Wrapping chicken breasts with aluminum foil while baking serves several purposes:
Moisture retention: By wrapping the chicken breasts in aluminum foil, you create a sealed environment that helps trap steam and moisture. This prevents the chicken from drying out during the baking process, resulting in tender and juicy meat.
Even cooking: The foil helps distribute heat evenly around the chicken breasts, promoting uniform cooking. It prevents hot spots that can cause uneven doneness in certain areas of the chicken.
Flavor infusion: When you bake chicken with spices, herbs, or marinades, wrapping it in foil helps those flavors penetrate the meat more effectively. The trapped steam helps carry and infuse the flavors into the chicken, enhancing its taste.
Easy cleanup: Using foil makes cleanup a breeze since it prevents drippings and juices from sticking to the baking dish. After baking, you can simply discard the foil, leaving you with minimal mess to clean up.
When using aluminum foil to bake chicken breasts, it's essential to ensure the chicken is fully cooked to a safe internal temperature (165°F or 74°C) to prevent any risk of foodborne illness. You can unwrap the foil during the last few minutes of baking or broil briefly to give the chicken a golden-brown finish if desired.