Blog

Healthy ways to enjoy versatile chicken

Mar 21, 2022

If you’re anything like us, chicken likely plays a role in your meal prepping almost any day of the week!

The best thing about chicken, in our opinion, is how versatile it is: it can be cooked half a dozen different ways and paired with so many different side dishes and foods.

These brilliant qualities make it a staple on our kitchen tables at least 3 to 4 times a week.

In this blog post, we will be looking at some of the most popular ways to cook and enjoy chicken to keep it fresh and exciting for the whole family.

Searching for meat delivery online? Explore Australian Butchers Store and find all your favourite cuts of chicken, beef, lamb, and more!

What are some different ways to cook chicken?

This delicious, nutritious, and adaptable meat can be incorporated into almost any dinner recipe in your repertoire!

On rotation several nights a week, you’ll never get sick of chicken as it can be enjoyed dozens of different ways.

We look at some of the most popular ways to cook chicken, including some of the healthier options.

How do I cook chicken without losing nutrients?

Try poaching your chicken.

Not only can you retain important nutrients such as protein, but you’ll also allow the meat to cook without losing moisture, resulting in a lean, succulent, and tender piece of chicken.

If you’ve never tried poaching food before, we strongly recommend starting with chicken. Your liquid can be as simple as water, or you can try a broth, stock, or oil, and add flavour with herbs and spices.

Poaching, unlike other methods like grilling or baking, does not brown the chicken, so don’t be surprised when you see a stark white piece of meat, even once it’s cooked! Just ensure it’s cooked all the way through and you’ll be good to go.

Poaching a chicken is also a great additional step if the chicken is then going to be cooked again, for example, if you want to then grill it – poaching renders down the fat to create a tasty piece of meat that’s crispy on the outside and succulent on the inside.

How do I get that beautiful charred flavour?

Try grilling your chicken.

Whether you’ve got a barbeque or do it indoors on a grill pan, grilling chicken in a delicious marinade may be reminiscent of summer BBQs with the family, but can indeed be enjoyed any time of the year!

From boneless chicken breast to tenders, wings, thighs, and even a whole chicken, we suggest a meat thermometer to ensure a safe minimum temperature when grilling.

Importantly, let the chicken rest for five minutes before serving to ensure those succulent juices are reabsorbed.

Is baked chicken healthy?

Yes – baking is a healthy cooking method for chicken.

Baked chicken is a brilliant source of protein, vitamin B-12, and iron.

If you want to be even healthier, we suggest choosing marinades and sauces that are low in sugar and salt.

What about skin, you might ask? We must admit, chicken skin has a bit of a reputation as being ‘fatty’.

But did you know that the fat found in chicken skin is actually unsaturated, and as such, beneficial?

Yep, it can help lower your blood pressure and cholesterol. Cooking with the skin on can in fact keep your piece of meat succulent, flavourful, and moist.

Chicken Wholesale Australia

Is cooking chicken in a pan healthy?

The most important thing to consider when pan-cooking chicken here is the type of grease you’re going to use in your pan – including how much of it!

Chicken is quite lean to begin with, so if you’d like to cook it in a pan, we suggest stir-frying it over high heat, with just a little bit of olive oil. Choose a healthier oil such as extra virgin, or consider spray oils to coat the pan with just a small amount of oil.

Other oil alternatives you could try out include avocado, peanut, and sesame oil.

Chicken is also perfect for meal-prepping!

Beyond the dinner table, chicken is also a super quick and easy protein if you’re a fan of meal-prepping.

It can be prepared in bulk and is a super cheap and efficient protein to add to your meals.

Cooked chicken stores well in the fridge so any leftovers can easily be enjoyed the next day in a cold salad, mushroom pie, or a good old chicken, cheese, and avocado toastie.

Buy bulk chicken online today!

Chicken is a fantastic protein source that can be incorporated into any weeknight dinner: it’s cheap and easy to prepare, while all the different ways to cook it ensures you and your family will always enjoy something new, fresh, and delicious.

Whether you’d like to experiment with a different cooking method or want to try out a new recipe, Australian Butchers store is your one-stop shop for Australian wholesale meats, including chicken, beef, lamb, and seafood.

Your friendly local butchers are here to offer you advice and guidance to give you the confidence to try something new in the kitchen!

Whether you need a chicken butterflied or are searching for those perfect chicken wings, you’ll find it all at Australian Butchers Store.

Buy chicken wholesale with Australian Butchers Store and enjoy delivery direct to your door. Alternatively, visit us in-store at one of our four locations across Melbourne.