How come when I cook chicken the bread crumbs burn but the chicken doesn't cook enough?

Question

I am cooking a recipe from Betty Crocker, the Ranch Chicken, and when I cook it on Medium-High heat, the (store bought) bread crumbs burn but the chicken isn't cooked through. Being a *really* novice cook, I'm freaking out because the crumbs are black, but the chicken inside isn't cooked at all! What gives? What am I doing wrong? Do I need to flatten the chicken?

Answer 1

Best Answer - Chosen by Asker

well, your burner may cook too hot, each ranges 'medium high' cooks a little differently. Try cooking med or med low, you can cook the meat then turn it up to brown, just keep an eye on it. The thing about cooking, it's trial and error, keep it going you'll get the hang of it, happy cooking :-)

Asker's Rating:

Asker's Comment:

Thanks for the encouragement.

Answer 2

I always put the chicken in for awhile, then spread the bread crumbs on after the chicken is almost done. Then the chicken and the bread crumbs crisp up

Answer 3

It could be the stove is too hot. Attempt it at a slightly lower temperture. Also what are you using to make the breadcrumbs stick? An egg mixture normally keeps them coated long enough to cook the chicken.
Try to keep the chicken peices evenly shaped, so it all cooks at the same time. Flatten it and see.

Answer 4

Try baking with bread crumbs, the high temps from frying will burn the bread crumbs quickly leaving you with raw chicken.

Answer 5

You need to use more oil, so the meat is half way covered and keep it on medium heat. If the oil disappears to fast you have to add some.

It only burns if there is not enough oil in the pan
.

Answer 6

i have noticed when frying chicken cutlet it is best to pound it first...make sure your pan is real hot when you add the chicken...also prefer to cook in olive oil...everyone says it's good...so i must be doing something right..

Answer 7

Flattening the chicken would help. It also sounds like you've got the heat up to high. Each stove is different, so what is marked as Medium-High on your stove, may not be what the writers of the cookbook consider Medium-High. Flatten the chicken, and cook it at Medium (might take a little longer to cook at that lower temp.) and see if that helps.

Answer 8

Hi
Try either cooking at a lower heat or bying thiner pieces of chicken, if that dosent work try baking the chicken in the oven, 350 for 20 to 30 min or until the internal temp f the chicken reached 165

Answer 9

Turn the heat down doot.

Answer 10

Temperature is likely too high. So the outside is burned before the heat gets through the meat. Medium-high usually means six or seven out of ten. Generally it's better to go a bit lower heat when cooking. It allows the heat to get into the food without burning the outside.