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oil basting chicken

2K views 20 replies 11 participants last post by  french fries 
#1 ·
Most people coat their chicken in oil then spices and let sit thinking spices will penatrate the meat. I wondering if the oil blocks the spices creating a barrier and is their something better.
 
#2 · (Edited)
i don't know where you get the idea that most people coat their chicken in oil. That's not my experience at all.

Penetration of flavor is generally low on whole thick cuts, yes. Similar problem as marination. Chicken skin is also fairly impermeable.

And, yes, more flavors are water soluble than oil soluble.
 
#11 ·
Wow, looks like I disagree with everyone today hehe

i don't know where you get the idea that most people coat their chicken in oil. That's not my experience at all.
Maybe from me? I'm greek, we cook everything in olive oil.

I never oil, or butter my chicken - the skin never browns - it's not turkey. I just dry it in the icebox then seasoning and they come out crispy. I salt liberally with and pepper - maybe some thyme - comes out great every time.
I always oil my chicken when roasting whole. It always comes out crispy. I wonder why yours doesnt.

Watch you tube most everyone first coats the chicken then mixes in spices tossing in a bowl. I used to do this until i began to think the oil would coat the meat blocking the spices. Oil to me is for browning since it will fry when it gets hot and its used to keep things from sticking. To me it would close or clog meat pours not penetrate or open them
Watch you tube most everyone first coats the chicken then mixes in spices tossing in a bowl. I used to do this until i began to think the oil would coat the meat blocking the spices. Oil to me is for browning since it will fry when it gets hot and its used to keep things from sticking. To me it would close or clog meat pours not penetrate or open them
Indeed, animals do not have the ability to open or close their pores after they've died.

Seasoning your chicken with salt just a few minutes before cooking will only pull moisture from the meat while in the pan or oven and cause the outer layers of the chicken to steam rather than sear denying you that good crust or crispy skin.
:)
This gets a big eye roll from me. Dry brining is a real thing and it really works. Wet brining? Meh
 
#5 ·
Would not oil a chicken - generally we prepare the chicken sous vide, add the spices right into the bag. This way the chicken does retain slightly more flavor

If you want it browned - fry skin side down after removing it from the sous vide

Had no complaints so far...
 
#6 ·
Watch you tube most everyone first coats the chicken then mixes in spices tossing in a bowl. I used to do this until i began to think the oil would coat the meat blocking the spices. Oil to me is for browning since it will fry when it gets hot and its used to keep things from sticking. To me it would close or clog meat pours not penetrate or open them
 
#10 ·
You can find a youtube video for anything these days.

Oiling chicken parts only causes more splatter if you are pan frying the chicken and does very little in terms of allowing whatever seasoning you're using to penetrate the meat, especially with skin on chicken. The oil does nothing in terms of creating a good flavor profile for the chicken, either. The only thing accomplished by coating the chicken with oil is whatever herbs and spices you're using will fry in the oil coating and taste bad. Herbs and seasonings, especially powdered seasonings like Paprika, onion powder, garlic powder etc generally do not taste good when they've been fried.

Then, there is the potential problem created if you are using oils with low smoke points. When those oils reach their smoke point in the pan or oven, they will give your chicken a bitter taste.

If you want your chicken to turn out juicy and flavorful, brine your chicken with a bit of kosher salt making sure to get the salt under the skin. Let it set in the fridge for a few hours uncovered and unwrapped. Once your chicken has dry brined for a few hours, rinse away any excess salt, pat dry with paper towels and let the chicken come up to room temp. Cooking cold chicken, especially if you are deep frying it or roasting it in the oven, will likely produce a dry exterior and an under-cooked center.

Seasoning your chicken with salt just a few minutes before cooking will only pull moisture from the meat while in the pan or oven and cause the outer layers of the chicken to steam rather than sear denying you that good crust or crispy skin.

As for marinades, that's another debate altogether.

Good luck. :)
 
#20 · (Edited)
Salt, pepper and leave uncovered in fridge all day. Brown [with oil] in a pan, enough to get some color, bake. I do thighs all the time like this, easier than whole chicken, works with breasts too of course. The skin quality is vastly superior to ordinary baking, texture better than Peking duck I've had. definitely try with turkey.

I imagined I thought this up free of outside influence, though someone must have done this already, and actually there was an French chef on Iron chef I recall now who did some browning in a ceramic dutch oven pan in preparation for coating with an almond paste. Judges raved about it. Both were said to be techniques known in France.
 
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