As a home cook, I’m always looking for ways to take my chicken dishes to the next level. I want every bite to be juicy, flavorful and delicious. Recently, I discovered that letting chicken rest after cooking is one of the best tricks for achieving this goal. In this article, I’ll explain why resting chicken is so important, how long you should let it rest, and tips for perfect results every time.
Why Letting Chicken Rest Matters
When you pull chicken straight from the oven grill or pan it may smell amazing but the cooking process has forced moisture and juices to the center. If you slice into it immediately, those juices will spill out onto the cutting board, leaving you with a drier, less flavorful piece of poultry.
Letting chicken rest gives time for the proteins to relax and the juices to redistribute evenly throughout the meat. This makes a huge difference in moisture retention and flavor. Essentially resting chicken allows it to reabsorb its natural juices. The result is more tender and juicy meat.
The Science Behind Resting Chicken
The science behind resting chicken has to do with how heat affects proteins. When chicken cooks, the heat causes proteins like myosin to coagulate and contract, squeezing moisture out.
Once removed from the heat source, these contracted proteins start to relax and loosen up over time. This relaxation allows the juices to redistribute back into the chicken.
Ultimately, resting provides time for moisture and flavor to become evenly dispersed again after being forced out during cooking.
How Long Should You Let Chicken Rest?
The ideal rest time depends on the size and cut of the chicken:
- Whole chicken: 15-20 minutes
- Bone-in pieces like breasts or legs: 10-15 minutes
- Boneless breasts or thighs: 5-10 minutes
For food safety, always check internal temperature before serving. Chicken should reach 165°F. The temperature may rise about 5-10°F during resting.
The Benefits of Resting Chicken
- More moist, juicy meat
- Improved texture – relaxing proteins makes meat more tender
- Allows flavors to fully develop
- Less juice loss when carving
Properly rested chicken is easier to carve, serve and eat. Taking the time really pays off in the final results.
Tips for Letting Chicken Rest
Follow these tips for perfect results:
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Remove chicken from heat source and transfer to a clean plate or cutting board.
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Loosely tent the chicken with aluminum foil to keep warm. Avoid tightly wrapping, which can cause steam buildup.
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Let sit for the recommended time based on size and cut. For whole birds, use a meat thermometer to check the internal temperature.
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Add any sauce or glaze during the last 5 minutes so it doesn’t burn.
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For more moisture, baste during resting. The juices will absorb into the meat.
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Don’t cut into chicken right away or you’ll lose all those natural juices you worked so hard to retain!
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Slice against the grain of the meat for tender, easy-to-chew pieces.
Common Resting Mistakes
It’s easy to make mistakes when resting chicken. Here are some to avoid:
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Skipping the resting period entirely. Even just 5 minutes makes a difference.
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Leaving chicken uncovered, causing it to cool too quickly.
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Resting too long, allowing moisture loss and potential bacterial growth. Stick to recommended times.
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Cutting into chicken immediately, losing those flavorful juices.
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Resting in a hot pan, which continues cooking and dries out the meat.
With practice, you’ll get the resting time just right for juicy, tender results every time. Be patient and let that chicken rest!
Should You Rest Boneless, Skinless Breasts?
With lean boneless, skinless chicken breasts, some argue resting isn’t necessary. However, allowing even 5-10 minutes for juices to redistribute can improve moisture. Follow your preference, but I always rest for maximum juiciness.
To Refrigerate or Not?
You can let chicken rest in the fridge, covered, for up to 2 hours before reheating and serving. However, letting it rest on the counter is ideal. The warmer temperature allows juices to redistribute more efficiently.
If reheating refrigerated chicken, do so gently to prevent drying out. Aim for an internal temp of 165°F.
Letting chicken rest after cooking is one of the easiest ways to ensure tender, juicy and flavorful results every time. Now that you know why it works, how long to rest different cuts, and mistakes to avoid, you can start serving restaurant-quality chicken at home. Give this simple trick a try for your next poultry dish!
How to cook chicken
Roast at 200C/180C fan/gas 6 (whole chicken: 25 mins per 500g, plus an extra 25 mins; breasts, 15 mins; thighs and wings, 40 mins).
Grill or barbecue (breast, 7-10 mins; cubes or strips, 5-7 mins; drumsticks and thighs, 25-30 mins; wings, 40 mins).
Stir-fry (cubes or strips, 5-7 mins). Always check theres no pink meat and that the juices run clear (pierce with a sharp knife or skewer) before serving.
How to prepare chicken
Certain cuts of chicken can be marinated before cooking, to add flavour and moisture, as well as tenderise the meat. Slash the skin a couple of times to help the marinade penetrate further.
Before it goes in the oven, chicken should be at room temperature, so take it out of the fridge (1 hour for a whole chicken; 30 minutes for a cut) before cooking. Keep it covered, in a cool place.
Why you should (almost) always brine your chicken
FAQ
How long should I let chicken rest?
How long is the optimum chicken resting time? Looking at our results, we would suggest waiting at least 30 minutes before carving your chicken. This will allow the meat to surpass its peak temperature and begin its decline, which is when it will relax and become more juicy.
What is the 2 hour rule for chicken?
The USDA guidelines state that perishable food, including cooked chicken, should not be left out for more than two hours at room temperature. After this time, harmful bacteria can multiply to unsafe levels, and cooking the chicken again will not eliminate these risks.
Are you supposed to let chicken rest before shredding?
Let cooked chicken rest for 10 minutes before shredding. This resting period allows the juices to redistribute throughout the meat, ensuring that it remains moist and flavorful. Additionally, allowing the chicken to cool slightly makes it easier to handle and shred without burning yourself.
Should you let chicken rest after cooking?
Finally, you should always let your meat rest after cooking. Letting your chicken sit under some foil or an overturned plate for at least five minutes will hold in even more moisture and allow the juices to redistribute through the meat as they settle. Read the original article on The Daily Meal.
Should you let chicken rest at room temperature?
No, it is not advisable to let chicken rest at room temperature. Leaving cooked chicken at room temperature can create a breeding ground for bacteria. Always cover the chicken and rest it in a warm place to keep it safe. Should you tent the chicken while it rests?
How long does chicken need to rest?
There is no talking about how long chicken needs to rest without addressing the purpose of resting meat. The primary reason chicken needs to rest is because of moisture redistribution. As the chicken cooks on your kamado grill, moisture will be pulled from within the chickens to the outside of the chicken. Some of this moisture will dissipate.