Best way to get shredded chicken.....more

[therese]

I am making Giada's Italian Chicken Salad for a baby shower. I need 20 cups of shredded chicken. (She calls for using 3 rotisserie chickens, but I don't want to break the bank buying six of those.) For other recipes I've used the slow cooker, but that yields a sometimes dry and overly shredded result, which doesn't matter if you are soaking it in hot sauce for buffalo chicken dip, but in this case the chicken should look pretty and shredded in bigger pieces rather than mauled. Suggestions? TIA Therese

 

[richard-in-cincy]

If you want a moist and inexpensive chicken, I recommend Roast Chicken Provençal in Favorites

I recently found chickens for $.69/lb. at Costco when I went there on a tour last week. I'm joining after work tomorrow.

I've made this chicken many times and just love it. Although I don't shred it, I cut up almost half of the leftover chicken and make a delicious chicken salad by simply using Hellman's mayo and coarse black pepper. The seasoning of the marinade permeates the chicken nicely, especially if refrigerated overnight.

http://www.finerkitchens.com/swap/forum/index.php?action=display&forumid=16&msgid=36

 

[durward]

Does it have to be shredded--not finely chopped? m

For chicken salad in quantity I often use turkey breast. Why not get 3 chickens and either roast them or simmer them. When I use the turkey I simmer it. Be sure not to boil hard--it toughens the meat.

 

[CathyZ]

Therese, steam chicken pieces over chicken broth- I do this frequently for

shredded chicken. 20 cups is a lot but just do it in batches and create a big steamer in a large pot using a colendar or one of the expandable steamers. I use chicken broth instead of water to steam over as it imparts a lovely flavor and the resulting extra flavor from the chicken gives me a great broth to use later. The chicken will be lovely and moist.