There is a well-known adage that we have all heard in recent decades; when we try a new and unusual meat source, such as alligator, rattlesnake, frogs’ legs or some other exotic meat, our best description of it is often, “It tastes like chicken.” This has become a common phrase for describing food, so much so, that it is the punch-line of many jokes. We all know what chicken tastes like, and if an unusual food is described to taste like chicken, we’re safe, knowing exactly what we will be tasting. But with all the exotic, unusual and new-fangled foods available, chicken is still the meat of choice; the old stand-by with which everyone is comfortable, and everyone likes.
The beauty of chicken, and perhaps the reason we compare other foods to its taste, is because it can be prepared in such a wide variety of ways. Chicken can be served in the most casual atmosphere, such as a picnic, camp out or barbeque, and it can be served in the most formal of restaurants. We know what we’re getting, and even if the preparation method is a bit odd, it’s still chicken underneath all the sauce, vegetables, pasta, or other toppings. Following are only some of basic methods for cooking chicken, though there are many variations of each of these.
1. Baked
This is the easiest way to cook chicken; all you need is an oven. When baking, a chicken can be prepared whole or in parts, and it can either be marinated, spiced, or left to simmer in its own juices. Baked chicken is a great and easy meal on a cold winter day.
2. Sauteed
It is nearly as easy to saute chicken as it is to bake it. All you need is a frying pan, some olive oil or butter, and a few spices of your choice. Sauteed chicken is good with pasta and cream sauce, with mixed vegetables, or served over rice.
3. Stir-fry
A variation of sauteing is stir-fry. When chicken is stir-fried, there is less oil in the pan and the chicken is cut into pieces and is then cooked by stirring and tossing it over and over in the hot pan. When the chicken is nearly cooked, many people add fresh cut vegetables to the pan and then serve the entire concoction over rice. Stir-fried chicken is also good wrapped in a tortilla with peppers, onions, beans, sour cream and tomatoes in the form of a fajita.
4. Grilled
A perfect summertime chicken preparation method. Grilling chicken is perhaps the healthiest way to cook it, as grease is eliminated, but the natural juices remain. Chicken can be grilled after spicing, marinating, or simply plain. Many chefs enjoy sprinkling freshly grated cheese over the chicken right before it is finished grilling.
5. Fried
Fried chicken is an American favorite, reminiscent of picnics, baseball games and family cook outs. Fried chicken is enjoyed year round, whether on a cold winter night or taken to the beach. While frying chicken isn’t the healthiest way to eat it, it is certainly one of the tastiest.