Whether you’re a pro or a newbie at cooking, the time needed to boil chicken thighs properly is always a question. You must adjust the heat at the right time and keep the pot on the stove for the right time to avoid overcooking.
How long it takes to boil chicken thighs depends on the size of the chicken thighs and the level of heat used. You can simply boil the chicken thighs in high heat for five minutes at first. When the water starts boiling, you can lower the temperature to medium levels and keep it like that for 40 minutes.
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Factors That Affect the Boiling Time of Chicken
There are a few factors that can affect how long you’d need to keep the chicken on the stove.
- The Cut: Boiling time depends largely on the part of the chicken you’d like to boil, such as the breast, legs, or thighs.
- With or Without Bones: Pieces with bones usually take more time to get boiled compared to pieces without bones.
- The Size of the Pieces: Large pieces usually take more time to boil properly.
- The Heat Level: You must keep the chicken on the stove for less time if you’re cooking on high heat. But there is a risk of overcooking while cooking with high heat.
How to Boil Chicken Thighs?
Boiling chicken thighs is one of the easiest things to do when it comes to cooking. You just need some simple ingredients to boil chicken thighs.
What Will You Need?
You will have to make these things ready in order to start boiling some delicious chicken thighs.
- Onions
- Salt
- Chicken thighs (of course)
- You can have any other vegetables with chicken thighs as your preference, such as kale leaves or carrots.
Instructions
Here are the instructions for boiling chicken thighs.
- Put the chicken thighs with salt and onions inside a medium-sized steel or marble pot. Add water to the pot judging by your own preference. I usually have enough water so that the chicken thighs are submerged at least one to two inches inside it.
- Turn on the stove at high power and keep it like that for 5 minutes. When the water starts boiling, turn down the temperature to medium or low levels.
- Keep it like that for 40 minutes.
- If you have some cooking knowledge, you will know the chicken thighs are ready by just seeing their texture. But if you don’t understand, you can be sure by checking the temperature of the chicken thighs. Chicken thighs get fairly boiled when their internal temperatures reach 165°F.
- Lastly, you have to put down the pot from the stove, put some olive oil on another pot and fry the boiled chicken thighs for roughly five to six minutes.
- Your delicious and tender chicken thighs are now ready to be served.
How to Boil Chicken Thighs in a Microwave?
You can boil chicken thighs using a microwave in this way –
- Put the chicken thighs inside a dish appropriate for microwaves.
- Don’t forget to add water and make sure the chicken thighs are at least two inches submerged in the water.
- Cook the chicken thighs inside the microwave on high heat for 5 to 7 minutes.
- The chicken thighs should be ready now.
Why Should You Eat Boiled Chicken Thighs?
Boiled chicken thighs have a bunch of health benefits as well.
- The amount of natural juices and nutrients are retained even after boiling the chicken thighs.
- Boiling chicken thighs get rid of harmful fatty elements.
- Boiled chicken thighs contain low amounts of carbohydrates and high amounts of protein elements.
- Boiled chicken thighs are universal cooking elements that can be easily incorporated with other dishes.
Tips for Boiling Chicken Thighs
- If you can extract the bones from the chicken, it gets a lot easier to boil, and the boiling needs less time.
- Make sure to defrost the chicken thighs before boiling.
- Use a thermometer if you’re not sure about the temperature of the chicken thighs.
- Make sure all the chicken thighs are of the same size. In this way, you can make sure that every piece is evenly cooked.
- Don’t put too many pieces in a single pot. Make sure there’s room between the pieces or the chicken thighs will be unevenly cooked.
How to Freeze and Keep Boiled Chicken Thighs?
After boiling the chicken thighs, you have to allow them to cool down properly. Once the chicken thighs are cooled down, you can place them inside air-tight containers and store them inside the refrigerator for 4 days.
In case you want to freeze them, you can do so as well by placing them inside an air-tight container and placing the container in the freezer. You can keep them like that for three months.
Conclusion
There you go. Now you know absolutely everything regarding boiling juicy and tender chicken thighs. You can eat the boiled chicken as it is, or you cook it with other elements or fry it with olive oil and serve others a delicious dish.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is my boiled chicken always tough?
Your chicken can get hard if you overcook it. There is a chance that you bought the woody chicken breasts from the market in the first place.
Does boiling chicken reduce protein?
No, boiling chicken doesn’t reduce its protein levels. Moreover, you can retain more protein by just boiling and not frying it.
Is it OK to eat boiled chicken daily?
Yes, if you’re into bodybuilding and fitness, eating boiled chicken daily will provide you with a bunch of benefits. It provides high protein levels with less fat. It has other necessary nutrients as well.
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I’m Farzana, an experienced writer with a passion for business, home, fashion, and digital marketing. With over 5 years of experience, I craft engaging content that resonates with readers across diverse niches. From insightful business strategies to chic fashion trends and savvy digital marketing tips, I strive to bring a unique perspective to every piece of writing. Get ready to be inspired and informed as I take you on a journey through the worlds of style, home improvement, entrepreneurship, and digital innovation.