Shredded chicken can be used in several dishes such as soups and salads. It is easy to make, and it is perfect for meal plans. But let’s be honest, shredding chicken manually is a task that takes time, that is why we find ways on how to do it faster. Aside from your food processor, did you know that you can also use your handy and trusty blender to do the job? Yes, you read that right. You can shred chicken in a blender. That is why if this sounds interesting to you, keep on reading because we are going to tell you how to shred chicken by using a blender.
How to Shred Chicken Using a Blender
The first thing you need to do is to cook your chicken so that it will be tender, soft, and easier to shred. Raw chicken does not always come out as lovely when they are shredded compared to the cooked one. It’s up to you on how you will take the chicken from raw to cook, and you can even poach it, grill it, or boil it. You have to get it ready however you please as long as the chicken is not raw when you’re going to shred it.
After cooking the chicken, the next thing you have to do is to de-bone it. This means that you will have to remove the bone from the flesh. This process makes shredding easier, it would not ruin your blender, and the bones would not mix with the shredded chicken meat. If you want, you can de-bone the chicken before you cook it.
When you’re finished removing the bones from the meat, the shredding begins. Take note that you have to use a high-powered blender with fast and sharp blades to do the job correctly. Add the chicken into the blender bits by bits, and you can push down the chicken to the bottom of the blender by using a metallic or wooden tamper. You have to make sure that the blender’s blades hit all parts of the chicken to come up with even shreds.
Why Shred Your Chicken in a Blender?
While other appliances in the kitchen can shred chicken for different recipes, blenders stand out from all the rest because they are easy to use and do not take that much space for something that is powerful enough to do the job. Blenders are versatile kitchen tools that can turn your cooked chicken breast into tender and moist pieces with so much ease. Not only that, using your blender as opposed to other kitchen appliances such as stand mixers or food processors makes cleaning up a lot easier.
Shredding chicken using a blender is also a great time saver because you will not have to shred chicken using your hands, and you can easily prepare a large batch for other recipes and in just a few minutes. Blenders also give you a moist and tender final product, especially if you’re making stews, soups, tacos, and more.
Storing Shredded Chicken
Once you’re finished shredding your chicken, the next thing you need to do is to store it properly so that it will not lose any of its moisture or flavor. If you put it in an airtight container, you can keep your shredded chicken in the refrigerator for up to three days. If you want to use the shredded chicken for more than three days, do not forget to freeze the chicken instead. Frozen shredded chicken can be stored in the freezer for up to four months.
It is also essential that you label the bag, especially when you freeze large batches of foods because a lot of food tend to look the same when they are frozen. Trust us, and you do not want any mix-ups, especially when you’re digging through your freezer.
While freezer bags may seem like suitable packaging material, they are not always ideal because they can cause freezer burn when they are left for too long inside the refrigerator. We suggest that you use reusable containers that have lids
Other Kitchen Tools that Can Shred Chicken
Just like we mentioned countlessly in this article, using a blender to shred chicken is the easiest method that you can do. But there are still other kitchen tools that can help you do the job. While they may not be as fast or easy compared to using a blender, they are still quicker than shredding chicken using your hands.
Food Processor – if you’re going to use a food processor for shredding your chicken, you have to remove first the chicken breasts then de-bone them before putting them inside the food processor. Next, you have to set the food processor to the lowest setting until the chicken is thoroughly shredded. This part of the process only takes about a minute if for smaller batches and at least two minutes for larger ones. Finally, you have to transfer the shredded chicken to an airtight container and put it in the fridge.
Stand Mixer– If you’re going to use a stand mixer for shredding your chicken, you first have to de-bone and remove the chicken skin before putting the chicken inside of your mixer’s bowl, then proceed to add other seasonings that you want to use. Next, you have to set your stand mixer on its lowest settings until your chicken is thoroughly shredded. This process should take about five minutes to finish.
Conclusion
Shredding chicken is easier and faster with the help of a blender. This method is advantageous, especially if you do not have enough time to prepare or you need finely and evenly shredded chicken. The best thing about shredding your chicken using a blender is that you can do it as a last-minute decision.