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thefourthvine) wrote2010-02-12 07:10 pm
thefourthvine) wrote2010-02-12 07:10 pm
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Chicken Help Requested!
Dear meat-cooking faction of my friends list,
I would like to make some chicken. I want it to be a mix of white and dark meat, something that I can easily convert into small pieces, and fairly tender (not dry, not very chewy). It does not need much of a sauce, because most of it will go into the freezer for Earthling Chicken Salad. (Chicken pieces + diced fresh tomatoes + olive oil + choice of flavoring.) Ideally, it should keep all the fat it came with.
What do I need to buy? (Keep in mind that I am buying this for Tiny Alice Waters, and thus should probably go for higher-quality chicken, if there is a variation in quality amongst chickens; also, for reasons of personal moral qualms, I am willing to pay more for more humanely-treated chicken, if that exists.) Where should I buy it? What do I need to do? How can I make chicken happen?
Please keep in mind that although I am a good home cook, I have never made meat. I was a vegetarian long before I learned to cook, so meat has always been a total blind spot in my kitchen vision, if that makes sense. If there is a ritual anointing that anyone would know to do? I don't know it. If there's some safe-handling thing that is so insanely obvious that no one ever mentions it? I won't do it unless you tell me to do it. You know those exercises you had to do in school where you had to pretend the teacher was an alien (generally not much of a feat of imagination, there) and explain to her how to make a peanut butter and jelly sandwich? Please pretend I am an alien, because I am. I have never visited Planet Meat before. I need a very thorough travel guide.
I have a crockpot, and if a crockpot can produce this kind of food, I would prefer to use it, since mine has three crocks and one can just become the Meat Crock. But if there is an easy, non-crockpot method for producing chicken, I would also enjoy hearing about it. (Please nothing that requires setting fires. I would prefer to emerge from this with all my parts basically intact.)
I would really appreciate your help. (And Tiny Alice Waters would, too.)
<3,
TFV
I would like to make some chicken. I want it to be a mix of white and dark meat, something that I can easily convert into small pieces, and fairly tender (not dry, not very chewy). It does not need much of a sauce, because most of it will go into the freezer for Earthling Chicken Salad. (Chicken pieces + diced fresh tomatoes + olive oil + choice of flavoring.) Ideally, it should keep all the fat it came with.
What do I need to buy? (Keep in mind that I am buying this for Tiny Alice Waters, and thus should probably go for higher-quality chicken, if there is a variation in quality amongst chickens; also, for reasons of personal moral qualms, I am willing to pay more for more humanely-treated chicken, if that exists.) Where should I buy it? What do I need to do? How can I make chicken happen?
Please keep in mind that although I am a good home cook, I have never made meat. I was a vegetarian long before I learned to cook, so meat has always been a total blind spot in my kitchen vision, if that makes sense. If there is a ritual anointing that anyone would know to do? I don't know it. If there's some safe-handling thing that is so insanely obvious that no one ever mentions it? I won't do it unless you tell me to do it. You know those exercises you had to do in school where you had to pretend the teacher was an alien (generally not much of a feat of imagination, there) and explain to her how to make a peanut butter and jelly sandwich? Please pretend I am an alien, because I am. I have never visited Planet Meat before. I need a very thorough travel guide.
I have a crockpot, and if a crockpot can produce this kind of food, I would prefer to use it, since mine has three crocks and one can just become the Meat Crock. But if there is an easy, non-crockpot method for producing chicken, I would also enjoy hearing about it. (Please nothing that requires setting fires. I would prefer to emerge from this with all my parts basically intact.)
I would really appreciate your help. (And Tiny Alice Waters would, too.)
<3,
TFV
no subject
- You can buy free-range chickens, although not reliably. I would extend the effort, though, because a) they have a better quality of life, and b) they tend to have higher levels of omega-3, which will be good for the earthling's brain. I haven't noticed much of a taste difference but some people have claimed it has a stronger taste than non-free range chicken.
- I would definitely go to a butcher's rather than the supermarket. Not only are butchers meat specialists, but they can sell you smaller portions than you can usually buy in supermarkets, so you could buy a mix of chicken parts.
- Chicken safety: it's important! But don't get stressed out by all these comments and conclude that chicken is like a semi-poisonous food just waiting to kill you. A little care is all that's needed.
Chicken care advice for aliens:
- Remember to keep your chicken separate from other foods and wash all utensils/containers/boards in hot soapy water before using them again and you'll be fine. Common mistake: cutting chicken and then cutting tomato using the unwashed knife on the unwashed board. Not the best idea! Also don't cut up the cooked chicken with the same unwashed knife you used to cut the raw chicken with.
- You should also keep in mind that you shouldn't keep chicken in the fridge too long (1-2 days only).
- This is why freezing is awesome! But remember that you can't refreeze. Once it is defrosted it's time to cook it.
- When defrosting chicken do it either in the fridge (on a plate so it doesn't drip on other food--can be a good idea to put it on a lower shelf if you're particularly worried) or defrost in the microwave. (Defrosting in the fridge will take a day or so.)
- Chicken is a great meat! Versatile, absorbs other tasty flavours well, easy to eat. Good luck!
ETA: also I would totally go for a boneless piece of meat. Ask for one you can just cut up as it's so much easier that way if it's the first time you've cooked it. Also chicken changes colour when cooked, from pink to white.
no subject
You can also defrost it by leaving it under *running* (not still) water in your sink (*cool* water, not hot!) but that is very water wasteful. It is faster than the fridge and easier (but not faster) than the microwave.
Mum suggests you look for tenderloin (not sure if it's called that in the US) which is offcut from chicken breast and is tasty and fatty. If the Earthling likes stir fries, you can add it separately to his before you serve it.
You can leave raw chicken in the freezer for around 3 months. I think fresh cooked chicken tastes better than cooked, frozen then defrosted chicken, but see how you go.
Re the hygiene - chicken can be dangerous, but I have done some hygienically questionable things and been ok, so while I advocate care you probably have some wriggle room. (Of course, food poisoning is unpleasant, potentially dangerous and best avoided; I'm just saying that cooking chicken is not as dangerous as bomb disposal, for example.)
Chicken comes in three different rearing types: standard (unlabled) chicken, barn raised, and free range (or free range organic).
I think you will want to avoid standard chickens; they are grown in very small cages and it is unpleasant. Barn raised chickens have room to move around but are kept permanently indoors. Free range chickens can wander outside.