Don't Throw Out Overcooked Chicken: Here's What A Pro Chef Does To Salvage It - Tasting Table

"Overcooking a chicken can happen to the best of us, but not all hope is lost. Instead of throwing it out, find a preparation that can salvage it. We reached out to chef Abbie Gellman, MS, RD, CDN about her favorite ways to use overdone chicken. According to chef Gellman, "If an animal protein is overcooked, it ends up dry in both taste and texture. To cover that up and still be able to use it, incorporating it into a dish that has moisture is key.""

"Chef Gellman uses Greek yogurt and Dijon mustard in her chicken salad recipe, which not only bring moisture and creaminess to rehydrate dried-out, shredded chicken, but also bring tangy and spicy complements to enhance the chicken's savoriness. She also suggests using ingredients like chopped celery and diced apples for a crunchy and fresh contrast. You can try our recipe for apple pecan chicken salad or crisp and creamy chicken salad, both of which follow chef Gellman's recommendations."

"While chicken salad, soups, and stews offer a wide variety of recipes to rescue dried chicken, the list doesn't end there. Instead of shredding the chicken and blending it into a chicken salad, you can swap the mayo and mustard for your favorite barbecue sauce recipe or bottled barbecue sauce. You could make a pulled barbecue chicken sandwich, or use the shredded meat and sauce as a hearty baked potato filler."

Overcooked chicken becomes dry in taste and texture. Incorporate it into moist dishes to restore moisture and flavor. Soups and stews rehydrate meat with hot liquid. Chicken salad made with Greek yogurt and Dijon mustard adds creaminess, tang, and spice while mayonnaise or plain yogurt can also add moisture. Add chopped celery and diced apples for crunchy, fresh contrast. Alternate preparations include pulled barbecue chicken sandwiches, sauced shredded chicken as baked potato filling, or blending chicken with chipotle salsa for bold flavor. Using sauces or condiments helps mask dryness and enhances savoriness. Leftover strategies prioritize moisture and texture contrast to make overcooked chicken enjoyable.

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