Yes, you can shred an entire raw chicken using a stand mixer or food processor. Shredding chicken can be a quick and easy way to prepare chicken for tacos, sandwiches, casseroles, soups, and other dishes. While it may seem intimidating, with the right tools and techniques, you can easily shred a whole chicken in your own kitchen.
Should you shred the whole chicken raw or cooked?
It is best to shred chicken when it is raw and uncooked. Raw chicken shreds into long, stringy pieces which is ideal for many recipes. Cooked chicken often shreds into smaller, crumbly bits.
Shredding raw chicken allows the meat to cook evenly later when used in recipes. It also helps the chicken shred into those long, thin strands.
Tools needed to shred chicken
To shred an entire chicken efficiently, you will need:
- Stand mixer with paddle attachment or food processor
- Cutting board and sharp chef’s knife
- Kitchen shears (to cut up the chicken initially)
A stand mixer or food processor does the hard work for you. The paddle attachment or food processor blade tears the chicken into shreds with little effort on your part.
You can shred chicken by hand using two forks, but it takes significantly more time and effort. Using a stand mixer or food processor makes quick work of shredding a whole chicken.
How to shred a whole chicken
Follow these simple steps:
- Remove chicken from packaging and trim off any excess fat or skin.
- Using kitchen shears, cut the chicken into smaller, manageable pieces.
- Cut the chicken breasts into 2-3 pieces each. Cut off the wings and discard or save for another use.
- Cut each leg quarter into 2-3 pieces each, separating the thighs and drumsticks.
- Add the chicken pieces to the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment. Alternatively, you can use a food processor.
- Mix on low speed for 1-2 minutes, stopping occasionally to redistribute the chicken in the bowl.
- As the chicken shreds, increase the speed to medium-high. Continue mixing until the chicken is shredded into small stringy pieces, about 2-4 minutes total.
- For a smoother consistency, continue mixing for 1-2 additional minutes. The chicken will become more finely shredded.
- Use the shredded chicken immediately in recipes or store in airtight containers in the refrigerator for 3-4 days.
Tips for shredding chicken
Follow these tips for best results when shredding chicken:
- Make sure your chicken is raw, not cooked. Raw chicken shreds much easier.
- Trim off excess fat, skin, and bones. The stand mixer or food processor will shred the meat best.
- Cut the chicken into smaller pieces before shredding. This allows the stand mixer or food processor to work efficiently.
- Refrigerate or freeze the shredded chicken if not using right away. Use within 3-4 days for best quality.
- Avoid over-shredding. Chicken can quickly turn to mush if shredded too long.
- Add any seasonings after shredding so they don’t end up getting chopped too fine.
How long does shredded chicken last?
Properly stored, shredded chicken keeps well in the refrigerator or freezer:
- Refrigerator: 3 to 4 days
- Freezer: 2 to 3 months
To maximize freshness, store shredded chicken in airtight containers or zip-top bags. Press out any excess air before sealing.
Use refrigerated shredded chicken within 3 to 4 days for the best quality. Frozen shredded chicken will keep for 2 to 3 months before losing flavor and moisture.
What to do with shredded chicken
Shredded chicken is versatile and can be used in all kinds of delicious recipes:
- Chicken tacos or burritos – Adding shredded chicken to tacos or burritos gives them extra flavor and protein.
- Sandwiches – Use shredded chicken for chicken salad sandwiches or bbq chicken sandwiches.
- Casseroles – Mix with vegetables, rice, pasta or cheese for easy chicken casseroles.
- Soups – Add to chicken noodle soup, chicken tortilla soup, or other soups.
- Salads – Toss with lettuce, veggies, cheese, beans for main dish chicken salads.
- Pizzas – Sprinkle shredded chicken over pizza along with other toppings.
- Nachos – Pile shredded chicken on top of tortilla chips and melt cheese over top.
With so many possibilities, having shredded chicken in the refrigerator makes it easy to throw together quick meals on busy nights.
Frequently asked questions
Can you use a hand mixer to shred chicken?
Yes, a standard handheld electric mixer with regular beaters can be used to shred chicken. Simply cut the chicken into small pieces and process in batches in a large bowl until shredded into pieces. A hand mixer doesn’t work quite as fast as a stand mixer or food processor, but can shred chicken in a pinch.
Can you shred chicken in a blender?
It’s not recommended to shred chicken in a regular blender. A blender is designed to purée and liquefy ingredients, not shred them. While you may get some shredding action from the blender blades, it will likely turn the chicken to mush instead of shredding it into stringy pieces.
Can you freeze shredded chicken?
Yes, shredded chicken freezes well for long-term storage. To freeze, spread the shredded chicken in a single layer on a baking sheet and freeze until solid. Then transfer to zip-top bags or airtight containers. Press out excess air and seal. Frozen shredded chicken will keep for 2-3 months before losing quality.
How long does it take to shred a whole chicken?
It only takes about 5-10 minutes total using a stand mixer or food processor. Cutting up the chicken takes 2-3 minutes. Shredding in the stand mixer or food processor will take another 2-4 minutes. With the right tools, you can have shredded chicken ready to use in recipes in under 10 minutes.
Conclusion
Shredding a whole chicken may seem daunting, but it’s actually a quick and simple process with the right equipment. A stand mixer or food processor does all the hard work for you. In just 5-10 minutes, you can have shredded chicken ready to use in tacos, sandwiches, soups, and other favorite dishes. Keeping shredded chicken on hand makes it easy to throw together last minute meals. With proper storage, shredded chicken will keep for 3-4 days in the refrigerator or 2-3 months in the freezer.