There are so many ways to consume chicken. Some of the more popular ones include chicken salad, fried chicken, BBQ chicken, skinless chicken breasts, boneless chicken breasts, etc.
The incredible flavor profile is not the only reason why people consume chicken. Chicken meat is also very healthy since it is full of lean proteins that are great for your body, especially for your muscles.
Among the many parts of chicken like chicken thighs, drumsticks, and others, chicken tenders tend to be one of the healthiest parts of the whole chicken. So, you do not want to ruin them when preparing.
One of the most popular ways to prepare chicken tenders is to boil them. But, how long does it take to boil chicken tenders? The time frame is not really more than 10 minutes really.
But, in order to find out what the exact cooking time is and how to boil your chicken tenders properly, I suggest you continue reading.
Quick Answer: How Long To Boil Chicken Tenders?
When you bring the water to a pot to boil on high heat, you must turn the temperature of the stovetop down to medium-high heat.
On that medium-high temperature, you can let your chicken tenders cook for about 2-3 minutes until they reach an internal temperature of 165 degrees F.
What Is The Time Required For Boiling Chicken Tenderloins?
The time frame for boiling chicken tenders tends to be 2-3 minutes. But, you have to know that there are various shapes and sizes of chicken tenders, so that is a factor as well.
Thinner tenders need only about 2-3 minutes, but thicker ones need a minute or two more, i.e. 3-4 minutes. It is best to check it out with a meat thermometer if you have one.
When the meat reaches an internal temperature of 165 degrees F, that is a sign of doneness. In general, that is a sign of doneness for all poultry.
You can find yourself in a situation where you have to boil chicken tenderloins in some other states. You can just boil raw chicken tenders. But you can also boil chicken breast tenders before broiling, you can boil chicken tenders to shreds, for chicken salad, cornbread dressing, chicken soup, etc.
Here, I will go through a few situations that you can find yourself in when boiling chicken tenders or tenderloins.
How Long To Boil Chicken Tenderloins To Shred?
Boiling chicken tenderloins for shredding chicken tenders will take less than 10 minutes of your precious time. You should cook the chicken for about 3-4 minutes until you accomplish cooked and juicy chicken.
You can then freely transfer the chicken from the skillet or pot to the plate.
What About Boneless Skinless Chicken Tenders?
Chicken tenders without skin and bone-in can be boiled for about 10 minutes. You can also check it with your meat thermometer, if you have one, of course, to see if the meat has reached the internal temperature of 165 degrees F.
You can also cut the meat and see if it is no longer pink in the center. If it is, you must let it boil for a few more minutes.
How Long Does It Take To Parboil Chicken Tenders?
This cooking process is a quick one. It means that you boil the chicken until it is partially cooked. When you partially cook chicken, another cooking method will be used.
When it comes to parboiling, you should do that for about 2-3 minutes for the best results.
That way, they will be cooked enough but won’t lose juiciness and moisture, i.e. you won’t get dry chicken.
What Is The Proper Time Frame Of Boiling Frozen Chicken Tenders?
First, it is best to transfer frozen chicken tenders to the pan and cover them with water. Put them on high heat until you achieve boiling water. After that, you can reduce the heat to medium-low and let your tenderloins simmer for about 4-5 minutes.
You can also check them with a meat thermometer if you have one. The internal temperature of tenderloins must be 165 degrees F.
How To Boil Chicken Tenders?
Here, I will give you a step-by-step guide on how to properly boil your chicken tenderloins for the best results. After that, you will be able to add them to your favorite soups, stews, casseroles, or any other chicken tender recipe.
