

These are also very versatile pieces and can be roasted, used in stews, soups, and curries, deep-fried, pan-fried, and air-fried. This will also make it easier to prevent a rubbery texture, as there is more moisture that needs to “evaporate” during cooking. This is because dark chicken meat has a much higher fat content and density. These are both dark pieces of chicken meat and will take a bit longer to cook compared to other white chicken meat cuts of the same size. Chicken Thighs And DrumsticksĬhicken thighs and drumsticks, even though they are different parts or cuts of a whole chicken, are more or less the same in size and amount of meat.īoth these pieces mostly are used with their bones still in and their skins on – they can be removed and this will affect the cooking times (usually make it a bit shorter but only by a few minutes). You can deep-fry them, oven roast them, use them in stews and soups, as pulled chicken, air-fry them, and even pan-fry them. You can cut them up or cook them whole as-is. What makes chicken breasts so amazing is their versatility. moisture).Ĭhicken breast is definitely one of the bigger cuts of chicken meat that you will find and means you will have to cook it longer compared to chicken wings, for example.
#Overcooked chicken skin#
The skin helps protect the surface of the meat from drying out too much by adding a layer of fattiness (i.e. Keeping the skin on also has a ton of benefits despite it being considered unhealthy because of its fattiness. This helps prevent you from overcooking the meat, leaving you with juicy and tender chicken. Usually, chicken pieces that have bones still inside cook better, as the bone helps conduct heat to the flesh and essentially helps cook it from the inside. This does have an effect on how the piece will cook. Chicken BreastsĬhicken breasts are a lean cut of chicken meat that comes from the chest of the chicken.Ĭhicken breasts can either have the bone in or removed, and it can also have the skin on or removed.
#Overcooked chicken how to#
This is important to know because it will help you more easily determine how to prevent that awful rubbery texture. Whole chickens are almost always roasted. The larger ones should be cooked slow and at low temperatures.

Naturally, the smaller chickens will cook for a shorter period of time and can then use higher temperatures. Roasters are some of the oldest chickens and thus very large, usually around and over 5 lbs (2.27kg). A game hen weighs less than 2 lbs (900g) and is the smallest whole chicken you will easily find.īroilers range between 2 ½ and 4 ½ lbs in weight (1.13 kg – 2.04kg). Most supermarkets stock broilers (fryers), roasters, and Cornish game hens. The size will have an effect mostly on how long the whole chicken should cook. There are different types of whole chicken classified according to their size. There are thousands of different recipes you can try that use different flavor combinations, preparation techniques, and cooking techniques. Whole chickens are extremely popular in many if not all parts of the world. in stews, as pulled chicken meat, as whole pieces, etc.) as well. It will actually even affect how you should use it (i.e. The size and shape of the piece of chicken you choose will affect the cooking method you should use, the temperature you should cook it at, and the amount of time you need to cook it. Now, we know this might not seem relevant to why chicken can become rubbery, but it has arguably one of the biggest impacts on why chicken can take on this awful texture.īefore we discuss any other reason for rubbery chicken, it is important for us to explain why different parts of chicken will have the biggest effect on the final texture of the meat. Finally, we’ll also look at ways to prevent and even fix it! Different Cuts Of Chicken

In today’s article, we will be looking at all the different ways you can undercook and overcook chicken, what affects this, and all the common mistakes that make rubbery chicken. This means your chicken is neither undercooked nor overcooked. So, how do you prevent rubbery chicken? The best way to prevent rubbery chicken is to check the internal temperature of the meat. Very rarely do you have perfectly tender and juicy cooked chicken it’s either overcooked or undercooked. Please see my disclosure to learn more.Įverybody likes chicken, right? Well, not if it is all dry and chewy! Chicken is arguably one of the most difficult ingredients to cook right every time.
