Learn How to cook chicken thighs in a pan bone in
Chicken thighs are very delicious food. Today, I will share with you how to cook chicken thighs in a frying pan and easily prepare a mouth-watering chicken thigh dinner!
How to Cook Chicken Thighs in a Pan?
Cooking chicken thighs in a skillet is easy, and here are my favorite ways to prepare them:
First, you need to prepare the basic ingredients: chicken thighs, salt, black pepper, olive oil, garlic, rosemary, lemon (optional), etc.
Next, wash the chicken thighs and dry them with paper towels. Then, make a few cuts on the chicken thighs to make it easier to season. Then, sprinkle the appropriate amount of salt and black pepper, spread evenly on the chicken thighs, and marinate for 15-30 minutes.
While the chicken is marinating, prepare the pan. Preheat the pan and add some olive oil. Remember not to use too much oil, as the chicken thighs will release oil during cooking. Meanwhile, slice the garlic and chop the rosemary.
Once the chicken thighs are marinated, place the chicken thighs skin side down in the pan and fry over medium heat. When the skin side is golden and crispy (approximately 5-7 minutes), turn over and continue frying the other side until both sides are golden brown.
During the frying process, you can sprinkle chopped garlic and rosemary on the chicken thighs to add fragrance. If you like the sour taste of lemon, you can also slice the lemon and put it next to the chicken thighs to fry together, so that the fragrance and sourness of the lemon can penetrate into the chicken.
When the chicken thighs are fried until golden brown on both sides and cooked through (you can insert a chopstick into the chicken to check for doneness), you can remove them from the pan! Place the chicken thighs on a plate, squeeze some fresh lemon juice on them (if you didn't add lemon before), sprinkle some herbs as decoration, and you have a delicious pan-cooked chicken thigh!
Is it better to cook chicken thighs in the oven or on the stove?
These two methods have their own advantages and disadvantages. You can choose according to your needs:
Oven:
advantage
The oven heats the chicken thighs through hot air circulation, which can form a crispy shell on the surface of the chicken thighs, keeping the inside juicy and tender on the inside.
The oven can not only bake simple spiced chicken legs, but also bake them together with vegetables, sauces, etc. It is suitable for making a variety of flavors such as roasted chicken legs and honey roasted chicken legs.
No additional oil is needed, and roasted chicken legs are lower in calories, making them suitable for people who pursue a healthy diet.
shortcoming
The oven needs to be preheated in advance and the cooking time is longer.
It is large in size, requires a certain amount of kitchen space, and is relatively expensive.
Stove:
advantage
Simple operation,
The operation is simple, no preheating is required, and the cooking time is relatively short.
It can be done quickly, which is suitable for busy daily cooking. And by frying, a layer of charred crust can also be formed on the surface of the chicken legs.
Almost every household has a frying pan, so there is no need to purchase additional large equipment.
shortcoming
Probably not as good as oven-baked chicken thighs.
Frying chicken legs may produce fumes, so you need to turn on the range hood.
How long to cook chicken thighs on stove top?
The cooking time of chicken thighs on the stove depends on the specific situation. Generally speaking, if you put the processed chicken thighs directly into cold water and cook them in a pot, keep the heat at medium after the water boils, it will take about 15-20 minutes.
If the chicken thigh is large, it may take 20-25 minutes to cook. To ensure it is cooked through, poke the thickest part of the chicken thigh with a chopstick. If no blood oozes out, it means it is almost cooked.
If the chicken thighs have been fried or grilled before being put on the stove, the cooking time can be shortened to about 10-15 minutes. Of course, the cooking time needs to be adjusted according to the actual situation.
Should you bake or fry chicken thighs?
Depends on your taste preferences and cooking needs:
The advantage of baking chicken thighs is that it can retain the original flavor of the chicken and is relatively healthier. By adjusting the baking time and temperature, you can easily control the doneness and taste of the chicken. The baked chicken thighs are crispy on the outside, juicy on the inside, and tender in texture, which is very suitable for those who pursue health and like the original flavor.
When baking, you can brush a layer of olive oil on the chicken thighs, sprinkle some salt, black pepper and other seasonings on them, and add some herbs or lemon juice to enhance the flavor.
The advantage of deep-frying chicken thighs is that they can quickly lock in the moisture and aroma of the chicken, making the chicken golden and crispy on the outside while remaining tender and juicy on the inside. Deep-frying is a great cooking method for those who like crispy, rich flavors.
However, it should be noted that deep frying has a relatively high calorie content. If the oil temperature is not controlled well, it is easy to cause the chicken to be burnt on the outside while the inside is not cooked through. Therefore, if you choose to deep fry, you must control the oil temperature and always pay attention to the changes in the chicken to ensure even cooking.
Is 30 minutes long enough to cook chicken thighs?
Whether 30 minutes is enough time to cook chicken thighs depends largely on how you cook them.
If you are cooking on the stove, put the chicken thighs in, boil over high heat, skim off the foam, then turn to low heat and cook for 15-20 minutes.
If you use a pressure cooker to cook, it will take even less time. After the pressure cooker starts to boil, it will only take 10-15 minutes to cook.
If you use the oven to cook, it will take longer, but 30 minutes is enough. Preheat the oven to 200℃, put the marinated chicken thighs in the middle layer of the oven, and bake for 20-25 minutes. If the chicken thighs are large, you can extend it to 30 minutes.
How do you know when fried chicken thighs are done?
This can be determined by the following methods:
Look at the color
When the surface of the fried chicken leg turns golden brown, it means that the skin has been fried crispy and is basically cooked.
Chopsticks
Use chopsticks or toothpick to poke into the thickest part of the chicken leg. If it can be easily pierced without obvious resistance, it means the chicken leg is cooked through.
Open examination
The most direct way is to cut the chicken leg and observe the meat inside. If the meat is white and there is no pink blood, it means it is fully cooked.
Floating judgment
If the fried chicken drumstick floats in the oil pan, it means that the inside is cooked through and the skin is crispy. However, this method needs to be combined with other methods to avoid the skin being burnt while the inside is not cooked.
Use a Thermometer
the simplest and most effective way to tell if the chicken is cooked is to insert a thermometer into the thickest part of the chicken leg and when the temperature reaches 165°F (about 74°C), the chicken leg is cooked through.
