How do I make my old stewing hens tender?!
It is time to butcher my old hens that are not producing any longer!. Last time I cleaned them and boiled them!. No matter how long they boiled they stayed tough!. I tried a crock pot and that did not work either!. Anybody have recipes or ideas how to use them up!? Maybe ground hash or smoked!? I hate to waste meat but need some ideas!. Thanks!.Www@FoodAQ@Com
Answers:
chop them into pieces and use a dry seasoning rub, let them rest up to 24 hours, then use the drunken chicken idea from the other answerer!.
Ingredients
1/4 cup brown sugar, packed
2 tablespoons chili powder
2 tablespoons paprika
1 tablespoon cumin
1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper (can use more)
1 tablespoon garlic powder
3 teaspoons mustard powder
2 teaspoons salt
2 teaspoons black pepper
Directions
1Mix all spice ingredients together!.
2Rub onto chicken (use as much of the rub as desired, use lots or use a little!.
3Cover the chicken then place in the refrigerator for 6-24 hours!.
4Grill as desired!.Www@FoodAQ@Com
Ingredients
1/4 cup brown sugar, packed
2 tablespoons chili powder
2 tablespoons paprika
1 tablespoon cumin
1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper (can use more)
1 tablespoon garlic powder
3 teaspoons mustard powder
2 teaspoons salt
2 teaspoons black pepper
Directions
1Mix all spice ingredients together!.
2Rub onto chicken (use as much of the rub as desired, use lots or use a little!.
3Cover the chicken then place in the refrigerator for 6-24 hours!.
4Grill as desired!.Www@FoodAQ@Com
Well, you should let them hang up side down in a cool place for a few hours before plucking them!. Then you might try brining the bird!. I'd say brine the bird for at least 2 hours then toss the brine and cook your hen!. I used to use the meat from old chickens for burritos and tamales!. That's about all it's good for!.
My poultry brine recipe!.
1 cup salt
1/2 cup sugar
1 lemon, cut into wedges
1 orange, cut into wedges
1 1/2 gallons cold water
DIRECTIONS
Rub salt onto your turkey, and place remaining salt, sugar, lemons, oranges, and water into a large pot or food safe container!. Refrigerate whole chicken up to 3 hours!. Refrigerate turkey overnight!. Discard brine after removing the poultry!.Www@FoodAQ@Com
My poultry brine recipe!.
1 cup salt
1/2 cup sugar
1 lemon, cut into wedges
1 orange, cut into wedges
1 1/2 gallons cold water
DIRECTIONS
Rub salt onto your turkey, and place remaining salt, sugar, lemons, oranges, and water into a large pot or food safe container!. Refrigerate whole chicken up to 3 hours!. Refrigerate turkey overnight!. Discard brine after removing the poultry!.Www@FoodAQ@Com
Boil it for 30 minutes!. Rub it down with corn oil or peanut oil (they retain consistant temperatures on the surface and trap juices in the chicken)!. Season with lemon pepper or other desired seasoning!. Slide an opened beer can inside the chicken and insert it into the oven so the beer does not spill out!. Cook at 350 for 1 hour!. As the beer boils out of the can, it pushes the alcohol into the meat of the chicken!. As the alcohol discipates, it tenderizes the meat!. It's called "Drunk Chicken"!.
Edit - It's perfectly safe for children by the way!. The alcohol burns away and all thats left is the hops and barley (depending on pilsner, stout, etc!.)!.Www@FoodAQ@Com
Edit - It's perfectly safe for children by the way!. The alcohol burns away and all thats left is the hops and barley (depending on pilsner, stout, etc!.)!.Www@FoodAQ@Com
I was going to suggest the crock pot way!. I am surprised that it didn't work!. I put all kinds of meat in mine and have good success with cooking for 8 hours or so!. Yes, you can grind it and probably will have a good product!. Smoking with moisture will probably work also!. I would think that cooking twice as long as regular fryers would improve the quality!. Just make sure it is cooking at a low temp!.Www@FoodAQ@Com
They need to cook for a LONG time!. My Mom used to simmer them in about a cup of water with onions, all spice and chicken bouillion!. Probably for 3 hours or so!. But the gravy is absolutely outstanding!. The all spice adds such a good flavor!. Anyway, GIVE IT TIME!. These hens are tough little things!. But so good when cooked correctly!.Www@FoodAQ@Com
Here are several ways chefs cook old hens:
http://www!.nytimes!.com/2008/04/02/dining!.!.!.Www@FoodAQ@Com
http://www!.nytimes!.com/2008/04/02/dining!.!.!.Www@FoodAQ@Com
put some sugar cane inside your boiling water while your boil the chicken!.Www@FoodAQ@Com
try the good old cast iron dutch oven!.!.!.stuff a big onion in him, some water, and slow cook the old bird!.!.!.Www@FoodAQ@Com
Have you tried braising them!?Www@FoodAQ@Com