So many people wonder that does chicken continue to cook while resting. Even if you remove the chicken from the heat, it continues to cook. After removing the meat from the heat, a resting period is an important part of chicken preparation. It allows the juices to re-settle in the chicken and finish flavorful instead of dry and flavorless. It helps retain moisture in the meat and makes for a juicier final product.
HOW TO COOK CHICKEN WHILE RESTING
You can rest the chicken on a cutting board or a rimmed baking sheet. Place a clean piece of parchment paper on top of the cutting board or baking sheet. The chicken will continue to cook while it rests. Remember to let the chicken rest for at least 10 minutes before serving.
The 10-minute rule means that the chicken is safe to eat once the internal temperature has dropped to below 165 degrees Fahrenheit. The temperature will rise by 3 degrees every minute after you take it out of the heat.
DOES CHICKEN CONTINUE TO COOK WHILE RESTING? WHY DOES CHICKEN CONTINUE TO COOK WHILE RESTING
When you remove the chicken from the heat source, the temperature drops like in any other food item, however, the process happens slower because of the high protein, fat, and water content.
The heat from the inside of the chicken continues to flow towards the outside, but the fat and water are slowing it down. Fat is excellent at slowing down the flow of heat, so it will take longer to cool down. Since heat travels more slowly through fat, the fat in chicken will continue to cook for a short period after you take the meat off the heat source.
When the fat and water inside the chicken reach their boiling points, they burst, creating steam. This steam helps keep the inside of the chicken moist and juicy.
Chicken Will Continue To Cook Even If You Don’t Let It Rest
It’s normal for the chicken to be 5 to 15 degrees above the target temperature even after resting. What’s important is that the chicken is cooked through, and all the bacteria that cause food-borne illnesses are killed.
The main difference is that a chicken cooked through but at a lower temperature will be drier and flakier than one cooked at a higher temperature and then allowed to rest.
A Secret To Save Time: Cooking Chicken With Parchment Paper
As I’ve mentioned above, place a piece of parchment paper over the chicken. At the same time, it will continue to cook slowly. There’s no need to worry about any additional preparation time.
The parchment paper traps steam above the chicken during its rest which also helps lock in moisture. But there’s a trick to make this process work even better. To maximize the effect of the parchment paper, make sure to flip the chicken over before you place the paper on top.
This will allow the chicken to continue cooking through the paper for a few minutes longer. If you don’t have parchment paper, you can make a makeshift version by spraying a little bit of oil on a plate or a baking sheet and then placing the chicken on top.