Question about chicken?

Question

Okay, so I am making this stuffed chicken recipe (has Kalamata olives, feta cheese, roasted red peppers and chopped scallions in it). The recipe calls for boneless, skinless chicken cutlets b/c I guess a thin cut of meat is easier to roll. My boyfriend made the mistake of picking up boneless chicken breasts, instead of the cutlets. I'm wondering if it's possible to cut them in half so that they're easier to stuff? How long do four chicken breasts take to defrost?

I don't want to use the microwave to defrost them, b/c then i risk partially cooking the chicken a little. I would like to know how long sitting on the kitchen counter they will take to defrost.

Everyone is saying to pound them, but the breasts are like an inch thick and the cutlets are usually a quarter inch thick. Plus that's like triple the amount of meat for one rollup. I don't see how that would work.

Here's the recipe:
http://www.marthastewart.com/portal/site/mslo/menuitem.fc77a0dbc44dd1611e3bf410b5900aa0/?vgnextoid=8ba5b276b490f010VgnVCM1000003d370a0aRCRD&autonomy_kw=stuffed%20chicken&rsc=ns2006_r2

Answer 1

Just pound the breasts a little bit, then cut them into cutlets. It's probably going to take about 3 hours for them to defrost on the counter.

Answer 2

I never buy cutlets because they cost more per pound, I just either cut them through the middle or pound them with a meat mallet.

Defrost in the microwave on "defrost" setting abou 7 minutes. Check though because each microwave is different.
If you don't have a defrost cycle on your microwave, defrost at 45 second intervals, flip the pieces and continue until thawed.


EDITED TO ADD: You should never, EVER, EVER allow meat to thaw on the counter. Simply not worth the risk. You need to let it defrost in the refrigerator overnight or thaw it on the defrost cycle.

Since you do not want to pound the chicken to make it thinner, it sounds like you're going to have to make another trip to the store.

Additionally, take into consideration these are your only choices seeing as how these are the only answers you're getting. Therefore, don't be upset if there's no magical solution. It's only chicken for pete's sake. Just make it and shut up about it.

Answer 3

i think they will work. either run the package under hot water for a little while or leave them on the counter for atleast 4-6 hours since you don't want to defrost them in the microwave. i use them for the same recipe, and i usually let them full defrost on the counter all day while i am at work and the pound them with a mallet. if they are too large, just cut them to your preferred size. they are cheaper than the cutlets and you may have some left over to freeze for another meal since you are cutting them down to size.

Answer 4

Take your knife (A boning knife work best) cut a pocket into the chicken breast. Take your point and insert it into the middle of the thickest part of the bird. Wiggle it to one side, flip it over while still in the breast and wiggle it to the other side.

Take yourr ingredients for the stuffing and toss them in a food processor for a quick second. Add a little bread crumbs of help bind it.

Pipe the stuffing into the breast, From there you can roast, pan fry, etc.

Cook the chicken breast to an internal temperature of 165. any hotter and it will dry out on you.

Answer 5

Don't defrost them in the microwave. Let them defrost in cold water. It's safer. Just cut the chicken breast in thicker slices and use the mallet to thin them out.

Answer 6

You could cut them in half horizontally but it is more usual to pound the chicken breasts with a meat mallet to make them thin if you are making rollups.

Answer 7

chicken should be thawed in the fridge over night.. To make cutlets placed the thawed breast in plast wrap and beat it with a meat mallet or a heavy skillet. It only takes a few minutes..

Answer 8

I usually dont let chicken defrost I start to wash it when its frozen. That usually softens it up. Chicken gets bad fast so that's why I usually just skip and start to wash it in cold water.

Answer 9

Everyone is suggesting that you pound them because that will work fine. Place between two pieces of saran wrap or wax paper and pound to the correct thickness and then cut in half or thirds of it is to wide.