How Long to Boil Chicken Livers

Chicken livers are part of the quartet of giblets included in the cavity of whole chickens. It is often joined by the neck, heart, and gizzard (a muscular organ that grinds food for digestion). Although often thrown away, the offal meat presents a world of possibilities. Chicken livers have a distinctly earthy, almost nutty flavor with a bit of a metallic quality that can be reduced with boiling, so knowing how long to boil chicken livers is useful.

How Long to Boil Chicken Livers Step by Step

Before we get to how long to boil chicken livers, take a moment to gather a few ingredients. First, you need chicken livers. You can purchase a package from the grocery store or ask your local butcher. When buying chicken livers, ensure that they are:

• organic and free of antibiotics
• deep red
• firm and smooth
• devoid of any strong, unpleasant odor

Additionally, you will need the juice of a lemon, water, and a saucepan to accommodate the livers you plan to boil. Although optional, you may also need cooking oil, seasonings of choice, and perhaps a bit of onion and garlic. Once you have everything you need:

1. Rinse the livers under cool water and transfer them to a nonreactive bowl.
2. Pour the lemon juice on top and toss the livers in lemon juice. Lemon juice will break down the proteins, resulting in a tender texture. The juice will also help eliminate some of the undesired metallic flavor.
3. Bring a saucepan of water to a boil as the livers soak in the lemon.
4. Carefully add the chicken livers to the pan, reduce the heat to low, and boil for 4-8 minutes. This time range is how long to boil chicken livers. Insert an instant-read thermometer in the center of the largest liver to ensure the internal temperature is 165°F.
5. From there, remove the livers from the water and place them onto a paper towel-lined plate. Then, you can use as desired or heat oil in a skillet and sauté onions and garlic in the skillet before you toss in the boiled chicken livers to brown briefly. Doing so is a great way to add an extra layer of flavor.

Other Considerations

As long as you stay within the provided time range and ensure that the internal temperature of chicken livers reaches 165°F, you’re good to go. However, some factors impact cook time, the biggest being the size of the livers. Smaller chicken livers will cook more quickly, while larger ones take longer. Furthermore, whether the livers are frozen or not will have an impact. Considering these factors, refer to the table for more information on how long it takes to boil chicken livers.