Cold Sear Chicken: The Ultimate Guide

Are you tired of dry, bland chicken? Do you crave a crispy, flavorful crust that makes your mouth water? If so, then you need to learn about cold searing! This technique is a game-changer for chicken lovers, and it’s surprisingly easy to master.

What is Cold Searing?

Cold searing involves searing chicken in a cold pan. This might sound counterintuitive, but it’s the key to creating a perfectly cooked chicken with a crispy skin and a juicy interior. When you sear chicken in a cold pan, the skin has more time to render its fat and crisp up before the internal temperature of the chicken rises too quickly.

Benefits of Cold Searing

• Crispy Skin: Cold searing creates an incredibly crispy skin that’s impossible to achieve with traditional searing methods.
• Juicy Interior: By searing in a cold pan, the chicken cooks more evenly, resulting in a juicy and flavorful interior.
• Flavorful Crust: The slow, even cooking process allows the chicken to develop a rich, flavorful crust that’s packed with umami.
• Less Mess: Cold searing reduces splatter, making for a cleaner cooking experience.

How to Cold Sear Chicken

Here’s a step-by-step guide to cold searing chicken:

1. Prepare the Chicken: Pat the chicken dry with paper towels and season it generously with salt, pepper, and any other desired spices.
2. Heat the Pan: Place a heavy-bottomed skillet over medium heat. You can use a cast iron skillet, a stainless steel skillet, or any other type of skillet that can withstand high heat.
3. Add the Chicken: Once the pan is hot, add the chicken skin-side down. Do not overcrowd the pan.
4. Sear: Let the chicken sear undisturbed for 5-7 minutes, or until the skin is golden brown and crispy. Do not move the chicken during this time, as this will prevent the skin from crisping up properly.
5. Flip and Sear: Once the skin is crispy, flip the chicken and sear the other side for 3-5 minutes. The chicken should be cooked to an internal temperature of 165°F (74°C) for safe consumption.
6. Finish Cooking: Transfer the chicken to a baking sheet and finish cooking in a preheated oven at 350°F (175°C) for 10-15 minutes, or until the chicken is cooked through.

Cold Sear Chicken Recipe

Here’s a simple and delicious recipe for cold sear chicken:

Ingredients:

• 1 pound boneless, skin-on chicken breasts
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
• 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1/4 teaspoon onion powder

Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C).
2. Pat the chicken breasts dry with paper towels and season generously with salt, pepper, garlic powder, and onion powder.
3. Heat the olive oil in a heavy-bottomed skillet over medium heat.
4. Add the chicken breasts skin-side down to the hot skillet and sear undisturbed for 5-7 minutes, or until the skin is golden brown and crispy.
5. Flip the chicken breasts and sear the other side for 3-5 minutes.
6. Transfer the chicken breasts to a baking sheet and bake in the preheated oven for 10-15 minutes, or until the chicken is cooked through.
7. Serve immediately.

Tips for Success

• Use a heavy-bottomed skillet that can withstand high heat.
• Pat the chicken dry with paper towels before searing.
• Do not overcrowd the pan.
• Let the chicken sear undisturbed for 5-7 minutes on the first side.
• Use a meat thermometer to ensure the chicken is cooked to an internal temperature of 165°F (74°C).

Conclusion

Cold searing is a simple yet effective technique that can transform your chicken dishes. It’s easy to master and delivers incredible results. So next time you’re craving crispy, flavorful chicken, give cold searing a try!