How to make oven cooked chicken breast moist?

jjasmelon
jjasmelon Posts: 101
edited November 10 in Food and Nutrition
I'll be using a bit of butter and thyme, but when i always oven cook it for about an hour chicken seems quite dry. I have a fan oven. Tips please
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Replies

  • notnikkisixx
    notnikkisixx Posts: 375 Member
    My guess would be that an hour is too long, maybe try checking at the 45 minute mark?
  • Hornsby
    Hornsby Posts: 10,322 Member
    Sear in a pan, Put a little chicken stock/apple juice/whatever liquid you would like in said pan after searing. Put in oven till cooked.
  • glevinso
    glevinso Posts: 1,895 Member
    Get a leave-in meat thermometer than has the cable to an external unit. Pull the chicken out of the oven at 165 degrees and let it rest. It will stay moist.

    You are likely overcooking it.
  • obscuremusicreference
    obscuremusicreference Posts: 1,320 Member
    Hornsby wrote: »
    Sear in a pan, Put a little chicken stock/apple juice/whatever liquid you would like in said pan after searing. Put in oven till cooked.

    Best way.

    My I-don't-even-have-time-for-searing method is to spray a pyrex, put the chicken and herbs in, cover, and bake at 325. Not as yummy as searing, but good for salads and sandwiches.
  • JoRocka
    JoRocka Posts: 17,525 Member
    Don't over cook it?
  • dawnsnarks
    dawnsnarks Posts: 101 Member
    At 350, a normal-sized chicken breast shouldn't take any longer than 30 minutes, especially if you have the fan going. +1 on the searing too; will lock in moisture.
  • neanderthin
    neanderthin Posts: 10,222 Member
    15-20 in a 400 oven after a quick pan fry to crisp the skin works well.......1 hour is criminal.
  • PRMinx
    PRMinx Posts: 4,585 Member
    Are we talking boneless skinless or bone-in, skin on?
  • glevinso
    glevinso Posts: 1,895 Member
    dawnsnarks wrote: »
    At 350, a normal-sized chicken breast shouldn't take any longer than 30 minutes, especially if you have the fan going. +1 on the searing too; will lock in moisture.

    The bolded is an old wives tale. Debunked (Link is about beef but that applies to any meat really)
  • Lift_Run_Eat
    Lift_Run_Eat Posts: 986 Member
    I place mine in a casserole dish, sprinkle with seasonings, and bake at 350F for 30 minutes. Comes out perfect every time.
  • burnsjulia
    burnsjulia Posts: 50 Member
    Cook for a shorter time period, but definitely let it rest 10+ minutes. Resting makes a huge difference in moisture. (You can cover it with tin foil and a pot holder on top of the stove to keep in the heat.)
  • Th3Ph03n1x
    Th3Ph03n1x Posts: 275 Member
    dawnsnarks wrote: »
    At 350, a normal-sized chicken breast shouldn't take any longer than 30 minutes, especially if you have the fan going. +1 on the searing too; will lock in moisture.

    ^^ You're def cooking it too long. I would add make sure you let it rest for 5 minutes after removing from the oven.
  • kt_simms
    kt_simms Posts: 20 Member
    Brining. Even adding 10 minutes of brining can change your chicken tremendously for the better. Plus, an hour is a long time unless you're talking thick, bone-in cuts.
  • logicman69
    logicman69 Posts: 1,034 Member
    I usually set my oven for 400, then bake for 25-30 minutes. Always comes out perfectly.
  • jessicapk
    jessicapk Posts: 574 Member
    dawnsnarks wrote: »
    At 350, a normal-sized chicken breast shouldn't take any longer than 30 minutes, especially if you have the fan going. +1 on the searing too; will lock in moisture.

    I do mine this way without the searing (the quick, easy way) and let them rest for about 15 minutes under tin foil before cutting in. They are always moist and juicy and delicious!
  • harley0269
    harley0269 Posts: 384 Member
    edited January 2015
    i bake my boneless skinless chicken breasts in the oven at 325 degrees for 30-35 minutes if its thawed. **if its frozen then i bake it at 375 degrees for 40-50 minutes. ~comes out moist & juicy & perfect every time!
  • RinnyLush
    RinnyLush Posts: 389 Member
    Try cooking it in a tinfoil packet - this tends to work for me when I want to just throw it in the oven and forget about it for a few minutes. Otherwise, I prefer to pan-sear and transfer to the oven as others have suggested.
  • MommysLittleMeatball
    MommysLittleMeatball Posts: 2,064 Member
    1 hour for a chicken breast is entirely too long. How about looking up some recipes to get a good idea for temp and time.

