Looking for a fast way to cook chicken breasts...

[Jeff7181]

I'm trying to find a fast way to cook chicken that doesn't result in unevenly cooked or overcooked chicken. I can't stand overcooked chicken... all dry and tough, but it takes some time and effort to cook it properly and I don't always have enough time to properly prepare it so I was wondering if anyone had any ideas on how to cook it quickly and easily... out of the freezer if possible.

 

[jlee]

What is your definition of "quick"?

 

[Howard]

Bread and deep fry
Pan fry
Grill

A brine may be your answer

 

[Jeff7181]

Originally posted by: JLee
What is your definition of "quick"?

15 minutes from freezer to fork would be nice

 

[Howard]

Originally posted by: Jeff7181

Originally posted by: JLee
What is your definition of "quick"?

15 minutes from freezer to fork would be nice

Perhaps a frozen dinner would be suitable.

 

[jlee]

Originally posted by: Howard

Originally posted by: Jeff7181

Originally posted by: JLee
What is your definition of "quick"?

15 minutes from freezer to fork would be nice

Perhaps a frozen dinner would be suitable.

heh, yeah.

 

[vi edit]

15 minutes from a freezer to a fork? Not gonna happen without a deep fryer. Otherwise you are looking to do some sort of defrosting in a microwave which can easily cause uneven thawing/cooking.

If you have it thawed you can easily pan fry it up with excellent results in about 10 minutes.

 

[l0cke]

Nuke it.


From orbit.

 

[Jeff7181]

Originally posted by: Howard
Bread and deep fry
Pan fry
Grill

A brine may be your answer

Good suggestions, but I think what I'd save in cooking time with frying I'd give up in clean-up time. Grilling isn't an option because I don't have a grill right now and I'm not willing to buy one. I have a George Foreman style grill, but it doesn't have removable grilling surfaces so clean-up is a pain.

I thought of boiling it... but boiled chicken breast is... meh. Very plain... I'd need something to put on it afterward and most of the things I can think of usually involve basting while cooking or applying before cooking and that's not really possible when boiling.

 

[vi edit]

Originally posted by: Jeff7181

Originally posted by: Howard
Bread and deep fry
Pan fry
Grill

A brine may be your answer

Good suggestions, but I think what I'd save in cooking time with frying I'd give up in clean-up time. Grilling isn't an option because I don't have a grill right now and I'm not willing to buy one. I have a George Foreman style grill, but it doesn't have removable grilling surfaces so clean-up is a pain.

I thought of boiling it... but boiled chicken breast is... meh. Very plain... I'd need something to put on it afterward and most of the things I can think of usually involve basting while cooking or applying before cooking and that's not really possible when boiling.

Fast. Good. Easy.

Pick 2.

 

[Jeff7181]

Originally posted by: Howard

Originally posted by: Jeff7181

Originally posted by: JLee
What is your definition of "quick"?

15 minutes from freezer to fork would be nice

Perhaps a frozen dinner would be suitable.

I'd rather have something more healthy than that.

 

[StinkyPinky]

Chicken is a bitch to cook well. Overcooked chicken tastes hideous, and it's really easy to overcook.

 

[nageov3t]

cut it into cubes and stir fry or saute it.

 

[jlee]

Originally posted by: Jeff7181

Originally posted by: Howard

Originally posted by: Jeff7181

Originally posted by: JLee
What is your definition of "quick"?

15 minutes from freezer to fork would be nice

Perhaps a frozen dinner would be suitable.

I'd rather have something more healthy than that.

Then put your frozen chicken in the fridge the day before you intend on eating it.

 

[Howard]

Originally posted by: Jeff7181

Originally posted by: Howard

Originally posted by: Jeff7181

Originally posted by: JLee
What is your definition of "quick"?

15 minutes from freezer to fork would be nice

Perhaps a frozen dinner would be suitable.

I'd rather have something more healthy than that.

Is there anything else you desire, my Lord?

 

[ahenkel]

Originally posted by: loki8481
cut it into cubes and stir fry or saute it.

Do that or even if you leave it whole cook it hot and fast.

 

[Miramonti]

Broil it in the highest heat. 3-4 minutes on each side but depends on oven so keep an eye on it.

Quick, browned and tastey, and very tender if you don't over cook it. Use a marinade of your choice.

 

[Jeff7181]

Originally posted by: loki8481
cut it into cubes and stir fry or saute it.

There's an option... throw in a bag of frozen veggies with it... I suppose I could even cut it before freezing to reduce prep time, right? I love sweet & sour type dishes but they have quite a bit of sugar in them usually and substituting with Splenda or some crap like that is not an option for me. Hmmm...

 

[Jeff7181]

Originally posted by: Howard

Originally posted by: Jeff7181

Originally posted by: Howard

Originally posted by: Jeff7181

Originally posted by: JLee
What is your definition of "quick"?

15 minutes from freezer to fork would be nice

Perhaps a frozen dinner would be suitable.

I'd rather have something more healthy than that.

Is there anything else you desire, my Lord?

Yes, make it for me. And get me a beer. And my shoes need untying. And could you bring me the TV remote?

 

[jlee]

Originally posted by: jjsole
Broil it in the highest heat. 3-4 minutes on each side but depends on oven so keep an eye on it.

Quick, browned and tastey, and very tender if you don't over cook it. Use a marinade of your choice.

I'm pretty sure it won't cook through if it's frozen..but I could very well be wrong - have not tried it myself.

 

[fatpat268]

It's not possible, if you want it to taste good at the same time.

It's simpler just to plan ahead and thaw the chicken ahead of time. Fastest way to do this is put the chicken in a bowl of water. Holding the chicken under running water would be faster, but that would require more effort.

 

[Jeff7181]

Originally posted by: fatpat268
It's not possible, if you want it to taste good at the same time.

It's simpler just to plan ahead and thaw the chicken ahead of time. Fastest way to do this is put the chicken in a bowl of water. Holding the chicken under running water would be faster, but that would require more effort.

Howard, can you build me a contraption that opens my freezer door, plucks a frozen chicken breast and dumps it in a bowl of room temperature water 15 minutes before I get home? Preferably something I could trigger from my Blackberry as I get out of work at different times every night. Thanks.

 

[Jeff7181]

By the way... my desire for quick and easy but not tasteless comes from getting out of work as late as midnight some nights. So thanks to those who are attempting to give useful suggestions.

 

[jlee]

Originally posted by: Jeff7181

Originally posted by: fatpat268
It's not possible, if you want it to taste good at the same time.

It's simpler just to plan ahead and thaw the chicken ahead of time. Fastest way to do this is put the chicken in a bowl of water. Holding the chicken under running water would be faster, but that would require more effort.

Howard, can you build me a contraption that opens my freezer door, plucks a frozen chicken breast and dumps it in a bowl of room temperature water 15 minutes before I get home? Preferably something I could trigger from my Blackberry as I get out of work at different times every night. Thanks.

Put it in the refrigerator before you leave for work.

 

[vi edit]

Originally posted by: Jeff7181
By the way... my desire for quick and easy but not tasteless comes from getting out of work as late as midnight some nights. So thanks to those who are attempting to give useful suggestions.

Useful suggestion is leaving a couple chicken boobies in the fridge the day before so you don't have to thaw them first. That makes your options much more open.

Plan ahead instead of demanding the damn near impossible.