Prep time: 2 minutes
Cook time: 12 minutes
Total time: 14 minutes
Equipment:
• Tongs
• Pot with lid
Ingredients:
• 1 lb Uncooked chicken tenders (preferably fresh organic chicken)
• Cold water (chicken broth or similar cooking liquid like a stock can be used too)
• Salt and pepper
• Fresh herbs and seasonings (this is optional)
Step-by-step instructions:
1. Place raw chicken tenders in a pot.
2. You will then cover them in a pot of water.
3. Put the lid on the pot.
4. You will first bring the water to a boil.
5. After accomplishing boiling water, you will turn the temperature down to medium-high.
6. You will cook the chicken for about 2-3 minutes until it reaches its internal temperature of 165 degrees F.
7. Finally, you can use boiled chicken tenders for your favorite recipe.
How To Store Chicken Tenders Properly?
In general, refrigerating or freezing chicken is something frequently done by many people. The same is with any other chicken part including chicken tenders. Here, I will briefly explain how to properly store boiled and uncooked chicken tenders.
Boiled Chicken Tenders
If you don’t want to use your boiled chicken tenders right away, you can refrigerate them or freeze them. If you decide to put them in the fridge, first store them in an airtight container and then put that container in the fridge.
In the fridge, chicken tenders will last for up to 3 days.
If you want to extend their shelf life a little bit more, you can freeze them. You can also store them in an airtight container or freezer bag and then put them in the freezer.
In the freezer, boiled chicken tenders will last for up to 3 months.
Uncooked Chicken Tenders
You can also store uncooked chicken tenders in the fridge or in the freezer. Before storing tenders in the fridge, put them in an airtight container.
In the fridge, your uncooked chicken tenders will last for up to 2 days.
If you want to freeze them, first put them in an airtight container or some kind of freezer-friendly bag, and then freeze them.
In the freezer, uncooked chicken tenders will last for up to 3 months.
How To Use Boiled Chicken Tenders?
You can use your boiled chicken tenders in various ways. Here, I will list the most popular types of dishes where the main ingredient is chicken tenders.
• You can add them to your favorite chicken salads.
• You can add it to some Mexican classics including enchiladas, burritos, or tacos.
• Chop them and add them to your favorite wraps and sandwiches.
• For one very healthy meal, you can shred them and add them to pasta and rice dishes.
• Adding them to soups and casseroles is your best bet.
FAQs
What Are The Health Benefits Of Consuming Chicken Tenders?
There are many health benefits that these parts of the chicken can provide. First, due to the fact that they are high in protein and low in fat, they can help you to build muscle.
Also, since they are good sources of phosphorus and calcium, they can help strengthen the bones.
Some other health benefits include wound healing, lowering the risk of protein deficiency, helping in weight loss, etc.
Just make sure not to consume undercooked chicken because of harmful bacteria like Campylobacter and Salmonella.
How Long Do You Boil Chicken Strips?
Generally speaking, it is best to boil chicken strips for 2-3 minutes. That is the case with very thin chicken strips. If your chicken strips are thicker, you can boil them for a minute or two more.
If you are not sure, you can always check if they are done using a meat thermometer, if you have one. The temperature must be 165 degrees F. You can also check if the meat is not pink anymore.
If it is, you can let it cook for a few more minutes until it is done.
How Much Time Is Needed To Boil Raw Chicken?
You need about 90 minutes to cook whole raw chicken. Before cooking it, you have to put it in a pot of water, cover the pot with the lid, and bring the water to a boil.
If you are boiling chicken breasts, you won’t need more than 15 minutes. If you are not sure if it is done, you can cut it and see if it is not pink. If it is, then you need to let it cook for a few minutes more until it is done.
Final Answer
In this article, I tried to answer how long to boil chicken tenders. The accepted time frame is to boil them for about 2-3 minutes. But, that time can vary based on the shape and size of the meat. If the meat is thin, then it probably won’t need more than that.
On the other hand, if the meat is thicker, it is most likely that it will need one to two additional minutes. It is best to check if the meat is done by using a meat thermometer if you have one. The internal temperature of the meat must be 165 degrees F.
Aside from that, I also explained how to properly boil chicken tenders, how to store them, and finally, how to use them so that you can enjoy their tastiness and all the other benefits that they provide.
