Chicken School

3 Healthy Ways to Cook Chicken

With so many different recipes and cooking methods available, it’s hard to know which are best for you and your family. Here are three health-conscious ways to cook a delicious chicken meal without skimping on quality or taste.

Poached Chicken

Poaching food involves cooking it in a simmering liquid. Poaching is great because it adds virtually no fat to your food, yet yields subtle flavour and moisture.

To poach your chicken, add your ingredients (chicken and any other vegetables, aromatics, and spices you like) to a skillet or pot, and add a cooking liquid such as broth, wine, or coconut milk. Do not cover the chicken completely. Heat the pot over medium heat until the liquid is simmering but not boiling, and cover.

You will need to flip the chicken halfway through cooking. Keep in mind that foods cook faster in liquid, so be sure to check the internal temperature of the chicken with a thermometer to know when they are done. The internal temperature of a cooked skinless, boneless chicken breast should reach 165ºF.

You can easily turn your poaching liquid into a flavourful sauce. Simply boil down the liquid slightly and whisk in a thickener, such as instant flour, potato flour, or cornstarch, until the sauce is smooth and free of clumps.

Check out this video for step-by-step instructions on how to poach chicken, or try one of these delicious recipes.

Recipes

Poached Chicken & Goat Cheese over Farfalle and Spinach

Poaching chicken in wine is a wonderful technique that adds loads of flavour without adding loads of fat.

Recipes

Apple Cider Poached Chicken & Arugula Salad

Tart cherries, sharp cheese, and bitter arugula work together in this delectable salad to complement the familiar flavours of cider-poached chicken.

Fried Chicken: The Healthy Way

Fried chicken is one of those comfort foods we can’t help but love even if we know it’s not the healthiest of choices. Fear not! There are a few very simple ways to make this meal healthier without compromising taste.

No skin: Removing the skin before cooking can significantly cut the fat content of fried chicken. If you’re worried about losing flavour or crispiness, just change up your traditional coating mixture and you won’t even miss the fat. Try adding some herbs and spices to your flour mixture.

Bake it: Baking your “fried” chicken in the oven yields tasty and crispy chicken without the added oil. Simply place your battered chicken pieces in a greased baking pan and cook at 375^oF until the meat has an internal temperature of 160^oF, about 15-20 minutes.

Consistent temperature: If you do decide to fry your chicken, make sure your oil is kept at a consistent temperature of 365^oF degrees. A consistent temperature means that the chicken isn’t absorbing the oil, but is being cooked by it.

Thinking of whipping up some fried chicken of your own? Check out these recipes.

Recipes

Louisiana Fried Chicken

What’s the secret to juicy, tender fried chicken? Buttermilk!

Recipes

Rob’s Original Fried Chicken

This is just one of the methods I use for fried chicken. Trust me if you try this you’re going to play with this one forever.

Roast Chicken

Baking is a simple and effective cooking method. It requires very little prep work and yields tender, juicy chicken with crispy skin. All you need to do is throw a little olive oil and seasoning on the chicken, place it in a pan with some veggies (potato, sweet potato, or carrots are excellent choices), and stick it in the oven. Roughly 90 minutes in a 350^oF degree oven should do, depending on the size of your chicken. You’re aiming for an internal temperature of 180°F (82°C).

There are so many recipes for roast chicken, it’s hard to choose a favourite. We recommend experimenting with your favourite herbs and spices to find your perfect blend.

In the meantime, try one of our tantalizing recipes.