Boneless, skinless chicken breast is low in calories and fat. It is also high in protein, which helps you build muscle. Although chicken is nutritious, you can sabotage its health benefits by using an unhealthy preparation method such as frying. Steaming your chicken allows you to cook it without adding any extra fat or calories. Because steaming cooks foods quickly, it also saves you time.
Step 1
Remove any skin, gristle or bone from the chicken. Cut the meat into smaller pieces to help speed up the cooking process.
Step 2
Add water or broth to the steamer pot. The liquid shouldn't reach the level of the steamer basket.
Step 3
Bring the stock or water to a boil and then place the chicken in the basket.
Step 4
Position the basket in the pot and cover.
Step 5
Cook until a meat thermometer reads 165 degrees Fahrenheit when inserted into the thickest part of the meat.
References
- Women's Health: 50 Ways To Cook Chicken
- Martha Stewart: How-To Poaching, Steaming, and Braising Chicken
- United States Department of Agriculture: Chicken from Farm to Table
- Steam Cooking: Healthy Foods with Natural Taste; Loci Loci
Tips
- Add orange slices or herbs to the water when cooking to help create a flavorful steam if desired.
- Marinate chicken prior to steaming to add flavor to the meat. Place a few teaspoons of oil like sesame oil, which has heart-healthy unsaturated fat in it, in a bowl or gallon-sized baggie. Add a few sprigs of a flavorful herb like thyme or rosemary to the oil. Soak the chicken in the marinade in the refrigerator for at least one hour.
- Serve your steamed chicken with a healthy side like oven-fried zucchini, grilled vegetables, brown rice or salad.
Warnings
- Raw chicken sometimes contains dangerous bacteria like salmonella and listeria, which can cause illness. Be sure to handle raw chicken safely. Wash your hands, utensils and cutting board thoroughly after each use.
Writer Bio
Rose Erickson has been a professional writer since 2010. She specializes in fitness, parenting, beauty, health, nutrition and saving money, and writes for several online publications including The Krazy Coupon Lady. She is also a novelist and a mother of three.
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