridge. If you want to brine your chicken, use around 3 tablespoons of fine salt for every 24 ounces of chicken and brine for about 1 hour. If you want to cut down on the salt, you can reduce the amount of salt and brine for longer, or vice versa.

Cooking from frozen

You can cook frozen chicken on the stove, but avoid using a slow cooker or microwave as this is unsafe. Season your chicken, even if it's frozen, as this will improve the taste. You can season the chicken before placing it in the pan, or after searing the first side to prevent the seasoning from burning. When cooking frozen chicken, avoid slicing it to check if it's cooked, as this will dry it out. Instead, use a meat thermometer to check the internal temperature, which should be 165°F for chicken breasts.

Cooking times: how long to cook for depending on the cut

The cooking time for boiling chicken depends on the cut of the meat. Chicken breasts, for example, can be cooked in as little as 8 minutes if they are thin cutlets. Larger chicken breasts can take up to 15 minutes, while large bone-in chicken breasts will take about 20 minutes.

Skinless, boneless chicken breast halves will take 12 to 15 minutes to cook, while bone-in, skin-on chicken breasts will take about 30 minutes. If you're cooking frozen chicken, the cooking time will increase to 18 to 22 minutes for skinless, boneless breasts, and 45 minutes for bone-in, skin-on breasts.

For chicken thighs, boneless cuts will take about 10 minutes, while bone-in cuts will take about 15 minutes.

It's important to note that you should never actually boil the chicken, as this can result in tough, dry meat. Instead, bring the liquid to a boil, then immediately reduce the heat and simmer until the chicken is cooked through. The chicken is done when it reaches an internal temperature of 165°F in the thickest part of the meat. This can be checked with an instant-read thermometer. You can also cut into the chicken to ensure it's cooked through.

Using a meat thermometer: checking the chicken is cooked through

Using a meat thermometer is a surefire way to know when your chicken is cooked. The chicken is done when it reaches an internal temperature of 165°F (74°C) in the thickest part of the meat. This is when the chicken is cooked through and is safe to eat.

To check the temperature, insert an instant-read thermometer into the thickest part of the chicken breast. If you are cooking a whole chicken, check the temperature in the thickest part of the thigh, ensuring that the thermometer does not touch the bone.

For larger chicken breasts, this can take up to 15 minutes, while thinner chicken breast cutlets are ready in about 8 minutes. Bone-in chicken breasts will take longer, around 20 minutes.

If you don't have a meat thermometer, you can also check if the chicken is cooked through by slicing into the meat to ensure it is no longer pink.

Storing and using leftovers: how long boiled chicken lasts in the fridge

Boiled chicken can be stored in the fridge for 3 to 4 days. It is important to note that the chicken should be stored in the fridge within 2 hours of cooking, or 1 hour if the indoor and outdoor temperatures are 90°F or above.

To store boiled chicken, place it in a clean, dry, airtight container or seal it in an unused, food-grade plastic bag. Label the container or bag with the date the chicken was stored, so you can keep track of how many days are left to consume it.

It is crucial to check for signs of spoilage before consuming refrigerated chicken, as bacteria can multiply quickly and cause foodborne illnesses such as food poisoning. Spoiled chicken may exhibit changes in smell, texture, and colour, such as a sour or acidic odour, a slimy texture, or a faded or grey-green appearance.

Leftover boiled chicken can be used in various dishes, such as salads, soups, curries, pasta, wraps, tacos, or quesadillas. However, it is important to ensure that the chicken is reheated to an internal temperature of at least 165°F before consumption.

Frequently asked questions