How to Boil Chicken
Boiling chicken is a fantastic way to get juicy, healthy chicken cooked to perfection. Boiling chicken makes it tender and easy to shred. There are a few ways to boil chicken, and it all depends on how much chicken you are boiling. Some people choose to use a whole chicken. Others use chicken breast. Some will cut all of the meat off of a whole chicken. What you use is up to you, but cooking times will vary.
Required Ingredients
- Carrots
- Celery
- Potatoes
- Salt
- Pepper
- Olive Oil
- Chicken
Required Equipment
- Large Platter (for refrigeration thawing)
- Cold water
- Sealable bags (for cold water thawing)
- Large pot or Crock pot
- Meat thermometer
- Stove
When cooking chicken, you want to make sure to boil it from a thawed temperature. Do not attempt boiling a frozen chicken.
Thawing the Chicken
Many people choose to buy frozen meat or freeze meat once they return home. Freezing a piece of meat allows you to use it whenever you like, instead of having to pay attention to the expiration or “sell by” date. You must thaw the meat before cooking it. Once the chicken has been thawed, do not refreeze the meat. Use one of these two methods for proper thawing:
Refrigeration Thawing
Thaw a frozen chicken by placing it in the refrigerator. Put the chicken on a large platter. A small chicken will take four to five hours to thaw. A large chicken will take five to seven hours. This time will be significantly less if you are using just pieces of chicken or chicken breasts. Refrigeration thawing is the safest way to thaw a chicken.
Cold Water Thawing
Use cold water to thaw a frozen chicken. Fill your sink with cold water. Do not use hot or warm water. This may cause the meat to begin to cook. Place a frozen chicken in a sealable plastic bag. Allow little or no water to come in direct contact with the chicken. Immerse the bag with the frozen chicken in the water. Drain and refill the sink every thirty minutes to keep the water cold. A small chicken will thaw in about two hours. A large chicken will take up to four hours. This time will be significantly less if you are using just pieces of chicken or chicken breasts. Boil the chicken immediately after using this method.
Boiling the Chicken
Immerse the chicken in cold water in a large pot or crock pot. Cover and set to a medium-high heat. Once the water starts to form bubbles, lower the heat. You do not want to bring the water to a complete boil. Leave in the water until it is done. A whole chicken should take about one hour, depending on the size and amount of chicken meat. The internal temperature must be 180°. Use a meat thermometer to check the temperature of the chicken.
