crock pot chicken "scum"

[My2CrazyGirls]

Whenever I do chicken in the crockpot (boneless, skinless breast...not frozen) I always end up with that chicken scum stuff and I have to try to get it out and it is difficult! Why does this happen in the crock pot? Any way to prevent it? For example, I did chicken, carrot, potatoes, and cream of chicken soup and ended up with all tha "stuff." Looks like curdled milk but it is not.

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

Just skim it off. You can't prevent it; it is coagulated (denatured) lipoprotein and happens when you cook all kinds of meat. You can also just eat it; it won't hurt you.

 

[MineMail]

To prevent it, you can par-cook the chicken in some clear liquid (water, broth, etc.) first, then add it to the crock pot. It's less convenient, though. It's a PITA to try and skim a soup once you've added vegetables or cream.

Start chicken soups by bringing the water/broth to a boil, adding the chicken and lowering the heat to a simmer. Then, "skim" the top with a hand-held fine mesh strainer to remove the coagulated stuff, strain it with a bigger strainer or just remove the meat to another pot.

Or, throw in some finely grated cheese and no one will be able to tell the difference. It's just aesthetically displeasing - the "foam" won't hurt you.

 

[Alexander]

Par-boil the chicken before you put it in the crock-pot. Most of the "scum" will come to the surface of the water and you won't have it in your crock-pot.

 

[My2CrazyGirls]

For me, the whole purpose of the crock pot is to throw in everything together and have it done in 8 hours. Additional steps are no fun. Might as well not even use the crockpot then

Thank you for suggestions. The chicken goes done so fast in the crock as it is, if I par boil it then it will be so overdone while the carrots and potatoes are still hard. Any suggestions?

 

[NotUrsula]

You can just blend it in after cooking, using an immersion blender.

Pull out the large items and set them aside, use the blender to smooth the sauce, then put the large items back in and stir it up.

 

[Earstou]

Last time this happened to me, my mom told me I should wash the chicken before putting it in the crockpot.
Haven't tried it yet, so can't tell you if it works.

 

[My2CrazyGirls]

Last time this happened to me, my mom told me I should wash the chicken before putting it in the crockpot.
Haven't tried it yet, so can't tell you if it works.

Washing it before cooking doesn't help

I think the par-boil thing is the best bet. Thank you all for the suggestions. I am not sure how to stop the chicken from getting over cooked in the crock if I par-boil first but I will give it a try. I will do anything to avoid that "scum," "foam," "denatured lipoprotein." YUCK