What’s the best way to cook chicken breasts in a hurry?
Honestly, this entirely depends on what you plan on using the chicken for. If you’re looking for a quick lunch, you’ll treat the chicken differently than if you’re throwing together some enchiladas.
First thing to remember is that the thicker meat is, the longer it takes for the heat of cooking to penetrate deep enough, long enough, to actually cook. If you’re going for a quick meal, you’ll want to get that heat in the cells, quickly. First - have it defrosted. Do this in the microwave if you must, but DO NOT, I repeat, DO NOT cook the chicken entirely in the microwave!
This is because the microwave will cook through the chicken by vibrating the water molecules already in the chicken - without evaporating any of them. This turns into rubbery, all-but-inedible meat. Defrost on low power.
Second - slice it up. The thinner and / or less mass each piece of the chicken has, the faster it will cook.
To cook the chicken - your three fastest options are:
1- Poach. Boil water in a saucepot with a bit of chicken stock or cube of bullion. Drop either a full breast or, more ideally, slices of the chicken, into the boiling water. Let boil away for at least 7-10 minutes (for slices) or 12-15 minutes (for a full breast). Pull out and cut into the thickest part of the chicken. If there is pink, cook for a bit longer. If not, you’re done! This will not caramelize any of the exterior, but it will cook the meat through. This is best used in soups, pastas, anything where color isn’t a big deal.
2- Pan-fry. In a hot frying pan, drizzle a small amount of oilve oil and whatever spices you’d like to use (garlic, paprika, and salt make up most poultry seasoning mixes). Drop in the raw chicken, and stir quickly. This is, in effect, stir-frying the meat. You should continually stir if you’ve got the heat on high on pretty much anything, in order to prevent burning.
3- Grill. I know, I know, the contact grills are over-hyped. However, a contact grill can save you time and effort. Throw some spices on the chicken, put it in the grill, and worry about the rest of dinner. Just be sure to cut into the center to make sure it’s done!
Good luck, and enjoy!
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