How to Cook Chicken in the Microwave

Things You Need:

• Microwave
• Medium casserole dish
• 2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts (thawed)
• Garlic, salt and pepper (to taste)
• 1/2 cup chicken broth
• Meat thermometer

Why spend time baking chicken in the oven when you can use the microwave to cook meals in half the time? Whether you're new to microwave cooking or have a bit of experience with cooking entrees in this appliance, you can easily create a great meal with the right tools and these simple steps. This guide will teach you how to cook chicken in a microwave.

Microwaving Chicken:

1. Combine the ingredients in a casserole dish. Pour enough garlic, salt and pepper over the chicken to give it flavor and pour the chicken broth over the mixture. Make sure to use microwave cookware or find a dish that is safe for use in the microwave; metal should never be used for microwave oven cooking.

2. Cover the dish and cook on high for 4 minutes. Each microwave cooks at a different temperature, so you may have to monitor even the best microwave oven to ensure that the chicken cooks evenly.

3. Remove the dish from the microwave and uncover. Be careful during microwave oven cooking that you don't touch the dish with your bare hands, as it can be very hot. Turn the chicken pieces over and cover your microwave cookware again before placing it back in the microwave.

4. Cook chicken another 5 minutes and remove from the microwave. Check to see if the chicken is cooked all the way through. Use a meat thermometer to check the temperature when you cook chicken in a microwave; the meat should be at least 160 degrees Fahrenheit and no longer pink.

5. If the chicken is not done, continue cooking at 1-minute intervals until it is done. If the chicken is done, remove it from the microwave and let it sit for 2 minutes before serving. Cooking in a microwave can free up some time for quickly preparing a salad or some vegetables for dinner, too.

6. Refrigerate any leftovers immediately after eating. Eat the refrigerated leftover chicken within a couple of days. Chicken cooked in a microwave is excellent for salads and casseroles.

Warnings:

1. Make sure the chicken is cooked thoroughly when cooking in a microwave, as eating raw meat can cause illness. Even the best microwave oven may heat food unevenly, so make sure that all parts of the chicken are cooked.