How long must chicken tenders and fillets dwell for after cooking?

The best practice for chicken tenders and fillets after cooking involves allowing them to dwell for a period of time to enhance food safety and quality. Dwell time is essential as it enables the internal temperature to stabilize, which helps to ensure that the meat retains its juices and is safe for consumption. A dwell time of 1 minute strikes a balance between ensuring the product is adequately rested and ready for service, while also preventing any risk of drying out.

This duration is significant because it allows for the redistribution of juices within the meat, improving texture and flavor. It also minimizes the risk of foodborne illness by ensuring that the chicken reaches the appropriate safe serving temperature and maintains that safety during service. Additionally, shorter or longer dwell times may not provide these benefits as effectively, making the 1-minute dwell time the optimal choice for quality and safety in food preparation.