How to Shred Chicken
Unsure how to go about shredding chicken? Never fear. Preparing this versatile staple is easy once you know a few tricks.
From the ever-popular chicken enchiladas to BBQ chicken sandwiches, shredded chicken pops up as an ingredient in countless recipes. With these simple techniques, you'll have it ready in a flash.
1 Pan Poaching Your Chicken
Whatever you choose to make, it's important that you use fully cooked meat as raw chicken doesn't shred well. Any cooking method will work, but I prefer pan-simmered boneless chicken breasts or thighs. Start by browning the chicken in a couple tablespoons of oil over medium heat. Pour hot water into your pan and let the chicken simmer for 8-12 minutes, or until it’s cooked through.
2 Shredding Chicken with a Fork
This is the most common technique for shredding chicken because it’s so quick and easy. Simply hold one fork still in the center of your chicken and use a second fork to pull the shreds apart.
3 Shredding Chicken with a Standing Mixer
Place your boneless chicken in the bowl of your standing mixer and snap your paddle attachments into place. Turn the mixer on at low speed and leave it for 2-3 minutes, or until the chicken is fully shredded.
4 Shredding Chicken with a Hand Mixer
Working with two chicken breasts or thighs at a time, use your hands to tear apart your meat. Place the pieces into a deep mixing bowl and press the beaters of your mixer into the meat. Turn the mixer on a low speed and let the paddles work through the chicken until it’s fully shredded. Repeat with remaining boneless chicken breasts or thighs.
5 Enjoy!
Once your chicken is shredded, you can use it in a variety of tasty dinners —Chicken Enchiladas, Shredded Chicken Tacos, BBQ Chicken Sandwiches, Shredded Chicken Coleslaw, or Cold Sesame Noodles. Any meat you don’t use can be frozen for a later date.
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