How do you shred chicken??

[klacey1]

I always buy boneless, skinless chicken breasts and am getting tired of simply pan grilling them.
I have some great recipes for buffalo chicken dip, chicken tacos, and barbeque marinated chicken that all call for shredded chicken. I want to continue using the boneless/skinless for health reasons (and because our freezer is stocked with them!)...What's the best way to shred chicken??

 

[Sparx]

you cook the chicken how you normally would, and let it cool off (or put it in the fridge) and then you can use two forks to pull it apart.

 

[Pop Daddy]

best way is to put it in front of me, if I haven't ate anything all day

 

[Imzadi]

best way is to put it in front of me, if I haven't ate anything all day

Hey! Where have you been? Good to see you back!

 

[JLiz]

Throw it in a crock pot in the morning before you go to work with enough liquid to cover on low. As soon as you get home, turn off the crock pot but leave the chicken to cool slightly in the liquid. By the time you are ready for dinner a few hours later it will still be hot but cool enough for you to either use your fingers or two forks to pull apart. Using fingers is easy but to use the two fork method, hold the chicken steady with one fork (usually the non-dominant hand, so left hand if you are right handed) and with the dominant hand, gently pull off chunks or shreds of meat. The meat will naturally pull into long strands following the muscle fibers. You can follow the exact same method using pork tenderloin (which is very healthy) to mimic pork shoulder bbq on a low-fat diet.

 

[AKL_Megs]

Throw it in a crock pot in the morning before you go to work with enough liquid to cover on low. As soon as you get home, turn off the crock pot but leave the chicken to cool slightly in the liquid. By the time you are ready for dinner a few hours later it will still be hot but cool enough for you to either use your fingers or two forks to pull apart. Using fingers is easy but to use the two fork method, hold the chicken steady with one fork (usually the non-dominant hand, so left hand if you are right handed) and with the dominant hand, gently pull off chunks or shreds of meat. The meat will naturally pull into long strands following the muscle fibers. You can follow the exact same method using pork tenderloin (which is very healthy) to mimic pork shoulder bbq on a low-fat diet.

I'd always wondered this, thanks for the awesome answer!

I also love the port tenderloin idea!

 

[tonilea]

You can cook them in the crock pot with a bit of water and whatever seasonings would go with what you want to use them for, then let them cool. Shred with a couple of forks or just break them up with your hands.

 

[MizTink]

if you don't do the crock pot, you can just boil them. i do that sometimes. i season (heavily) the water and throw in an onion or 2 for flavor. it really doesn't take very long at all. then i use 2 forks to shred it.

 

[GeorgiaH]

A quick easy way to shred chicken. Slice the chicken breasts, cook them in microwave.
I then put them in my Kitchen-Aid with the big white paddle. It does a great job shredding the cooked chicken!

 

[pirateofthecarolinas]

Hey! Where have you been? Good to see you back!

I was thinking about you yesterday.

 

[klacey1]

Thanks everyone! I'm excited to try either the crockpot or boiling method Monday night. I really appreciate the help!

 

[christineann]

Would you share the recipes you mentioned in your original post? We are having a party out in the country and want to do a shredded chicken recipe.

Thanks!

 

[MizTink]

A quick easy way to shred chicken. Slice the chicken breasts, cook them in microwave.
I then put them in my Kitchen-Aid with the big white paddle. It does a great job shredding the cooked chicken!

ewwww........microwaved chicken

 

[sunnyday123]

Throw it in a crock pot in the morning before you go to work with enough liquid to cover on low. As soon as you get home, turn off the crock pot but leave the chicken to cool slightly in the liquid. By the time you are ready for dinner a few hours later it will still be hot but cool enough for you to either use your fingers or two forks to pull apart. Using fingers is easy but to use the two fork method, hold the chicken steady with one fork (usually the non-dominant hand, so left hand if you are right handed) and with the dominant hand, gently pull off chunks or shreds of meat. The meat will naturally pull into long strands following the muscle fibers. You can follow the exact same method using pork tenderloin (which is very healthy) to mimic pork shoulder bbq on a low-fat diet.

This is what I do. It literally falls apart.

 

[kristilew]

I boil gently, then put them in the food processor. I get a very consistent, crumbly chicken that is ideal for some shredded recipes (like chicken salad). Otherwise, the fork method.

btw: if you're using the crockpot, you can just throw the cb's in there right from the freezer. We do that with a can of broth and a packet of taco seasoning on taco night - yum!

 

[denisem]

I used to gently boil up a bunch of chicken breasts and cube/shred and package in the freezer for later use.

Awhile back, for the heck of it, I tried this "un-boiled chicken" recipe I found on recipezaar. The technique sounds crazy (my DH who is a Gordon Ramsey fan said "You'll kill somebody with that chicken!!!") BUT IT REALLY WORKS! The chicken comes out more moist and flavorful than my previous guessing games on "is it done?" and has become my favorite method.

http://www.recipezaar.com/Un-Boiled-Chicken-33104

As far as shredding cooked chicken, if it's still hot I use forks. But find CLEAN!!! fingers on cooled chicken is easier/faster.

 

[Topper]

The unboiled chicken is the old Frugal Gourmet method. Great way to cook moist chicken.