Tips On How To Bake Chicken
Poultry is one food item that does require specialized handling. No matter which type of chicken you purchase, be sure it is fresh. The color of the meat should vary from a creamy white color to a deep yellow color. There should be little to no odor to the meat. Using the chicken you purchase as soon as possible is the best course; however, it can be safely frozen in its store packaging if not being used within a day or two. Handling raw poultry is safe when a few procedures are followed. Always use a clean utensil if cutting the chicken, a clean cutting board and a clean dish in which to place the chicken. Never reuse any item associated with the chicken for any other food product, and always clean and disinfect all surfaces that may have come in contact with the raw meat. This includes you own hands.
The reason for all of this caution is bacteria called salmonella. Raw chicken may, and often does, carry these harmful bacteria. Cooking the chicken kills and deactivates any of the bacteria, and safe handling with clean procedures avoids any contamination. For this same reason, when frying, stewing or baking chicken, the meat must be thoroughly cooked through.
There are countless recipes whose main ingredient is chicken that have become beloved favorites of many families. Chicken is known to be a dieter’s friend as well as a staple for restrictive diets. Much of the fat contained within a chicken is located in the skin, but the skin is also where much of that delicious chicken flavor is kept, as well. The recipe you choose may specify whether or not the chicken should retain the skin during cooking; if not, you can use your discretion. One point to remember when making that decision is the length of the cooking time. The skin also will serve as a moisture sealant, so if a long cooking period is required the skin may be needed to ensure a juicy dish.
Baking chicken can be done in a number of ways. A recent method that has proven to be very popular is prepare an entire chicken which is cooked standing upright with an opened can of beer or soda partially inserted into the cavity. The fluid in the can heats to boiling, with the steam rising into the cavity of the chicken; flavoring the meat from the inside out. A traditional roasted chicken can be made; seasoned well with rosemary, thyme, salt and pepper mixed with butter and inserted under the skin to permeate into the meat below.
Casseroles are an extremely popular, inexpensive and time saving method of baking chicken. Since the meat is combined with a variety of different items such as broth, soup, noodles, vegetables, rice or potatoes, less meat is required to make a large serving. Casseroles go a long way to serve a family or large dinner party.
After using a whole bird to prepare a chicken meal, smart cooks can make the meat do double and even triple duty by using the leftovers in another dish for other nights. Immediately after the original meal is finished, strip the remaining meat from the carcass of the chicken. The stripped carcass can now be simmered in water or broth along with carrots, onions and celery to make a tasty base for a hearty chicken vegetable or noodle soup. Using the leftover meat to make a chicken pot pie, stir fry or other chicken casserole type meal will provide another enjoyable meal. A little ingenuity can breathe new life into a meal; one that won’t be remotely associated as a use for leftovers.
Baking chicken in any form can result in a dish that may very well be your shining moment at the dinner table. Beginners can easily become connoisseurs of chicken, especially after learning the basics of how to identify, purchase, handle and prepare the meat. A staple of many households in many countries, a simple package of chicken can be the foundation of many delicious meals.