What are the effects of eating chicken skin?

Chicken is one of the most popular meats in the world.

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) estimates that in 2021 133 million tons of chicken meat was consumed in the world.

Chicken consumption is popular because it is cheap, low in fat, and faces few cultural or religious restrictions.

In addition, it is a meat rich in protein and an important source of vitamins and minerals. And it also contains important levels of beneficial fats, which can support cardiovascular health.

But, this very popular food also seems to be surrounded by doubts and different opinions.

For example, chicken skin is known to have a high level of fat. So, is it good to eat chicken with the skin or should we remove it before making the stew?

"Chicken skin contains 32 percent fat, that is, for every 100 grams of skin we eat, 32 grams are fat," María Dolores Fernández Pazos, a nutritionist at the Meat Nutrition Information Center, told BBC Mundo.

Of these fats contained in chicken skin, explains the chef, two-thirds are harmless fats, the so-called "good fats", which help to improve blood levels.

And one third of fat is what contributes to increasing the levels of "bad" fat in the human body.

This is the same amount of fat found in chicken meat. Therefore, says the expert, "if we eat chicken with skin, we will increase the intake of calories in the body by approximately 50%".

So, for example, if we eat six pieces of skinless chicken, we will be consuming 284 calories (according to the nutrition data of the United States Department of Agriculture), with 80% of the calories coming from protein and 20% from fat.

But those numbers increase significantly if we include the skin: a portion of chicken breast will have 386 calories, with 50% from protein and 50% from fat.

Therefore, nutritionist Dolores Fernández recommends, removing (the skin) before eating, so as not to add more calories or fat to the plate."

"For people who do not have a history of illness, and are of sufficient weight for their height, body structure, we can recommend leaving the skin of the chicken during cooking and removing it before eating, since the presence of the skin during cooking will help the meat to dry a little and become and the sweetest taste," says the expert.

Is it okay to refreeze thawed chicken?

"No. It is not recommended to refreeze chicken meat that has been thawed," says a CINCAP nutritionist.

"The goal of freezing food is to prevent the growth of microbes in the food. So by thawing the food, those microbes can start growing again."

And this is advice that applies to all meats that have been thawed.

The only safe way to refreeze thawed meat is after cooking.

"Using this method, we will remove the presence of germs and we can refreeze the meat," says Dolores Fernández.

What is the best way to thaw chicken?

The best way to thaw chicken, experts say, is in the refrigerator.

"Reducing the cold to room temperature can increase the growth of the microbes that we mentioned earlier and spoil the product."

Since thawing in the oven will be slow, it may take up to 24 hours for a whole chicken. We must plan in advance the best time to take the chicken out of the refrigerator.

Experts emphasize that chicken meat should never be thawed at room temperature or in hot water.

How to avoid poisoning with chicken meat?

Chicken, as we can see, is one of the best, most famous and most consumed food in the world, but it is also often the main source of food poisoning.

Raw meat contains Campylobacter bacteria and occasionally Salmonella and Clostridium perfringens.

That is why if you eat chicken that is not cooked properly or if you contaminate other foods or drinks with raw chicken or its juices, you can get food poisoning.

The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that each year in the United States nearly one million people become ill from eating contaminated chicken feed.

Here are some basic tips from an expert at the Poultry Nutrition Information Center:

• Wash your hands before preparing all types of food and several times during its preparation, especially if fresh and cooked foods are prepared at the same time.
• When preparing chicken and other raw foods, use separate utensils and equipment, and avoid contact between cooked and ready-to-eat foods.
• We should NEVER wash chicken meat, as this can cause, along with spilled water droplets, to contaminate the workplace.
• Cook the chicken well: Make sure the meat is well cooked on the inside or around the bones and joints.
• If you have leftover chicken from one meal and want to eat it the next time, reheat it.