h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Hello Sho

TC has recommended I ask you a question that has been raised in connection with a recipe that I have put in Peer Review A87871756

The question is about whether it is OK to brown chicken in the same pan as vegetables, or whether it is better from a hygiene perspective to brown the chicken first before adding it to a pan with vegetables.

TC bungs it all in together and hasn't had digestive health problems as a result, but I'm wary. Do you or have specific guidance in relation to that?

Thank you

Sasha

said he'd cook it all in the same pan. Since it eventually all goes together there's no issue

Ah! Interesting indeed.

I was worried that somehow there would be bacteria if the vegetables touched the raw chicken, but as long as everything is heated through, the bacteria will be cooked whether they're cooked on their own or with the vegetables

This will make my recipe easier in future, I think

Thank you!

but you'd cook the chicken first, at least a bit until it's all cooked on the outside - and then add the veggies so they're not overcooked

Ah - I found that the onions and mushrooms needed longer than the chicken did (I like onions to caramelise up, and I'm not good at chopping them very small) so I started them cooking first, then chopped the chicken, which took 5 minutes, and browned the chicken in a separate pan before adding it in with the vegetables and putting the tomato sauce in to simmer and finish cooking...

Is it the case that the chicken could stand being cooked longer, so I could brown it first, then add the veg and wait for the onions to caramelise without the chicken being overcooked?

I appreciate your expertise in relation to this

you can start with the onions, then add the chicken and cook further and chuck the veg in towards the end. The chicken needs to be cooked all through whatever you do with the rest of the ingredients.

It's down to personal preference, really