A Guide To How To Keep Chicken Moist No Matter How
It's Cooked
Keeping Chicken Moist On The Grill
Marinating
your chicken in buttermilk or use a
meat rub before grilling. This doesn't just add flavor - it adds moisture. Just
be sure not to over-marinate, as an acid in a marinade can make the chicken
tough.
Cook chicken over indirect heat. This means that you should avoid placing the chicken directly over the flame or shielding it from heating elements using something like foil.
Keeping Chicken Moist In The Oven
At some point, every cook wonders how to keep
chicken from drying out in the oven. Learning how to do this is especially
important since delicious roast chicken is often the centerpiece of holiday
meals and special occasions.
- Start with a properly seasoned bird. A blend
of salt, pepper, and herbs will give the skin a delicious flavor and help
prevent moisture loss during cooking.
- Slather the raw meat in oil or butter to
provide a moisture barrier.
- Make sure to roast the chicken at a high
temperature. This helps to seal in juices and prevent the meat from drying
out.
- Baste the chicken regularly.
How To Keep Chicken Moist In An Air Fryer
- Make sure to not overcrowd the air fryer
basket. This will help ensure that the hot air can circulate around all of
the chicken pieces, cooking them evenly.
- Use marinades and sauces. This can help add
flavor and moisture to the chicken as it cooks.
- Cook the chicken on a lower temperature
setting if possible. This will help prevent the outside from getting
overcooked before the inside is done.
How To Stop Chicken From Drying Out When
Frying
- Marinate your chicken for at least an hour
before cooking. (Remember: moisture + flavor!) Some people also brine
their chicken before marinating.
- When breading your chicken, use a light hand.
Too much breading can actually make the chicken dry and hard. This is why
expert fryers double or triple coat their chicken with thin layers of
breading but never rely on one thick breading layer.
- Finally, be extra careful not to overcook the
chicken. Fry it until it's golden brown and cooked through, but no more.
This is where cook temperature comes into play.
Keeping Chicken Moist On A Pizza
- When using chicken as a pizza topping, choose
chicken that's well-cooked and very moist.
- Generously cover it with another topping that
will act as a moisture barrier. This is usually cheese.
- Don't overcook and cover the pizza with a
paper towel if it will be "waiting" on the counter before being
eaten.
How To Keep Chicken Moist After Cooking
It's counter-intuitive but keeping chicken moist
after it's cooked often begins during the cooking process itself.
- Place foil or a lid over the chicken during
the last 20-30 minutes of cooking time.
- Cover the chicken while it rests
- Periodically baste it if it's appropriate.
How To Keep Chicken Moist During Reheating
It should be said that if you can keep chicken
moist during reheating, you have officially reached Jedi-level mastery. Use
these tips and tricks to help you get there.
Keeping Chicken Moist While Reheating In The Oven
Or On The Stove
- Place chicken in a safe pot or pan.
- Add a little broth, water, or other liquid.
- Cover the dish with foil or a lid Reheat at a
low temperature until just warmed through.
Keeping Chicken Moist While Reheating In The
Microwave
Non-fried chicken:
- Place smaller pieces of chicken on a microwave-safe
dish.
- Spoon a little water or sauce on top.
- Heat at 1/2 power until just warmed through.
TOP TIP: Some people lightly dampen a paper towel
and lay it on top of the chicken to trap steam and moisture. A microwave-safe
steamer will accomplish the same thing.
Fried chicken: Overheating already cooked fried
chicken might make it inedible. But you can successfully reheat it in the
microwave if you follow these steps.
- Put the chicken on a microwave-safe dish.
- Cover it with a paper towel.
- Heat for short 10-second intervals at 1/2
power until just warmed.
TOP TIP: Try reheating fried chicken in an air
fryer at a very low temperature and make sure not to overcook. This will
"re-crisp" and reheat the chicken.