Grilling your chicken can be tricky. You want it to stay juicy and tender, but you also want it cooked evenly on the inside. If you undercook the outside of the meat, then all that raw chicken juice will leak out onto the grill and give off a strong odor that tastes bad!
Luckily there is an easy way to ensure that your grilled chicken turns out well every time: pre-cooking it beforehand.
In this guide, we’ll show you how to precook chicken before grilling so that it comes out perfectly every time.
How to Precook Chicken Before BBQing?
Step#1: Pick the Right Meat
The first step is to choose the right piece of meat. For the best results, use boneless skinless chicken breasts or thighs – they’re easy to work with and cook evenly.
However, if you don’t like boneless chicken, you can pick the one you prefer.
Read Also: How long do you boil chicken before grilling?
Step#2: Bake Chicken for 55-60 Minutes in the Oven
Once you’ve selected your chicken, it’s time to get started on the pre-cooking. The easiest way to do this is in the microwave.
Just place your chicken on a microwavable plate, cover it with plastic wrap, and bake it for about 30 minutes on each side. If you want to, sprinkle some salt or your favorite spices on the chicken while it’s cooking in the oven.
If you’re using thicker pieces of meat, you may need to increase the cooking time slightly. Regardless of the thickness of the meat, you can estimate the doneness if the meat turns white on the outside.
If you don’t have a microwave, you can also pre-cook chicken in a skillet on the stove. Just heat some oil in a large pan over medium-high heat, add your chicken, and cook for about four minutes per side until it’s cooked through.
Step#3: Transfer to a grill
Now that your chicken is pre-cooked, it’s time to grill it! Just place the chicken on the grill over medium-high heat, and cook for about 3-4 minutes per side until it’s charred and crispy.
And that’s all there is to it!
By pre-cooking your chicken, you’ll ensure that it comes out perfectly juicy and tender every time – no more dry, overcooked chicken on the grill. Enjoy!
Read Also: 9 Best Grills for Outdoor Kitchen
What to Consider While Precooking Chicken Before Grilling?
Chicken is the best option for grilling.
Therefore, we need to pre-cook the chicken before putting it on a hot surface like a coal fire or gas stove. There are a few things to consider while precooking chicken before grilling:
Rinse With Cold Water
The first step is to rinse the chicken in cold water and then pat it dry with paper towels. This will help remove any blood or excess moisture from the surface of the meat.
Season with Spices
Then, season the chicken with your favorite spices. The spices should be added to both sides of the meat. You can try to use salt, pepper, onion powder, and garlic powder for seasoning chicken.
Choose an Appropriate Cooking Style
The next step is to choose your preferred cooking technique while pre-cooking. There are two ways you can do this: either by boiling or baking in an oven; or pan-searing over a skillet.
Boiling the chicken is also one of the best ways to pre-cook it before grilling, but some people might not like this method because of its bland taste. It does not bring out any flavors from spices added while seasoning.
So you can try pan-seared or grilled meat instead of boiled to make your chicken more flavorsome.
If you are using an oven to pre-cook the chicken, follow the method discussed above.
Read Also: How To Store Grilling Tools? 6 DIY Methods
Pan-Searing Technique
Another way to pre-cook chicken before grilling is by pan-searing over medium-high heat.
After seasoning it with spices, you need to cook until the chicken gets browned on each side. The cooking time will vary depending on the thickness of the meat and your stove’s temperature setting.
Once the chicken is pre-cooked, you can either put it on a hot surface like a coal fire or gas stove to cook further or store it in a refrigerator for later use.
If you are going to grill the chicken immediately after pre-cooking, then make sure that the coals are medium-hot and there is no flame. You don’t want to burn your chicken!
So, these are a few things to consider while pre-cooking chicken before grilling. With a little planning, your grilled chicken can be cooked perfectly every time! Enjoy!
Now that you know how to precook chicken before grilling, it’s time to examine another technique you can use to prepare a flavorful meal.
What is Blanching?
Blanching is a method of cooking that requires food to be cooked quickly in boiling water and then cooled immediately after. The term “blanch” comes from the French word “blanc” which means white.
The process helps retain the nutrients, flavor, color, and texture of vegetables much better than other methods do. This method is used for vegetables including cauliflower, broccoli, and green beans.
Blanching also helps keep the color of foods bright after freezing or drying them.
You can blanch chicken before cooking it to make sure you are eating healthy food. The process kills any contaminants present in the meat. It also helps to remove the odor of raw meat.
Blanching chicken before cooking ensures that your meat is free from bacteria like salmonella and E-coli.
Read Also: 9 Best Affordable Smokers
How to Blanch Chicken?
Blanching chicken is the process of boiling or steaming it for a short period. You can also par-cook your meat by using this method.
Blanching helps to kill all bacteria and germs that are on the surface of your food, making it safe to eat. This step ensures you get rid of any parasites present in the meat as well. It is also a way to improve the overall taste and texture of your chicken.
The process of blanching chicken is very simple. You can either use a pot of boiling water or steam it in a steamer basket. Make sure the chicken is fully submerged in the hot liquid, then cover the pot or pan. You should keep it covered for 5-10 minutes.
After the time is up, remove the chicken from the hot liquid and drain well before cooking further.
Blanching can be used with other meat as well. This process helps remove any impurities present in beef too. It also enhances its texture and taste, making them more palatable.
That’s all there is to it! Blanching chicken is a quick and easy way to prepare poultry for dishes like stir-fries, casseroles, or salads.
Give it a try the next time you’re in a hurry!
Final Words
If you’re looking for the easiest way to grill chicken, then pre-cooking it before grilling is your best bet. It allows time for the heat to penetrate through the meat and will save on gas or charcoal usage because less of both are needed when cooking a fully cooked piece of poultry.
Give this method a shot next time you want to enjoy succulent grilled chicken without all the fuss.
Happy Grilling!