Bread Chicken
Breaded chicken has a crisp outer layer and tastes completely delicious. All you have to do to bread chicken is to make a mixture of eggs, flour, and your favorite spices, and dip the chicken into the mixture before you cook it. The most important thing to always remember is to handle chicken safely. Other than that, it only takes a little time and preparation to make tasty breaded chicken.
Contents
Steps
Buying the Chicken
- Purchase either a whole chicken or one that has already been cut up.
- Check the markings on the packaging at the supermarket. Ensure that it has not only been inspected by the proper government agency, but also that it has a Grade-A rating.
- Inspect the package. You want to choose chicken that has secure packaging (that is, with no broken seals or holes, and no leakage).
- Check the expiration date on the packaging.
- Check the color of the meat. Chicken should never look gray. Only buy chicken that is white or yellowish.
- Store your chicken for up to 2 days in your refrigerator. Freeze immediately if not being used within 2 days of purchase.
- Use an airtight package for freezing to keep frozen chickens from getting freezer burn.
Handling Safely to Prevent Bacteria Contamination
- Ensure that all utensils and other kitchen items and appliances that come in contact with your raw chicken are clean.
- According to the USDA, you should NOT rinse or wash meat before cooking. This can cause cross-contamination in the kitchen and does absolutely nothing to decontaminate the meat.
- Clean all cutting boards, knives and other utensils thoroughly in soapy water after use to prevent bacterial growth and cross contamination with other foods or utensils.
Breading Your Chicken
- Cut your chicken into strips if it isn't already.
- Crack several eggs into a bowl. Usually 5 eggs is sufficient, though the exact number of eggs you use will depend on how much chicken you're cooking.
- Lightly scramble the eggs with a fork. Do not beat them to a froth.
- Add water, oil or both to the scrambled eggs. This will help them keep a thin consistency.
- Find a shallow pan or bowl. You can also use a plastic bag. Fill it about halfway with flour (you can substitute crushed bread crumbs for flour if desired).
- Add your favorite seasonings to the flour or bread crumbs. Some ideas include salt and pepper, granulated garlic, paprika, or coriander.
- Dip the chicken pieces into the egg mixture.
- Hold the chicken pieces over the bowl. Let the extra egg mixture drip off so that there is only a thin egg coating on each strip.
- Sink your chicken pieces into the flour or bread crumbs. Roll them around until they are completely coated. If you're using a plastic bag, place them in the bag and shake to coat them.
- Arrange the chicken in a baking pan according to your favorite baking recipe. You can also fry each piece in a frying pan according to your favorite fried-chicken recipe.
- Clean all cutting boards, knives and other utensils thoroughly in soapy water after use to prevent bacterial growth and cross contamination with other foods or utensils.
- Finished.
Tips
- A whole chicken that you cut up at home saves money; however, if you are pressed for time, chicken already cut saves time. You can also choose a whole chicken to save money and ask your butcher to cut it up for you. Most supermarket butchers will do this free.
- Use less flour at first because the flour in the pan or plastic bag will begin to stick together as you add more and more egg-covered pieces of chicken. It is best to use up a small amount and add more flour as you go when you need it.
- Breading and coating chicken are basically the same technique except that breading is merely a mix of flour and egg (and seasonings) and coating can be a combination of flour, eggs and many other items, such as different spices, nuts, butter or even yogurt. Coating can also sometimes involve more steps than breading to accommodate the different items and textures.
Things You'll Need
- Chicken
- Eggs
- Flour or bread crumbs
- Seasonings (optional)
- Deep bowl and shallow pan or plastic food bag
- Paper towels
- Soap and water
