HomeMeatChicken Breast

Blanching Chicken Breast – A Cooking Method

Are you tired of dry and tasteless chicken breast? Look no further than blanching! This cooking method involves briefly boiling the chicken in water before finishing it off in the oven or on the grill. Not only does blanching keep the chicken moist and tender, it also helps to remove excess fat and impurities. And the best part? Blanching allows for endless flavor possibilities - from a simple salt and pepper seasoning to a marinade of your choice. Whether you're a seasoned chef or just starting out in the kitchen, blanching chicken breast is a game changer for any recipe. So why settle for boring chicken when you can elevate your dishes with this easy and delicious cooking method? Let's dive into the world of blanching and take your culinary skills to the next level!

What is blanching?

Blanching is a cooking technique that involves briefly boiling food in water and then immediately transferring it to an ice bath to stop the cooking process. This technique is commonly used for vegetables to preserve their color, texture, and nutrients. However, blanching can also be used for meat, particularly chicken breast, to keep it moist and tender.

How to blanch chicken breast

Blanching chicken breast is a simple process that requires minimal ingredients and equipment. Here's how to do it:

Step 1: Boil the chicken

Start by bringing a pot of water to a boil. Make sure there is enough water to fully submerge the chicken breast. Once the water is boiling, carefully place the chicken breast in the pot. Let it cook for 2-3 minutes, or until the internal temperature reaches 165°F.

Step 2: Cool the chicken

Using tongs or a slotted spoon, remove the chicken from the pot and immediately transfer it to a bowl filled with ice water. This will stop the cooking process and prevent the chicken from overcooking. Let the chicken sit in the ice water for 5-10 minutes, or until it's cooled.

Step 3: Finish cooking the chicken

Once the chicken is cooled, remove it from the ice water and pat it dry with paper towels. At this point, you can season the chicken with salt, pepper, or any other seasoning of your choice. You can then finish cooking the chicken on the grill, in the oven, or on the stovetop.

Benefits of blanching chicken breast

Blanching chicken breast has several benefits that make it a great cooking method for any recipe:

Retains moisture

Blanching helps to lock in moisture, which keeps the chicken breast juicy and tender. This is especially important for lean cuts of meat like chicken breast, which can easily dry out during cooking.

Removes impurities

Blanching also helps to remove excess fat and impurities from the chicken breast, resulting in a cleaner and healthier dish.

Infuses flavor

Blanching allows for endless flavor possibilities. You can add spices, herbs, or even a marinade to the boiling water to infuse the chicken with flavor. This will give your dish an extra layer of depth and complexity.

Versatile

Blanched chicken breast can be used in a variety of dishes, from salads to sandwiches to stir-fries. It's a versatile ingredient that can elevate any recipe.

Tips for blanching chicken breast

Here are a few tips to help you get the most out of blanching chicken breast:

Use a thermometer

To ensure that the chicken is fully cooked, use a meat thermometer to check the internal temperature. The USDA recommends that chicken be cooked to an internal temperature of 165°F.

Don't overcook the chicken

Be careful not to overcook the chicken during blanching. Two to three minutes is usually enough time to cook the chicken through without overcooking it.

Use a flavorful liquid

To infuse the chicken with flavor, use a flavorful liquid for blanching. You can use a homemade chicken stock, or add spices, herbs, or a marinade to the water.

Don't skip the ice bath

The ice bath is an important step in blanching because it stops the cooking process and prevents the chicken from overcooking. Don't skip this step!

Conclusion

Blanching chicken breast is a simple cooking method that can make a big difference in the taste and texture of your dishes. By briefly boiling the chicken and then finishing it off in the oven or on the grill, you can keep the chicken moist and tender while also infusing it with flavor. Whether you're a seasoned chef or just starting out in the kitchen, blanching chicken breast is a game changer for any recipe. So why settle for boring chicken when you can elevate your dishes with this easy and delicious cooking method? Give it a try and see for yourself!

Blanched Chicken Breast Meal Ideas
Chicken Breasts with Olives

The recipe Chicken Breasts with Olives can be made in roughly 40 minutes. This recipe serves 4 and costs $1.51 per serving. One portion of this dish contains roughly 25g of protein, 12g of fat, and a total of 216 calories. It works well as an affordable main course. Plenty of people made this recipe, and 129 would say it hit the spot. This recipe from Allrecipes requires butter, juice of lemon, chicken breasts, and olives. It is a good option if you're following a gluten free and primal diet. With a spoonacular score of 61%, this dish is pretty good. If you like this recipe, you might also like recipes such as Braised Chicken with Artichoke Hearts & Olives, Chicken with Sun Dried Tomatoes and Olives, and Baked Chicken Breasts.

