Stove-Top Secret: Discover How Long to Cook Chicken Thighs for Perfect Results
Last night I tried cooking chicken thighs on the stove and they turned out amazing! But you know what I struggled with the most? That's right! It was time! How long does it take to cook chicken thighs on the stove? Let's find out today!
How Long to Cook Chicken Thighs on the Stove?
The time it takes to cook chicken thighs depends largely on the size of the thighs, the strength of the heat in your stovetop, and how you want to cook them (fry, grill, stew, etc.). Here are some specific guidelines:
Pan-fried chicken thighs
If you choose to fry the chicken thighs on the stovetop, they usually take about 4-6 minutes per side, until golden brown on the outside and cooked through on the inside. To make sure the chicken thighs are cooked through, use a food thermometer to measure the internal temperature, which should be above 75 degrees Celsius.
Grilled Chicken Thighs
To bake chicken thighs in the oven, preheat the oven to 200 degrees Celsius, then place the chicken thighs on a baking sheet and bake for about 20-30 minutes per side, depending on the size of the chicken thighs and the performance of your oven. When baked, the surface will be crispy and the inside juicy.
Braised Chicken Thighs
If you prefer stewing, you can slowly stew the chicken thighs on the stove. Put the chicken thighs in a pot, add appropriate amount of water and seasonings, and simmer over low heat for about 30-40 minutes, until the chicken thighs are very tender and the soup is rich.
Precautions
Preheat the pan: Whether you're frying or grilling, preheating the pan or oven will ensure that the chicken thighs cook evenly.
Seasoning: You can marinate chicken thighs with salt, pepper, and other spices before cooking to enhance the flavor.
Turn over: Turn the food over regularly during frying to ensure both sides are heated evenly to avoid burning.
How do you know when chicken thighs are done cooking on the stove?
First, you can look at the color. When the surface of the chicken thigh is roasted to golden brown, or even a little bit burnt brown, that is a good signal. But be careful not to burn it.
Then use a thermometer. Insert the thermometer into the thickest part of the chicken thigh. When the temperature reaches about 74°C, it means the chicken thigh is cooked through. This method is the most accurate.
There is also a little trick, use a knife to make a small cut in the thickest part of the chicken thigh and check the gravy inside. If the juice flowing out is clear and not pink bloody, it means that the chicken thigh is almost done.
In addition, you can judge by pressing. Use a tongs or fingers to gently press the chicken thigh. If it feels elastic, not soft, like the elasticity of pressing the tip of your nose, then the chicken thigh is probably baked. However, this method requires a little experience. I hope these tips can help you bake the perfect chicken thigh!
How to cook chicken thighs in a pan easy?
Preparation
First, we need to prepare chicken thighs, seasonings and cooking tools. You can choose bone-in or boneless chicken thighs, depending on your personal taste. For seasonings, I usually use salt, black pepper, light soy sauce, dark soy sauce, cooking wine, honey, minced garlic, etc. The cooking tools are a frying pan and a spatula.
Pickling stage
Next, we need to marinate the chicken thighs. Wash the chicken thighs and dry them with kitchen paper. Then, apply salt and black pepper evenly on the surface of the chicken thighs, then sprinkle with light soy sauce, dark soy sauce and cooking wine, add minced garlic, and massage evenly to make the seasoning more flavorful. The marinating time should be more than 30 minutes, so that the chicken thighs can be more flavorful.
Cooking Stage
Preheat the pan: Place the pan on the stove over medium heat. During the preheating process, you can take out the marinated chicken thighs and drain the marinade slightly.
Start frying: When the pan is hot, put the chicken thighs in the pan. If it is a bone-in chicken thigh, you can first fry it with the skin side down, using the fat of the chicken skin. When the chicken skin is fried until golden and crispy, turn it over and continue frying. During the frying process, you can use a spatula to gently press the chicken thighs so that they are heated more evenly.
Add seasoning: After the chicken thighs are fried until both sides are golden brown, add an appropriate amount of water (or marinade) to the pot, then cover the pot and simmer over low heat for a while. This will make the chicken thighs more cooked and allow the seasoning to penetrate the chicken better.
Drain the sauce and serve: When the sauce in the pot is almost dried, you can open the lid and quickly stir-fry the chicken thighs over high heat to make the surface more crispy. If you like sweet taste, you can also drizzle a little honey at this time to increase the flavor. When the chicken thighs are fully cooked and the surface presents an attractive color, you can serve!
Tips
During the frying process, be sure to control the heat well to avoid the chicken thighs being burnt or undercooked inside.
If you want the chicken thighs to be more flavorful, you can add some of your favorite seasonings when marinating, such as rosemary, thyme, etc.
During the cooking process, you can also adjust the amount of water and simmering time according to the actual situation to ensure that the texture and taste of the chicken thighs are optimal.
How long to cook chicken thighs on a pan?
If you are frying, fry until both sides are golden brown, about 3-5 minutes per side. Then add water or broth and cook. A medium-sized chicken thigh will take about 10-15 minutes, turning it from time to time to ensure even heating, until the chicken is cooked through and can be easily inserted with chopsticks.
If you want to make a simple braised chicken thigh, put the chicken thigh in the seasoned marinade and cook it slowly in a pan over low heat for about 20-30 minutes. During the process, let the chicken thigh fully absorb the flavor of the marinade, so that the cooked chicken thigh will be full of flavor. You can use a toothpick to poke some small holes in the chicken thigh while cooking, so that it can better absorb the marinade.
How long to cook chicken thighs on stove in water?
The time the chicken legs are boiled in water is related to the size of the chicken legs and the fire power of the stove.
If the chicken is medium-sized, it will take about 15 to 20 minutes to cook over medium-low heat. When it is cooking, you can poke it with a chopstick. If you can poke it easily, it means it is cooked through.
If it is a larger chicken drumstick, it may take 20-25 minutes. And if it is a large drumstick from a whole chicken, it is safer to cook it for 25-30 minutes to ensure that the inside is fully cooked. Don't rush to take it out after cooking, let the chicken drumstick soak in the soup for a few minutes, so that it will be more flavorful.
How long to pan fry boneless chicken thighs?
If the chicken legs are thin, about 1-1.5 cm thick, fry them over medium-low heat for about 3-4 minutes on each side. The skin of the fried chicken legs is golden, crispy and delicious, and the meat inside is tender and juicy.
If the chicken is thicker, about 2-3 cm thick, it may take 5-7 minutes to fry each side. Turn the chicken over frequently to ensure that both sides are evenly cooked. You can start by frying it over high heat for 1-2 minutes to allow the skin to quickly lock in moisture, then switch to medium-low heat and fry slowly, so that the inside of the chicken is cooked through while keeping the skin crispy.
In addition, you can use a toothpick to poke some small holes in the chicken thighs when frying. This will allow the chicken thighs to better absorb the seasonings during frying and allow the oil to penetrate better, making the fried chicken taste better.
