How Long Should You Bake a Boneless Chicken Breast? Medically reviewed by Natalie Olsen, R. We include products we think are useful for our readers. If how long to grill chicken breast buy through links on this page, we may earn a small commission.
While the risks are relatively low when you’re creating a meal in your kitchen, baking chicken or cooking any poultry always comes with the potential for foodborne illness. Fortunately, knowing how to properly prepare chicken can keep you safe and well-fed. Salmonella is a foodborne bacteria that’s responsible for 1. Salmonella is largely found in raw poultry. When poultry is cooked properly it’s safe, but if it’s undercooked or handled improperly while raw, it can lead to trouble. All poultry in the United States is inspected for signs of disease, but this doesn’t mean it’s free of bacteria. As a matter of fact, it’s not unusual at all for raw poultry to contain many different types of bacteria.
This guide can help you estimate how long to cook your chicken, but because ovens have slight heat differences and chicken breasts may be larger or smaller than the average, it’s important that you double-check the internal temperature of the meat. In this case, close is not good enough, so make sure you put it back in the oven if it hasn’t reached this threshold. Don’t rely on how your chicken breast looks to determine if it’s ready. Pink meat doesn’t necessarily mean it’s undercooked. Similarly, white meat doesn’t necessarily mean all bacteria has been killed. Be cautious about cross-contamination if you’re cutting into your chicken to check its appearance.
When raw poultry comes in contact with work surfaces, knives, and even your hands, it can leave behind bacteria. These bacteria can be transferred from surface to surface and end up in your salad, on your fork, and ultimately in your mouth. Wash and thoroughly disinfect surfaces that come into contact with raw poultry. Use paper towels so they can be thrown away after picking up possible contaminants. Preparation and storage are also important.
Chicken should always be cooked immediately after thawing. Cooked chicken breasts should be refrigerated within two hours of cooking. Your leftovers should remain safe for two to three days. So, now that you know how to safely handle chicken breasts, what should you do with them? Chicken breasts are extremely versatile, and your options for how to prepare them are nearly endless. For starters, you can chop them into salads, use them in sandwiches, or cook them on the grill. For a healthy take on a classic, try this oven-fried chicken breast recipe or these flavorful herb-roasted chicken breasts.
Don’t be intimidated by cooking chicken. When you know the best handling practices, chicken breast is a lean protein that’s both tasty and safe. Not all high protein foods are created equal. Is Eating Raw Eggs Safe and Healthy?
Eggs are extremely nutritious, but is it healthy and safe to eat eggs raw? Medically reviewed by Debra Rose Wilson, Ph. Bone broth boasts many benefits for gut healing, joint repairing, sleep, and more. Pressed for time or want a variety? These recipes will hit the spot. Did you know your kitchen is most likely the dirtiest spot in your home?
Find out where else germs live and how to keep those spots clean. Medically reviewed by Peggy Pletcher, M. Learning how to properly defrost chicken only takes a few moments. Medically reviewed by Graham Rogers, M. Salmonella food poisoning is one of the most common types of food poisoning. The Salmonella bacteria live in the intestines of humans and animals. Medically reviewed by Natalie Butler, R.
It’s important to safely handle and store all types of meat. A healthy kitchen depends on your knowledge of how to safely cook and store your food. People love to post photos of their kids’ healthy lunch boxes or boast about how their kids love smoothies made with dandelion greens and ginger. 2005-2022 Healthline Media a Red Ventures Company. Our website services, content, and products are for informational purposes only.