Can Chicken be too tender?

sharks_guy · 06-12-2011, 06:16 PM

Hi,
Got three seven's this weekend in chicken texture. It was super moist and very tender. Is there a point where chicken is so tender that judges may lower a texture score because it is too tender?

Ron_L · 06-12-2011, 06:17 PM

I don't think chicken can get too tender without drying out first. Was this thighs or breasts?

sharks_guy · 06-12-2011, 06:44 PM

Thighs..

Ron_L · 06-12-2011, 06:50 PM

Hmmm... My thought was that if it was breasts they may have dried out in the box. How was the skin? Could they have marked it down because of rubbery skin?

landarc · 06-12-2011, 06:54 PM

Say, was the chicken you used packed in solution, if so, where there phosphates or sodium in it? That could allow you to over-cook and still have moisture in them. I kind of doubt that was the problem, just throwing it out there. Many of the new bag-packed chickens have solution now.

billygbob · 06-12-2011, 08:04 PM

Unfortunately, judging over the years I have had received many overcooked thighs. They weren't the least bit dry. They were mushy; squeeze them between thumb and forefinger and they mashed down with no resistance and basically became grainy. Same lovely texture chewing them. Always scored a 5 at best.

mobow · 06-12-2011, 08:08 PM

what billygbob said

Hub · 06-13-2011, 07:37 AM

Thighs will take a lot of punishment and still come through but there is a point where the meat (while tender and juicy) barely holds together and turns very soft when bitten into.

Lots of folks think brisket is hard to do well and they are right, but I think chicken isn't exactly easy, either.

Smoke'n Ice · 06-13-2011, 08:26 AM

Chicken can turn "mushy" if left in a brine solution for a long length of time. If it contains trisodium phosphate, then more than 4 hours would be enough to change the texture. You also have to read the bag they came in, if they contain any type of solution, then more brining would be counter productive.

The_Kapn · 06-13-2011, 08:49 AM

If you finish chicken in a foil covered pan with moisture and let it go too long it will definitely be mush and not dry.
Don't ask me how I know this

Kinda like cooking chicken in a pressure cooker or boiling it in water for chicken noodle soup. Many times you can't even pick it up in one piece.

TIM

Dale P · 06-13-2011, 05:52 PM

Just like most say, if you cook too long it will dang near just fall apart, and become grainy and dry. I hear all the time about Judges tearing the meat off of the bone with their fingers. I think that all judges should use their teeth. I know that some or even most will say that they want to make sure that it is done but I can tell by taking a bite. I never did mind a spitter. :)

rcorun · 06-13-2011, 06:30 PM

Yep, thighs will mushy and breast will just plain dry out.
And god help you if you slow smoke a thigh for comp - judges see
that pinkish red next to the bone and see it as undercooked.

rksylves · 06-14-2011, 06:34 AM

Oh yeah you can definately get chicken too tender. I did it this last weekend. It finished way too early and when I tried to hold it, it turned very mushy. Gonna make sure that never happens again.

Russ

GQue · 06-14-2011, 09:18 AM

Was your skin bite through?

You culd have moist well cooked meat but not bote through skin, I have seen that effect texture score even though the meat may be cooked right....just sharing my perspective not saying that is why

06-12-2011, 06:16 PM	#1
sharks_guy Knows what a fatty is. Join Date: 04-25-10 Location: Olathe, KS	Can Chicken be too tender? Hi, Got three seven's this weekend in chicken texture. It was super moist and very tender. Is there a point where chicken is so tender that judges may lower a texture score because it is too tender? __________________ Dan D. DanD BBQ 22" WSM, 18"WSM, Traeger Jr. Mazda 3 Hatchback, Copper Red [COLOR=lime](2) Green Thermapens[/COLOR] KCBS CBJ#54284 [URL]http://www.facebook.com/DanDBBQ/[/URL] [URL]http://operationbbqrelief.org[/URL]

06-12-2011, 06:17 PM	#2
Ron_L Moderator Join Date: 12-09-04 Location: Wandering, but not lost Name/Nickname : Captain Ron	I don't think chicken can get too tender without drying out first. Was this thighs or breasts? __________________ "Ron Rico, Boss. You can call me Captain Ron..." Naked Fatties Rock! PKGo X 2/PK360/Weber Q1000/Blackstone Camping Griddle/Pit Boss Pro Series 850

06-12-2011, 06:44 PM	#3
sharks_guy Knows what a fatty is. Join Date: 04-25-10 Location: Olathe, KS	Thighs.. __________________ Dan D. DanD BBQ 22" WSM, 18"WSM, Traeger Jr. Mazda 3 Hatchback, Copper Red [COLOR=lime](2) Green Thermapens[/COLOR] KCBS CBJ#54284 [URL]http://www.facebook.com/DanDBBQ/[/URL] [URL]http://operationbbqrelief.org[/URL]

06-12-2011, 06:50 PM	#4
Ron_L Moderator Join Date: 12-09-04 Location: Wandering, but not lost Name/Nickname : Captain Ron	Hmmm... My thought was that if it was breasts they may have dried out in the box. How was the skin? Could they have marked it down because of rubbery skin? __________________ "Ron Rico, Boss. You can call me Captain Ron..." Naked Fatties Rock! PKGo X 2/PK360/Weber Q1000/Blackstone Camping Griddle/Pit Boss Pro Series 850

