Martha Stewart’s Nearly-Forgotten Method for the Most Tender Chicken Breast

Sometimes, I get so locked into a certain way of doing things in the kitchen that I forget there are other, potentially better ways.

My go-to method for cooking chicken has always been to bake it. Baking is straightforward, predictable, and, since I use an air fryer or toaster oven, quick.

Recently, though, I came across a simple tip from Martha Stewart that made me think, "I forgot you could do that."

I was browsing Martha's recipes and came across her Poached Chicken Salad Sandwiches. Martha says that slowly cooking chicken breasts in simmering water makes them perfectly tender because they retain more moisture than with other cooking methods.

In other words, she makes poached chicken!

Why You Should Poach Chicken Like Martha Stewart

When poaching, Martha recommends tossing a small halved onion into the water, along with salt and pepper. For more flavor, she suggests adding a bay leaf, lemon peel, or whole peppercorns. 

This cooking method takes less than 15 minutes. It’s great for weekly meal prep when life gets busy—poach the chicken and then dice, slice, or shred it for simple salads, sandwiches, bowls, and wraps.

How To Poach Chicken

You can poach chicken in three easy steps:

1. Place the chicken in a pot and cover with at least 1 inch of water.
2. Bring the water to a boil, then reduce the heat to medium-low.
3. Cover the pot and simmer until your chicken is fully cooked.

The cook time depends on the size of your chicken breast. For example, small boneless breasts could take less than 10 minutes, while a large bone-in breast could take upwards of 20 minutes. To check for doneness, it's best to use an instant-read thermometer; it should reach 160°F.

How To Store Poached Chicken

Before storing, allow the chicken to cool completely. Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to five days, or freeze the chicken for up to three months. I recommend slicing or shredding the chicken before freezing so it thaws more quickly.

I only recently remembered this, but I have a chicken tortilla soup recipe that would be perfect with poached chicken. That's what I'm making for dinner tonight!