Will soaking chicken thighs in a baking soda slurry make it more tender?

"Will soaking chicken thighs in a baking soda slurry make it more tender?"

Yes, it does, and it is one of those small tricks that actually works. I run a food business in Calgary and this is the velveting treatment I point people to when their chicken comes out tougher than they wanted.

Coat the thighs in the baking soda slurry at one teaspoon of baking soda per pound of chicken, and leave them for 15 to 20 minutes. Then rinse them well and pat them completely dry before they go anywhere near the pan.

That rinse is not optional. It is what stops any baking soda taste from carrying into the finished dish, so do not skip it or rush it. Once the thighs are rinsed and dry, the treated surface browns better in a hard sear, which is the other half of why this works so well.

Asked on r/Cooking

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