Chicken is one of the most versatile ingredients that you can use in planning meals for your family. In addition to being high in protein and low in fat and calories, chicken is readily available, fairly inexpensive and can be prepared in a variety of delicious and nutritious ways. To get the most value buy a whole chicken and prepare it yourself. The chicken can also be cut into smaller parts or quarters if you don’t want to use a whole chicken.
Already parted chicken can be purchased for just a little more than a whole chicken. Whenever you prepare recipes with any cut of chicken, you need to take some initial safety precautions. First of all, thoroughly wash your hands before you begin working with the chicken, and make sure your counter space and utensils are clean. Uncooked chicken can hold bad bacteria, so keep your cooking space clean to avoid spreading the contamination.
Prior to putting the recipe ingredients together, run the chicken under water and then pat until dry. Chicken has to be cooked all the way through. Raw chicken can equal food poisoning. This is a highly unlikely scenario, but it is better to be safe than sorry. There are literally thousands of chicken recipes available in cookbooks and online, so it is unlikely you will ever run out of ideas on how to prepare chicken. From grilled chicken to chicken salad, you could make a different recipe every day of the week for years before getting tired of the flavors and textures available through different cooking methods and ingredients. Grilled chicken is an easy recipe. It is quite easy to do on top of a stove. Take some boneless chicken breasts, drizzle a few drops of olive oil, and then season with salt and pepper. Cook the breasts on a pre-heated grill pan for about five to six minutes on each side or until the juices run clear. The cooked meat can then be cut up and mixed with celery and mayonnaise for an easy and delicious chicken salad, sliced for sandwiches, or covered with tomato or hollandaise sauce for a quick dinner. A few other favorite chicken recipes include fried chicken, chicken and dumplings, chicken parmesan and sweet and sour chicken.
Fresh chicken freezes well, so look for sales and stock up when the price is low. Just make sure you freeze the chicken in airtight packages. In order to thaw it out, keep it refridgerated for up to a couple days, defrost it in the microwave, or let it soak in water that is cold. Never leave chicken to defrost on the counter! Chicken is a delicious and nutritious staple in the homes of millions of Americans and can be adapted in many recipes that call for beef or pork.
If you’re on a tight budget, like many people are these days, chicken can be a great help in keeping your food expenses down. Try some tonight!
