How to Grill Chicken Breasts for a Healthy Meal - By: Daren Cari

Chicken is one of first choices for both grilling and health conscious meals. If properly prepared, chicken breasts are high in protein and low in fat. The key words here are "properly prepared". If chicken isn't properly cooked it can be a source of food borne illness. Some other considerations when grilling chicken breasts are whether to leave the skin on or remove it and whether or not to choose an organic product. Removing the skin cuts down on most of the fat present in a chicken breast, but it makes the meat more vulnerable to the heat. For the purposes of this recipe we are assuming the skin has been removed. Organic chicken has been raised with no steroids, antibiotics, or other unwanted chemicals used in the process. While it costs a little more, organic chicken represents a healthier product for your family.

Preparing the breasts for cooking is relatively easy. Remove the skin and rinse the breasts under cold, running water, and pat dry. Remember to wash your hands after handing the chicken breasts and the packaging to prevent accidental cross contamination of your equipment. How much effort you put into preparing the chicken is up to you. There are dozens of marinades and rubs out there, not to mention a simply seasoned option with salt, pepper, and lemon to taste. Once the chicken is prepped the actual cooking time is minimal for chicken breasts.

The first step in grilling anything is a clean grill. Before you ever light your grill the grates should be scrubbed clean. Once that is out of the way, use a cloth, your tongs, and oil to oil your grates. Skinless chicken doesn't have a lot of fat and this will keep it from sticking to the grate during cooking. On the other hand the lack of fat is going to prevent the fire from flaring up every time grease falls into the coals or flame. Place the seasoned chicken breasts on the hottest part of the grill for two minutes without touching them. Constantly flipping the breasts will not only cause uneven cooking, but will make for a less appetizing presentation later.

After two minutes, lift each breast and rotate it 45 degrees on the grill. Let the chicken cook for 2 to 4 minutes before turning the chicken over. This should have produced the grid of grill marks that are the trademark of every grill master! Repeat the process for the chicken breasts and remove them from the heat. The meat should have an internal temperature of 165 degrees Fahrenheit to make certain is cooked properly. Allow the chicken to rest for 2 to 3 minutes to redistribute the juices and you have a delicious, healthy meal.

About the Author

Visit the website http://chickenmarinaderecipe.org/ to find out the best information about chicken marinade recipe and other types of chicken recipes.

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