How often do you cook chicken? In most home, chicken is a staple for dinner at least a couple of times a week. But even if you’re on autopilot when it comes to cooking chicken, it’s very possible that you’re doing something incorrectly when preparing it. Take a look:

1. You’re Thawing it At Room Temperature

   Pulling meat out of the freezer and throwing it on the countertop can actually be dangerous. This can lead to bacterial growth like E. coli and salmonella. Instead, just thaw your chicken in a bath of cold water.

2. You’re Not Adding Other Seasonings

   Salt and pepper is great for seasoning and all, but try rubbing a little lemon or butter on your chicken to give it more of a flavor boost.

3. You’re Not Breading it Correctly

   If your breading tends to crumble off of your prepared chicken, then either your pan isn’t hot enough when cooking or you’ve prepared the breading wrong. You’ll want to try coating your chicken in flour first, then dunking it in egg, then rolling it around in breading as the last step.

4. You’re Fussing With It Too Much

   You won’t get a nice crust on your chicken if you’re flipping it over too often. Like burgers on the grill, try to leave it be as much as possible.

5. You Don’t Use a Thermometer

   Especially when you roast a chicken, you wan to make sure that you’re not overcooking it. Make sure you use a thermometer to periodically check the temperature. When the thickest part of the meat reaches 165 degrees, you’re good to remove it from the heat.