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Apprendre à cuisiner / Bases à la poêle

Comment cuire un blanc de poulet à la poêle

Réponse courte

Pound to even thickness, salt it, and cook in 1 tbsp oil over medium heat 5–7 minutes per side. Check 74 °C / 165 °F in the centre. Rest 3–5 minutes before slicing.

Valable quand

  • Meat is pounded to even thickness (about 1.5–2 cm) so it cooks evenly.
  • Temperature is always checked in the thickest part — not time alone.
  • The goal is chicken cooked through at 74 °C / 165 °F, not a pink centre.
  • The pan is large enough that breasts are not stacked.

À quoi ça doit ressembler

Overcooked dry chicken breast with stringy white fibres

Overcooked dry chicken breast with stringy white fibres

Cooked chicken breast sliced open — opaque white, moist fibres

Cooked chicken breast sliced open — opaque white, moist fibres

Ce qu'il te faut

  • Chicken breast
  • Oil
  • Thermometer
  • Frying pan

Étape par étape

  1. 1

    Place the breast between baking paper and pound to even thickness. Pat dry and salt both sides.

    • Matériel: Baking paper and meat mallet or heavy pan.
    • Chaleur: No heat.
    • Temps: 2–3 minutes.
    • Aspect: Thickness is even; surface is dry, not glossy-wet.
    • Si ça tourne mal: Very uneven thickness — pound the thick ends more; otherwise the centre stays raw while the edge dries.
    • Prêt quand: Meat is even, dry and salted.
  2. 2

    Heat the oil, add the breast and cook without moving it until the underside is golden brown.

    • Matériel: Frying pan and spatula.
    • Chaleur: Medium heat.
    • Temps: 5–7 minutes.
    • Aspect: Underside is golden brown; meat releases from the pan without tearing.
    • Si ça tourne mal: Black crust too fast — lower heat; the centre is still cold.
    • Prêt quand: First side is browned; ready to flip.
  3. 3

    Flip the breast and cook the second side. Insert the thermometer into the thickest part without touching the pan.

    • Matériel: Spatula and meat thermometer.
    • Chaleur: Medium heat; lower slightly if the crust darkens too fast.
    • Temps: 5–7 minutes, or until 74 °C / 165 °F.
    • Aspect: Thermometer reads at least 74 °C / 165 °F; juices run clear at a small cut.
    • Si ça tourne mal: Below 74 °C / 165 °F — keep cooking and check every minute. Never serve undercooked chicken.
    • Prêt quand: Chicken has reached 74 °C / 165 °F and is ready to rest.
  4. 4

    Move the meat to a clean plate and rest 3–5 minutes. Slice on the diagonal only after that.

    • Matériel: Clean plate and knife.
    • Chaleur: Off — residual heat in the meat only.
    • Temps: 3–5 minutes.
    • Aspect: Juices redistribute in the meat; the cut face is evenly light with no raw pink centre.
    • Si ça tourne mal: Sliced too early — juices run out and meat seems dry; rest longer next time.
    • Prêt quand: Safely cooked-through, juicy chicken breast ready to serve.

Si ce n'est pas comme prévu

  • Below 74 °C / 165 °F

    keep cooking; colour and juices alone are not safe signs.

  • Dry meat

    heat too high or too long after target temperature; rest and pound thick pieces more evenly next time.

  • Raw centre despite brown crust

    uneven thickness or start heat too high; pound evenly and use a thermometer.

  • Meat sticks

    pan too cold or meat wet; dry it and wait until it releases.

Sécurité alimentaire

Always 74 °C / 165 °F in the thickest part. Wash hands and board after raw chicken. Do not reuse the raw-meat plate for cooked meat.

C'est prêt quand: Core temperature is at least 74 °C / 165 °F, the meat is juicy, and the juices run clear — not pink.

Ensuite