Chicken is one of the leanest sources of protein found in the animal kingdom and has been eaten by people around the world for thousands of years.
In this article, we’re going to take a look at why chicken is so beloved across the globe and outline some tips for making great recipes with it!
1. Great source of protein and nutrients/low fat
Firstly, chicken meat is a wonderful source of protein. Many people believe that red meat has the same density or quality of protein as white chicken meat; however, that is not necessarily correct.
Different cuts of chicken have different nutrient profiles. Most of the fat in chicken is in the skin or off-cuts, like the wings which can be discarded to use the leanest parts of the chicken instead.
Chicken also has significantly lower fat than other meats, such as saturated fats, meaning consuming it regularly helps to lower your levels of cholesterol. As such, this healthy meat improves the health of your heart. Chicken is also a great source of zinc, magnesium and vitamin B12. When chicken is cooked, it is rich in essential vitamins and minerals. Just from the nutritional data, it’s easy to see why you should be eating chicken to improve your health and well-being.
2. It Has Collagen
Collagen is the structural protein in meats that determine how digestible it is. Compared to other cuts, chicken has less collagen and is less taxing on your body, being much easier to digest.
3. Widespread
In Australia, the statistics indicate that chicken meat remains Australia’s most popular meat. A century ago, Australians consumed just 7kgs on average of chicken per person, that number has now climbed above 40kg. An increase in the consumption of chicken meat and greater demand has made it one of the largest parts of the livestock and agriculture industry, as well as a staple in some of the favourite recipes!
4. Great for Fitness
When compared to other meats, chicken has a low-calorie count relative to the amount of protein it gives you, which is why it is known as ‘lean’ meat. A lot of muscle-building programs cite eating chicken breast as your main source of protein and recommend avoiding fattier meats like beef or pork if possible.
5. Chicken breast is healthy and easy to prepare
So, when you are trying to eat healthily, why is chicken breast the preferred part of the bird? For a start, because it is lean meat, the chicken will make it easier to build muscle when you do resistance training at the gym. Because it is lean, it is very light on your stomach too, and won’t make you feel bloated.
Chicken breast is often a lot easier to prepare too. It does not require as much preparation as other cuts of meat, being very easy to cook on a pan.
To help you in your cooking, we have outlined a few best practices to follow when cooking Bengal chicken curry, chicken masala, or any other variety of chicken-based dishes.
6. Multiple ways to cook it
If you are cooking chicken for the first time, try to avoid cooking with skinless breasts. Cooking chicken with the skin on help to keep it moist, and you can always remove it afterward before eating.
Always marinate or brine the meat before you start cooking it, perhaps with some bizarre new flavors. Brining is a process by which you soak the chicken in salty water to help add flavor and keep the meat moist.
You can tenderize chicken to break down many of the proteins in the meat and stretch the breast out so that it cooks more evenly. Just make sure that you tenderize the meat equally before you start cooking it.
Be careful when cooking chicken breast, as cooking it for too long will leave the meat tough and unpleasant to eat. Consider using a meat thermometer when you are starting off, as it can be hard to know when you have cooked the chicken all the way through (but you can mostly just see with your eyes that the color has gone from raw pink to seared white).
Once it is finished, feel free to let the meat rest and add seasoning as required. Serve on a bed of rice to give you a filling source of carbohydrates to go with your lean chicken protein.
Conclusion
It’s no secret that chicken is the most universally loved animal food production in the world, being used in cuisines across nearly all continents and cultures. Pound for pound, chicken is one of the best animal protein sources you can get your hands on.
