From breaded chicken to marinated grilled chicken, we eat a lot of chicken. Many people prefer chicken breast over other meats — it's easy to prepare, affordable, and a great source of lean protein — but this particular cut has a bad reputation for drying out when cooked. Confused by chicken breast? Here's what you need to know.
Chicken breast loses its juiciness if it is overcooked. The amount of time it takes to cook chicken breasts depends on the thickness of the breast and the method of preparation. The most accurate way to determine how long to cook the chicken breast is to use a meat thermometer and cook the chicken to an accurate temperature. If you bake your chicken breast to 70 degrees C and then let it rest for five minutes before serving, it will reach the recommended 73 degrees C without overcooking.
If you don't have a meat thermometer, here are some general guidelines for cooking chicken breast in different ways.
On the grill: about 6 to 8 minutes per side on direct heat, 10 to 12 minutes per side on indirect heat
In the oven:about 20 to 30 minutes when baking or roasting at 190 degrees C.
On the hob: about 2 minutes per side when sautéing over high heat, 4 to 6 minutes per side when sautéing over medium or low heat
If you fry it: about 8 to 12 minutes in oil at 176 to 185 degrees C.
