Can you make dried chicken moist again?

Chicken that has been dried out from cooking can be tough and chewy. Many home cooks wonder if there are ways to rehydrate dried out chicken and make it moist again. The good news is that yes, you can revive dried chicken! There are several methods you can use to reintroduce moisture into the meat so it becomes tender and juicy once more.

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What causes chicken to dry out during cooking?

There are a few common culprits when it comes to dried out chicken:

Overcooking – Cooking chicken too long, especially at high temperatures, forces moisture out of the meat.
High heat – Using very high heat like grilling or broiling can cause the outside of the chicken to cook faster than the inside, resulting in dryness.
Lack of basting – Not basting the chicken as it cooks means moisture isn’t being replenished on the surface.

Older chicken – Chicken that has been stored for a long time in the freezer tends to lose moisture over time.
Insufficient brining – For chicken that isn’t brined or marinated before cooking, there’s less moisture inherently in the meat.

Knowing what typically causes chicken to dry out gives you some clues on how to make it moist again after cooking.

Methods to rehydrate and moisten dried chicken

Here are some of the most effective techniques you can use to reintroduce moisture into dried chicken:

Remoisten with broth or sauce

An easy way to make dried chicken moist again is to coat it with an additional liquid after cooking. Good options include:

Chicken broth or stock

Gravy or sauce made from pan drippings
Store-bought sauces like barbecue sauce, teriyaki sauce, etc.
Butter or oil plus seasonings

You can pour or brush the liquid over the cooked chicken right before serving. Let it soak in for 5-10 minutes to allow the chicken to reabsorb some of the moisture.

Poach in liquid

Another moistening technique is to poach the cooked chicken in a flavorful liquid like broth, wine, juice, or water. To do this:

Cut or shred the dried chicken into pieces (this gives more surface area for moisture to be absorbed).

Place the chicken in a skillet or pot and add your choice of poaching liquid.
Bring the liquid to a gentle simmer over medium heat. Let the chicken poach for around 10 minutes.
Remove the chicken with a slotted spoon. Either serve it right away or let it soak up more liquid for a few minutes off heat.

Poaching allows moisture to penetrate into the chicken instead of just coating the outside. It also infuses additional flavor from the poaching liquid.

Braise or stew the chicken

For very dried out chicken, an effective moistening technique is to braise or stew it after cooking. Here’s how:

Cut the chicken into pieces and place in a pot or Dutch oven.

Add enough liquid like broth, tomatoes, beer, or wine to come about halfway up the chicken.
Add aromatic vegetables like onions, carrots, celery, and garlic.
Bring to a simmer, then cover and cook at low heat for 45-60 minutes until chicken is fall-apart tender.

The extended cooking time allows the chicken to absorb moisture from the braising liquid.

Be sure to skim off excess fat from the surface periodically while braising. The end result will be juicy, tender chicken infused with lots of flavor.

Steam the chicken

Steaming uses moist heat to rehydrate dried chicken:

Place the cooked chicken pieces in a steamer basket or metal colander.
Bring 1-2 inches of water to a boil in a pot below.
Place the chicken basket/colander over the pot and cover tightly.

Steam for 5-10 minutes until hot throughout and moistened.

You can add aromatics to the steaming liquid like lemon slices, herbs, or ginger to impart extra flavor.

Use a moist cooking method next time

While the methods above will rehydrate dried chicken that’s already cooked, preventing overdryness in the first place is ideal. Here are some moist cooking techniques to use for juicy chicken every time:

Grill with care – Use indirect heat and baste while grilling to prevent meat from drying out.
Stir fry – Cook chicken in a sauce or marinade over high heat very quickly.
Poach – Gently simmer chicken in liquid like broth, tomato sauce, or wine.

Braise or stew – Cook chicken slowly in a small amount of liquid.
Roast – Roast chicken in a bath of vegetables and aromatics to keep moisture in.

Marinating chicken before any cooking method also helps it retain moisture. Allowing chicken to brine in a saltwater solution infuses it with flavorful moisture.

Tips for reviving dried chicken

Here are some additional pointers for bringing dried chicken back to moist, juicy life:

Cut chicken into smaller pieces to allow more surface area for absorbing liquid.
Opt for cooking liquids that add flavor like broth, wine, barbecue sauce, etc.

Simmer or poach gently – vigorous boiling can make meat dry out more.
Keep an eye on chicken as it reheats – stop heating once it’s hot and moist.
Let chicken rest after reheating so juices can distribute evenly.

Add fresh herbs, lemon, or oil after reheating for extra flavor and moisture.

How to tell if rehydrated chicken is safe to eat

When rehydrating previously cooked chicken, it’s important that the internal temperature reaches 165°F again to eliminate any bacteria that may have developed. Here are some signs chicken has been safely reheated:

It reaches an internal temperature of 165°F measured with a food thermometer.

It is steaming hot throughout.
The meat looks opaque and is firm to the touch.
It doesn’t have any pink color in the middle.

The juices run clear when poked with a fork.

As long as the chicken has been fully reheated using one of the moistening methods above, it should be safe to eat. Always rely on a food thermometer for reassurance.

Conclusion

Dried out chicken can be disappointing, but with the right technique, you can bring it back to moist, delicious life! Whether you remoisten it with sauce, poach, braise, steam or simply cook it again using a moist method, properly rehydrated chicken will once again be juicy and flavorful. With a little time and care, you can avoid serving dried out chicken to your guests or family. What moistening method will you try the next time your chicken turns out overly dry?