    Remember bone-in and boneless chicken breast will have different length of time to cook. I sear and finish in the oven with some stock. If it is a thin boneless chicken breast they are very easy to cook on top of the stove until done.

    There's lots of great food/cooking sites out there that have a lot of great info if you're just starting to cook. Even cooking shows will give you insight.
  • blktngldhrt
    blktngldhrt Posts: 1,053 Member
    30 minutes at 350 is usually sufficient..unless the breasts are thicker than average. Cook until no longer pink and juices run clear. I would never make chicken breast if it needed to be cooked for an hour!!

  • Need2Exerc1se
    Need2Exerc1se Posts: 13,575 Member
    I don't know what a fan oven is, but as pointed out above, 1 hour seems long for a breast. Use a meat thermometer and take it out when it's to temp.

    Also, brining will help keep it moist, especially if you are using boneless skinless breasts. Bone-in, skin on, will also help keep it moist, and doesn't add any extra fat if you don't eat the skin.
  • 52cardpickup
    52cardpickup Posts: 379 Member
    JoRocka wrote: »
    Don't over cook it?

    This. People are so paranoid about under cooking their chicken that they over cook it and it TURNS TO SAWDUST IN YOUR MOUTH. Thermometers are your friends.

    Also, a whole hour for one chicken breast? For real?
  • Showcase_Brodown
    Showcase_Brodown Posts: 919 Member
    Maybe a higher temp, and definitely a shorter time. As soon as the meat is "done" and no longer, get it out of there.
  • GAJulie78
    GAJulie78 Posts: 4 Member
    I think as well ovens with fans are convection ovens, correct? Things cook in those much faster than regular ovens from the get-go. Google cooking chicken in convection oven and it will give you some good estimates.
  • chadya07
    chadya07 Posts: 627 Member
    i tend to not bake boneless skinless breasts. i either cook them on the stove or braise them. the oven is a dry heat and you have to be so precise...

    i agree with others about the searing though. if you must, sear first. also consider bone in skin on, then remove the skin after cooking. the calories may be higher but not by a lot, and in my opinion eating blah dry chicken is just not my idea of a good diet. anyway the bone and skin add flavor and lock in moisture too,,, and can always be removed after. plus they can be cheaper...
  • avskk
    avskk Posts: 1,787 Member
    If I must bake a boneless skinless breast (I agree with chadya; baking isn't the best way to go for those), I dip it in a low-fat Greek yogurt sauce first. Just mix half a cup or so of plain Greek yogurt with curry powder or whatever seasonings you like, quickly dunk the chicken -- the yogurt sauce should be a thin sheen, not a thick coat -- and then bake.

    I also agree with the people who said you're overbaking, though. Bake it for a shorter time and let it rest a few minutes before serving.
  • 52cardpickup
    52cardpickup Posts: 379 Member
    Skyz4dayz wrote: »
    JoRocka wrote: »
    Don't over cook it?

    How helpful of you! HERE IS YOUR GOLD STAR!

    I don't see what's wrong with saying "don't over cook it". I feel like that's a perfectly valid statement, given that an hour for one chicken breast at 350 is an excessive amount of time. Perhaps you feel that more in depth instruction on how NOT to over cook the chicken breast was warranted?
  • dbmata
    dbmata Posts: 12,950 Member
    Here's a tip, don't cook by time, cook by doneness, bake to about 150, and you're good to go, well, at least in better shape.

    Yesterday I cooked some chicken breasts at 140F for 10 hours in a water bath, then seared one up for lunch today. It was amazingly juicy and tender.
  • Kalikel
    Kalikel Posts: 9,603 Member
    Buy more tender cuts.
    Don't over cook. People really do tend to over cook meats.
    Leave the skin on while it cooks, if it still has skin, then remove it after it bakes.
    Marinate.
    Roast with Olive oil.

    Some people swear by covering or tenting with foil.

    Don't rub salt on it before it cooks. That's just encouraging moisture to leave.
  • FatFreeFrolicking
    FatFreeFrolicking Posts: 4,252 Member
    Skyz4dayz wrote: »
    JoRocka wrote: »
    Don't over cook it?

    How helpful of you! HERE IS YOUR GOLD STAR!

    Uh… It is in fact helpful.

    The problem isn't the chicken, the problem is overcooking it.
  • JoRocka
    JoRocka Posts: 17,525 Member
    Skyz4dayz wrote: »
    JoRocka wrote: »
    Don't over cook it?

    How helpful of you! HERE IS YOUR GOLD STAR!

    that IS the correct answer to the question though.
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