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How to Grill Perfect Chicken?

I love to grill chicken especially boneless, skinless chicken breasts. It’s so simple but most people cook the chicken to death ending up with a piece that is so dry you can barely swallow it.

If you’re one of those people here is a simple technique that you can use not just for chicken but for other meats as well. I call it the touch method.

When you are ready to put the chicken on the grill touch it. You’ll notice how loose the meat feels. As in the first photo. If you were to take your left hand and let in lay limp, take your index finger on your right hand and touch it to the piece of flesh between the index finger and thumb on your left hand, in the web of your two fingers. Do you see how it feels like jello? Well that’s how the chicken (or meat) feels when it’s raw.

Next (photo #2) take those two same fingers on your left hand and touch the tips together. Then take the index finger on your right hand and touch it to the web between the two fingers. Do you see how it feels? It should feel slightly firmer. This is how your chicken will feel when it’s cooked medium. This is how I like it.

Lastly (photo #3) take your left hand now and make a fist. Then take the index finger on your right hand and touch it to the web of your left hand between your thumb and index finger. Do you see how firm and tight that feels? This is how your meat/chicken will feel when it is well done. For chicken this is going to be tough and dry.

So my recommendation is before placing your chicken on the grill (or meat) touch it to see how it feels. This way as it cooks you will be able to judge how done it is by touching it.

Typically I grill my chicken breasts 3 minutes per side on medium heat. Of course it will depend on the thickness of the chicken. To insure that all chicken is done at the same time, make sure the thickness is the same otherwise place some plastic wrap over it and using a mallet make the pieces even. Your butcher can do this for you if you don’t want to.

I hope if you typically serve dry chicken to your family and shy away from it when you have friends over please try this method and let me know how it turns out.

Bon Appetit!

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6 comments

  1. Came to you via your listing in the foodie blogroll today. I’ve seen this technique before and forgotten about it. Maybe this time it’ll stick. Very nice blog.

  2. Thanks for visiting my site Joan. Just remember before putting the meat on the grill to touch it. That way during the cooking you can periodically touch it to see if it feels done. Good luck and please let us know how it turns out.

  3. cool trick Vicki..I’m one of those cook it til its tough people, I’m the worse when it comes to grilling chicken 🙁 I’ll have to try this technique next time….keep’em coming easy this like.

  4. Good luck Dee I know you can do it. Just remember to touch the chicken before placing on the grill so while it’s cooking and you touch it you will be able to see how done it is. Please let me know.

  5. Great tip! I followed you from the foodieblogroll and I’d love to guide our readers to your site if you won’t mind.Just add your choice of foodista widget to this post and it’s all set to go, Thanks!

  6. Would be happy to post your foodista widget but not sure how to do it on this post. Please email me.

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