How to Soak Chicken in Buttermilk

This post contains affiliate links, and I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking on my links, at no cost to you.

Who doesn’t like some tender and tasty chicken, drenched in sauces and positive wishes from the chef? Chicken is one of the most consumed foods worldwide, free from all limits and divides of humanity. What could make a chicken better than what it already is?

The answer to that is marinating it in buttermilk. Buttermilk is one of the most nutritious liquids out there because of its concentration of vital nutrients. You can get stronger bones, improved oral health, better cholesterol regulation and a range of other benefits by consuming buttermilk by itself.

When you combine chicken with buttermilk, it’s similar to combining diamonds with gold. You get double the benefits and four times the health boost.

Why Should You Soak Chicken in Buttermilk?

Chicken by itself can be preserved for long periods and is easy to consume. You have a wide variety of chicken-y goodies that you can choose from, like chicken nuggets, chicken wings and chicken tenders. All of these are frozen and can easily be reheated and cooked to get a kingly meal.

However, when it comes to eating normal chicken, it tends to be a bit hard, especially if cooked at home. Buttermilk has a slightly acidic pH, which makes the chicken tender without affecting its taste. After soaking chicken in buttermilk, you can get some of the tastiest drumsticks with that nice, flaky and crispy texture.

The best thing about soaking chicken in buttermilk is that you won’t have to put extra effort into chewing them. The only drawback is that you’ll lose the extra jaw exercises you’d get by chewing on normal chicken.

How to Soak Chicken in Buttermilk

The method for soaking chicken in buttermilk is pretty much the same as the traditional soaking method. You get some good buttermilk and some beautiful chicken pieces. You put them in a bowl and mix them up nicely so that all of the chicken pieces are covered in some of that tasty buttermilk.

The only thing you have to worry about is the temperature throughout the whole soaking process and the length of the soaking period. Soaking your chicken for too long could do the opposite of the intended reason.

Soaking Chicken in Buttermilk

Soaking chicken in buttermilk is a simple process. You’ll only need some cleaned and washed chicken and some beautiful buttermilk. You will start by placing the chicken in a bowl and then pouring the buttermilk all over it.

Mix the buttermilk and chicken thoroughly, leave no stone unturned, and no chicken piece un-lathered. You can poke the chicken after 12 to 24 hours and check for consistency. If you feel that the chicken is tender enough, take it out, rinse it and start cooking.

How Long To Soak Chicken in Buttermilk

Ideally, soaking chicken in buttermilk is a long process and requires at least 12 hours. According to most people, you should take your chicken out of the buttermilk after 24 hours to get the best texture and taste. You may leave it to soak for more than that time, but please ensure temperature regulation.

Buttermilk is a probiotic, and it will deteriorate in warm temperatures, giving your chicken a not-so-desirable taste. We also do not recommend soaking your chicken in buttermilk for more than 70 hours.

Can You Soak Chicken in Buttermilk Overnight?

As stated above, soaking chicken in buttermilk is a process that is meant to be carried out overnight. On the contrary, if you don’t soak your chicken overnight, you shouldn’t expect much of a change in the tenderness or the taste of your chicken.

As stated above, you should let your chicken soak in all of that goodness for at least 12 hours. If you want the best taste, let it soak up that goodness for about 20 to 24 hours. After that, you start cooking and inviting your family over for the meal of their lifetime.

How to Soak Chicken in Buttermilk Fast

Currently, there aren’t any fast-track methods of soaking chicken in buttermilk. Some people take their chicken out for cooking after 8 hours, but again the taste and tenderness aren’t as good. The ideal soaking time is at least 12 hours, and you are better off sticking to that.

For the best taste, follow the time routines and get yourself a chicken cookbook. The recipes in there are top-notch, rated and written by experts, for novices like us. Also, If you find the time and effort for the soaking too tedious, use some canned chicken.

Sources