When it comes to cooking, there isn’t much that is as versatile and as easy to prepare as chicken breast. Whether baked, broiled, fried or even sous vide, this protein packs a serious punch and a delicious flavor that can satisfy your hunger when it comes to a lunchtime salad, a pre-workout snack, or as a main course at dinnertime.
And for those who are looking to get their protein intake up while keeping their fat and carb intake low, chicken breast is tremendously beneficial, containing over 98% lean meat when you trim the fat and take off the skin before preparing your chicken breast meal. It’s little wonder why chicken breast is regarded as a superfood – probably the most affordable superfood you can find in your local grocery store.
Cooking chicken breasts in the oven?
Most people tend to cook their chicken breasts on the frying pan with a little oil and their seasoning of choice – and for good reason. Cooking your chicken breast on the frying pan is the quickest and easiest way to turn your raw poultry into a delicious edible protein that you can eat in as many different ways as you can ever imagine.
However, if you truly want to turn your raw pieces of chicken breast into a culinary delight worthy of a Sunday lunch staple, you’re going to want to use a different cooking method – the oven method.
How to cook multiple chicken breasts in the oven
Before you cook chicken breasts in the oven, you’ll want to prepare them first, by washing them, brining them, then seasoning them with your preferred seasoning.
It’s worth remembering that chicken breasts are lean pieces of meat – this means that the risk of overcooking them is relatively high, causing them to turn dry and rubbery if cooked for too long, or even worse – burnt.
Always choose a high temperature (350ºF to 400ºF) when you’re cooking skinless and boneless chicken breast as the pressure from the high heat ultimately seals the juices and the seasoning while it cooks. Invest in a quick read meat thermometer as well, as it allows you to check and ensure that the insides of your chicken breasts are fully cooked.
Cooking multiple chicken breasts in one batch comes with some considerations. You can also use a meat tenderizer to pound your raw chicken breast. This ensures that all of your chicken breast pieces are at an even thickness so that they cook evenly.
How long does it take to cook 4 chicken breasts in the oven?
4 pieces of chicken breasts are the most common way of preparing multiple chicken breasts in the oven. If you’re cooking 4 chicken breasts in the oven, you would want to use a high heat (350ºF – 400ºF) and bake them in the oven for about 20 to 25 minutes. After that time, check if your chicken is cooked by using a meat thermometer.
Insert the meat thermometer into the thickest part of the chicken breast and check that the inside of your chicken breast reaches at least 165ºF – this means that your chicken is fully cooked inside and out. Anything under 165ºF increases the risk of salmonella, which is largely found in raw poultry.
Strict FDA inspection ensures that all poultry in the U.S are inspected for any sign of disease, but it always helps to double check that you’ve handled and cooked your chicken properly to avoid any trouble in the future!
How long does it take to cook 10 chicken breasts in the oven?
If you’re running short of time and you need to make 10 chicken breasts in the oven at one go, use a high heat (400ºF) and let the chicken breasts cook for about 40-45 minutes. The high heat and pressure will ensure that your chicken breasts remain juicy, however it is not advisable to crowd any more than 10 pieces in the oven as this will affect the cooking time, and the eventual quality of the entire batch that you’re cooking.
As mentioned earlier, cooking 10 chicken breasts at one time in an oven is a slight challenge, however, it can be done, but you’ll need to pay more attention to the chicken breasts as they are cooking in your oven.
Don’t rely on the visual of your chicken breast to know if it’s ready, always use a quick read meat thermometer to check that your chicken breast is at 165ºF, to ensure that your chicken is fully cooked.
When you do want to visually check whether your chicken is cooked, you can use a knife to cut into your chicken breasts and check if the insides still look undercooked. However, be careful not to cross-contaminate, and wash using dish soap, any utensils you use to cut or handle your chicken breast before using it for anything else.
Why is cooking chicken breast in the oven better?
Although cooking chicken breast on a frying pan is just so darn easy to do, let’s face it. Sometimes a boneless, skinless chicken breast can turn out pretty dry straight out of the frying pan, especially if you aren’t paying attention to how long you’re leaving your chicken breast frying away in that hot oil. Sure, you may have the noblest of intentions – consuming lean protein and practicing clean eating to fuel your body to perform to it’s healthiest best. But who says clean eating has to be dry and boring?
By using an oven to cook your chicken breast, you’re fully unlocking the potential of the versatile, yet affordable lean protein that can be prepared in so many delicious ways.
Not to mention that once you’ve seasoned more than a few delicious chicken breasts, you’ll be a pro at mixing and matching the taste profiles of the many different spices and seasonings in your pantry. A valuable skill for any amateur home chef worth his salt!
Photo altered by simplelifesaver.com | Photo attribution: Philippe Zuber
