How to avoid 'shredding' chicken when cooking it in TMX?

[JAM]

Has anyone got any hints/tips on how to avoid chicken shredding when being cooked in TMX?

I made Chicken Cacciatore last night from MOTM Cookbook and used diced breast, however, even on     it still managed to chop the chicken up.  I eventually inserted the butterfly hoping that would help, but don't really know if it made a difference.

Has anyone successfully cooked Chicken fillets (and other meats) in TMX, keeping them intact - how do you do it?

[dede]

I have had the same issue, especially with chicken breasts. Now I do the perpetration in the TM but the cooking in the oven. I don't like shredded meat either.

[judydawn]

JAM I generally don't use chicken breasts unless they are steamed, my preferred cut of chicken for the TM bowl is thigh meat which I defat then cut into 4 large pieces, sometimes I only cut them in half but never small dice. I end up with decent sized pieces of meat at the end of cooking, never as big as they started but that is the whole point in not cutting them small in the beginning.

If I do use breast meat in the TM bowl I would cut it 5cm dice and not cook it for as long as most recipes, especially in the books, call for.  The recipe in the MOTM specifies drumsticks and if you wanted to try this recipe with breast meat again, check out this blog recipe.  Have you seen the reviews for the one you did in our recipe review book section?

[Tenina]

My best trick is to fully cook the sauce or mixture that the chicken is going to be in, then add the cubed chicken at the end of the process to cook for only 5 minutes in the already hot hot sauce. Five minutes is ususally enough to cook it right through.

Try it and see….lots of recipes on my blog that do that and on Spin A Dinner app….

Good luck
 

[Chelsea (Thermie Groupie)]

That's what I do Tenina - add the diced chicken with 5-6 minutes to go.  It works with risottos, stews etc. Chicken thighs work best, but chicken breasts are easier to prepare and still ok. 

[judydawn]

Thanks for that info Tenina and Chelsea - I must try that myself using breast meat.  We hate overlooked breasts here, they are so dry.

[JAM]

Thanks for the advice, Ladies 

I will definitely try cooking sauce first then adding breasts at last stages.

[the annoyed thyroid]

I had a mental moment today and "cooked" my honey soy chicken without heat! Doh! I tried to rectify my mistake and let it go for the same time, but with heat.. however, at the end, the chicken was totally shredded. Such a shame because the sauce was yummy. Does all chicken breast get shredded or is it just because I stuffed up? I cooked on  It was so sad but tuna pasta  saved the day 

[judydawn]

You will not be the first nor the last person to do that TAT, couldn't you just kick yourself!  Even if it was totally shredded and beyond recognition though, couldn't you have still served it over pasta or rice - it may have not looked nice but should have tasted quite OK.  I've made this one and mine didn't shred so I daresay it didn't like what you accidentally did to it.

[Curry Diva]

Great info. Thanks all