06-12-2011, 06:54 PM	#5
landarc somebody shut me the fark up. Join Date: 06-26-09 Location: sAn leAnDRo, CA	Say, was the chicken you used packed in solution, if so, where there phosphates or sodium in it? That could allow you to over-cook and still have moisture in them. I kind of doubt that was the problem, just throwing it out there. Many of the new bag-packed chickens have solution now. __________________ [COLOR=DarkGreen][COLOR=DarkRed][SIZE=1]me: I don't drink anymore Yelonutz: me either, but, then again, I don't drink any less [/SIZE][/COLOR][/COLOR][SIZE=1][COLOR=DarkRed] [COLOR=Pink]SSS[/COLOR] [/COLOR][/SIZE]

06-12-2011, 08:04 PM	#6
billygbob On the road to being a farker Join Date: 02-06-08 Location: T'ville, KY	Yes Unfortunately, judging over the years I have had received many overcooked thighs. They weren't the least bit dry. They were mushy; squeeze them between thumb and forefinger and they mashed down with no resistance and basically became grainy. Same lovely texture chewing them. Always scored a 5 at best.

06-12-2011, 08:08 PM	#7
mobow is one Smokin' Farker Join Date: 12-11-09 Location: Marshall MO	what billygbob said __________________ WSM 22.5, MCBJ, In The Key Of Que

06-13-2011, 07:37 AM	#8
Hub Full Fledged Farker Join Date: 09-01-10 Location: Lincolnton, NC	Thighs will take a lot of punishment and still come through but there is a point where the meat (while tender and juicy) barely holds together and turns very soft when bitten into. Lots of folks think brisket is hard to do well and they are right, but I think chicken isn't exactly easy, either. __________________ [FONT=Impact][SIZE=3][COLOR=red]Committed Pellethead[/COLOR][/SIZE][/FONT] KCBS MCBJ & CTC Memphis Advantage NOS American Made Traeger 075 Weber Performer Author of [I][FONT=Times New Roman]Burn It In The Back Yard[/FONT][/I] Grillin' and Smokin' like crazy for over 40 years :whoo: [COLOR=red][I]There's No Smoke Alarm In My Outdoor Kitchen![/I][/COLOR]

06-13-2011, 08:26 AM	#9
Smoke'n Ice is one Smokin' Farker Join Date: 05-08-09 Location: Plano, TX	Chicken can turn "mushy" if left in a brine solution for a long length of time. If it contains trisodium phosphate, then more than 4 hours would be enough to change the texture. You also have to read the bag they came in, if they contain any type of solution, then more brining would be counter productive.

06-13-2011, 08:49 AM	#10
The_Kapn Moderator Emeritus Join Date: 04-08-04 Location: Marianna, FL Name/Nickname : Tim	If you finish chicken in a foil covered pan with moisture and let it go too long it will definitely be mush and not dry. Don't ask me how I know this Kinda like cooking chicken in a pressure cooker or boiling it in water for chicken noodle soup. Many times you can't even pick it up in one piece. TIM __________________ "Flirtin' with Disaster" BBQ Team (RETIRED) New Ninja Woodfired Grill for Christmas 2023

06-13-2011, 05:52 PM	#11
Dale P is One Chatty Farker Join Date: 12-28-06 Location: Porkbutt Ky	Just like most say, if you cook too long it will dang near just fall apart, and become grainy and dry. I hear all the time about Judges tearing the meat off of the bone with their fingers. I think that all judges should use their teeth. I know that some or even most will say that they want to make sure that it is done but I can tell by taking a bite. I never did mind a spitter. :) __________________ Spicewine Turbo 2007 model Perry Brothers & Sons Bar-B-Q

06-13-2011, 06:30 PM	#12
rcorun Knows what a fatty is. Join Date: 06-07-11 Location: Greencastle, PA	Yep, thighs will mushy and breast will just plain dry out. And god help you if you slow smoke a thigh for comp - judges see that pinkish red next to the bone and see it as undercooked.

06-14-2011, 06:34 AM	#13
rksylves Full Fledged Farker Join Date: 07-28-09 Location: Melbourne, Florida	Oh yeah you can definately get chicken too tender. I did it this last weekend. It finished way too early and when I tried to hold it, it turned very mushy. Gonna make sure that never happens again. Russ __________________ Lead Cook 'Second Star BBQ' using a Big Orange 'Prince', 22 OTG, SJS FBA & KCBS CBJ

06-14-2011, 09:18 AM	#14
GQue Full Fledged Farker Join Date: 08-10-10 Location: Superior CO	Was your skin bite through? You culd have moist well cooked meat but not bote through skin, I have seen that effect texture score even though the meat may be cooked right....just sharing my perspective not saying that is why __________________ BGE XL Gateway Drum FEC-100 Memphis Pro Gasser Weber 22 CBJ #52802 Learn easy and effective tricks on the grill and smoker at my you tube channel: [URL="https://www.youtube.com/user/BBQGQue"]https://www.youtube.com/user/BBQGQue[/URL]

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