⚙ Pound to an even thickness: How to Do It and How Long It Takes

Pound to an even thickness takes 1 min most of the time.

Even thickness is the secret: a cutlet that's thick on one side and thin on the other comes out dry at the edge and raw in the middle.

Place the cutlets between two sheets of plastic wrap and pound with a meat mallet to an even thickness of 1 cm · 1 min · Chicken Schnitzel in Creamy Mushroom Sauce
Place the cutlets between two sheets of plastic wrap and pound with a meat mallet to an even thickness of ½–1 cm · 1 min · Schnitzel
Place the cutlets between two sheets of plastic wrap and pound with a meat mallet to an even thickness of ½ cm · 1 min · Veal Schnitzel
Place the chicken between two sheets of plastic wrap and pound with a meat mallet to an even thickness of 2 cm · 1 min · Roasted Chicken Breast with Olive Oil and Herbs
Place the chicken between two sheets of plastic wrap and pound with a meat mallet to an even thickness of 1.5 cm · 1 min · Chicken Breast Salad with Walnuts and Grapes
Place each breast between two sheets of plastic wrap and pound with a meat mallet to an even thickness of 2 cm · 1 min · Pistachio-Crusted Chicken Breast with Roasted Asparagus and Tomatoes

Pound gently from the center outward: the goal is even thickness, not the thinnest possible cut, and torn meat dries out as it cooks.
A breast of even thickness roasts evenly: the thin end doesn't dry out before the thick end is done.