Tips for flattening chicken breasts?

[Beth H]

OK, I'm making the Chicken Francais tonight based on all the good reviews. But, I usually avoid recipes that require chicken breasts to be flattened because I've never had any luck with that. I bought a meat mallet on sale at Target recently -- any tips? Do you really have to slam it down? Should I use waxed paper or saran wrap?

[Leanne]

I use saran wrap - I would think wax paper would tear. I hammer (pretty hard) around the edges first & then work your way in. It doesn't really matter though - just pound until flat. You'll get the feel of it.

[luv2cook]

very good for the frustrations, too

[Gail]

I'm not sure what kind of mallet you have. I have two: one looks like an oversized gavel with raised metal bumps that I'd imagine are supposed to break up meat fibers when you pound, the other is a very heavy flat disk on a wood handle. Insofar as how hard to pound goes, use your own judgment. Weak little pounds do nothing, but you don't necessarily have to beat the heck out of your food either. You'll see when the correct pressure is applied. As to the waxed paper versus plastic question, that's strictly a matter of preference. I'm a waxed paper person, but I'm willing to bet just as many people (or more) use plastic. I will tell you that waxed paper rips.

Good luck. http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/smile.gif

[SusanT]

First, take the excees moisture off with paper towels. Then I put the chicken between two pieces of plastic wrap and use the bottom of my 2 cup pyrex measuring cup to pound it out. This works very well and the plastic wrap keeps the chicken from splattering all over the kitchen.

[Pat]

I use wax paper and a rolling pin. The wax paper does ocassionally tear but not too often.

[kwormann]

This is so funny....when I read the initial topic, I thought it said "tips for FLATTERING chicken breasts"....I was anxious to find out how to do that....

Kim...anyway DH says to use the flat end of a glass....

[Shirley Panek]

I usually use a ziploc bag. I find that as the chicken breast gets flatter it gets wider, and the wrap just doesn't cover it. I guess I'm just plastic wrap impaired. http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/smile.gif

Shirley

[Andrew]

I agree with Shirley : )
I flatten all chicken breasts as they cook more evenly. I put them in a large zip lock or those baggie thingys produce comes home in and use a wooden mallet and whack away until the breasts are all pretty much the same thickness. I don't remove and water from them until they are flattened as it helps them to slide around inside the plastic.

Andrew

[Beth H]

Thanks for all the great tips, especially using the ziploc bag -- my efforts to flatten chicken breasts finally succeeded! And, the chicken francais was great! Both my husband and I loved this recipe.