How to “remove” all the chemicals from store-bought chicken: a tip I got from a meatpacking plant worker.

We often hear that farm-raised chicken doesn’t grow as quickly as factory-farmed chicken. In industrial farms, chickens reach a considerable size in just 30 or 40 days thanks to feed supplements and multiple injections designed to prevent disease and increase productivity. For this reason, many people are wary of cooking chicken bought at the supermarket.

Today I want to share a method I learned and always use before cooking chicken or turkey breast. It’s a simple practice that helps improve both the flavor and texture of the meat.

The trick: soak in salt water

A few years ago I discovered that soaking chicken in a saline solution before cooking it helps in several ways:

• It allows the removal of some of the impurities that the bird may have accumulated during its rapid growth.
• Compared to ordinary water, salt reduces bacterial activity.
• As a cook explained to me, salt helps the meat fibers retain water, making the chicken juicier and less dry after cooking.

How to prepare the soak

1. Dissolve one teaspoon of salt and one teaspoon of acid (it can be citric acid or lemon juice) in a container of water .
2. Place the chicken pieces in this mixture for at least 1 hour.
3. Optionally, add a little more lemon juice to the water to enhance the effect and add a touch of freshness.

This procedure can be considered a form of disinfection and light marinating . In the end, the meat not only improves in texture, but when cooked in the oven or pan, it becomes more tender and doesn’t dry out.

Tips and recommendations

• Prolonged soaking time is not necessary; one hour is usually sufficient.
• Always use glass or stainless steel containers, never thin plastic ones.
• You can add dried herbs or spices to the water to give it an extra touch of flavor.

Soaking chicken in water with salt and lemon before cooking is a simple and effective method that improves its texture, adds juiciness, and offers greater peace of mind when serving it.