How long should chicken be boiled for safe consumption?

In order to boil or poach boneless and skinless chicken breast and cook it safely, the chicken should cook in boiling liquid for a period of about 15 to 35 minutes, depending on size. If the chicken is whole, bone-in or with skin intact, the cooking period should extend for that particular cut.

Chicken breast with bone and skin intact should poach in boiling liquid for about 30 minutes. Pieces of boneless and skinless breast that is cut into 2-inch pieces needs a cooking period of about 10 minutes.

The boiling liquid used in poaching chicken can be water, chicken broth or any number of other liquids. These liquids can be seasoned or unseasoned with herbs or vegetable to impart further flavor.