Lady and Sons' Chicken in Wine Sauce

You can never have too many main course recipes, so give Lady and Sons' Chicken in Wine Sauce a try. For $2.79 per serving, this recipe covers 29% of your daily requirements of vitamins and minerals. This recipe makes 4 servings with 706 calories, 44g of protein, and 34g of fat each. It is brought to you by Foodnetwork. 18 people found this recipe to be tasty and satisfying. A mixture of butter, chicken breasts, kosher salt and pepper, and a handful of other ingredients are all it takes to make this recipe so delicious. From preparation to the plate, this recipe takes roughly 55 minutes. All things considered, we decided this recipe deserves a spoonacular score of 75%. This score is pretty good. foxy lady, Chicken with White Wine Tarragon Cream Sauce, and Easy Chicken with White Wine Sauce are very similar to this recipe.

Bbq-Glazed Chicken Nuggets

Bbq-Glazed Chicken Nuggets is a dairy free hor d'oeuvre. This recipe serves 16 and costs 56 cents per serving. One serving contains 185 calories, 8g of protein, and 4g of fat. From preparation to the plate, this recipe takes roughly 55 minutes. If you have onion powder, chicken breasts, chili powder, and a few other ingredients on hand, you can make it. This recipe is liked by 1 foodies and cooks. It is brought to you by Foodnetwork. With a spoonacular score of 39%, this dish is rather bad. If you like this recipe, take a look at these similar recipes: Parmesan chicken nuggets, Xocai Irish Cream with Xocai Healthy Dark Chocolate Nuggets, and Baked Bbq Chicken Legs.

Stuffed Chicken Breasts with Cranberry Quinoa

Need a gluten free side dish? Stuffed Chicken Breasts with Cranberry Quinoa could be a great recipe to try. One serving contains 625 calories, 43g of protein, and 17g of fat. For $3.87 per serving, this recipe covers 32% of your daily requirements of vitamins and minerals. This recipe serves 6. 1 person has tried and liked this recipe. Head to the store and pick up lemon juice, apricots, thyme sprig, and a few other things to make it today. It is brought to you by Taste of Home. From preparation to the plate, this recipe takes about 1 hour and 15 minutes. Taking all factors into account, this recipe earns a spoonacular score of 67%, which is solid. If you like this recipe, take a look at these similar recipes: Cream Cheese Stuffed Chicken Breasts, Eggless Quinoa Bananan Almond Muffins - How to make Quinoa Muffins, and Baked Chicken Breasts.

Chicken Tortilla Soup

Chicken Tortilla Soup is a main course that serves 6. For $2.35 per serving, this recipe covers 22% of your daily requirements of vitamins and minerals. One portion of this dish contains roughly 28g of protein, 20g of fat, and a total of 390 calories. It is brought to you by Foodnetwork. 313 people have tried and liked this recipe. It can be enjoyed any time, but it is especially good for Winter. If you have salt and pepper, chicken broth, chicken breasts, and a few other ingredients on hand, you can make it. From preparation to the plate, this recipe takes roughly 35 minutes. All things considered, we decided this recipe deserves a spoonacular score of 85%. This score is spectacular. Chicken Tortilla Soup with Fire Roasted Tomatoes, Chicken-Tortilla Chip Soup, and Hearty Chicken Tortilla Soup are very similar to this recipe.

Pulled Chicken Ragu and Rigatoni

Pulled Chicken Ragu and Rigatoni might be just the main course you are searching for. This recipe serves 6. One portion of this dish contains roughly 72g of protein, 76g of fat, and a total of 1296 calories. For $4.1 per serving, this recipe covers 33% of your daily requirements of vitamins and minerals. 1 person were impressed by this recipe. From preparation to the plate, this recipe takes roughly 1 hour and 50 minutes. Head to the store and pick up kosher salt, evoo, skin-on chicken breasts, and a few other things to make it today. It is brought to you by Foodnetwork. With a spoonacular score of 0%, this dish is improvable. Users who liked this recipe also liked Chicken Ragu w Rigatoni, Baked Rigatoni With Sausage, and Baked Rigatoni.

Chicken Fajita Spaghetti

The recipe Chicken Fajita Spaghetti can be made in around 20 minutes. One portion of this dish contains roughly 22g of protein, 5g of fat, and a total of 288 calories. This recipe serves 6. For 98 cents per serving, this recipe covers 16% of your daily requirements of vitamins and minerals. A mixture of canolan oil, chicken breasts, taco sauce, and a handful of other ingredients are all it takes to make this recipe so delicious. It works well as a very budget friendly main course. 1 person has made this recipe and would make it again. It is a good option if you're following a dairy free diet. Not a lot of people really liked this Mexican dish. It is brought to you by Taste of Home. All things considered, we decided this recipe deserves a spoonacular score of 55%. This score is solid. If you like this recipe, you might also like recipes such as Chicken Pita Fajita, Chicken Fajita Stuffed Bell Pepper, and Tuna Spaghetti With Fava Beans.

Becel® Chicken Tikka

You can never have too many main course recipes, so give Becel® Chicken Tikkan a try. This recipe makes 4 servings with 206 calories, 27g of protein, and 8g of fat each. For $1.5 per serving, this recipe covers 15% of your daily requirements of vitamins and minerals. 3 people have made this recipe and would make it again. This recipe from Allrecipes requires salt, coriander leaves, garlic, and chicken breasts. From preparation to the plate, this recipe takes about 22 minutes. This recipe is typical of Indian cuisine. It is a good option if you're following a gluten free diet. Taking all factors into account, this recipe earns a spoonacular score of 54%, which is solid. If you like this recipe, take a look at these similar recipes: Chicken Tikka Masalan Indian, Creamy Chicken Tikka Masala, and Easy Chicken Tikka Masala.

Spinach-Stuffed Chicken Breasts

The recipe Spinach-Stuffed Chicken Breasts can be made in about 1 hour. For $2.16 per serving, this recipe covers 34% of your daily requirements of vitamins and minerals. One portion of this dish contains roughly 45g of protein, 19g of fat, and a total of 378 calories. This recipe serves 6. It is brought to you by Taste of Home. Not a lot of people made this recipe, and 1 would say it hit the spot. If you have parmesan cheese, salt, additional salt, and a few other ingredients on hand, you can make it. It works well as a side dish. It is a good option if you're following a gluten free and primal diet. Taking all factors into account, this recipe earns a spoonacular score of 75%, which is solid. Try Cream Cheese Stuffed Chicken Breasts, Baked Chicken Breasts, and Cheesy Spinach Stuffed Shells for similar recipes.

Creamy Slow Cooker Green Chili Chicken Soup

Need a gluten free and dairy free main course? Creamy Slow Cooker Green Chili Chicken Soup could be an awesome recipe to try. This recipe serves 6. For $1.41 per serving, this recipe covers 14% of your daily requirements of vitamins and minerals. One serving contains 234 calories, 15g of protein, and 10g of fat. If you have cayenne pepper, garlic powder, chicken breasts, and a few other ingredients on hand, you can make it. Not a lot of people really liked this American dish. 4 people have made this recipe and would make it again. It is perfect for The Super Bowl. From preparation to the plate, this recipe takes roughly 6 hours and 20 minutes. It is brought to you by Allrecipes. Taking all factors into account, this recipe earns a spoonacular score of 50%, which is solid. If you like this recipe, you might also like recipes such as Kicked Up Slow Cooker Chili, Slow Cooker Kahlua Pork with Sweet Chili Pineapple Sauce, and Slow Cooker Chili.

Videos for Making Different Blanched Chicken Breast Style Dishes
Chef Secrets: How To Blanch Chicken For Chicken RiceHow do you get that succulent, tender chicken for your Hainanese chicken rice? In The Singapore Women's Weekly's “Chef ...
3 Ways To Cook The Juiciest Chicken Breast Ever - Bobby's Kitchen BasicsI've got 3 techniques for cooking juicy, tender chicken breasts at home. I also have tips to help you avoid the pitfalls that most ...
How To Tenderize ANY Meat!BROWSE MY KITCHENWARE - PURCHASE THE CHINESE COOKING BEGINNER ...
Why you should (almost) always brine your chickenIn this video, I explain the what, why, and how of brining, so that you can utilize it in your cooking. EQUIPMENT USED IN THIS ...
Tips and Tricks for Blanched Chicken Breast Meals
Additional Menu Ideas Related to Blanched Chicken Breast Food