Eating Chicken Skin: The Definitive Answer to Whether It's Good or Bad
Is eating chicken skin harmful? We explain why there's a widespread belief that it's bad for our health.
One of the most common and basic foods in our diet is, without a doubt, chicken. It's one of the most consumed meats in our country for its natural properties, its mild flavor, its price... but above all, for its versatility in cooking. It can be prepared fried, stuffed, battered, roasted, grilled, baked... And all of these ways are more or less simple, which makes chicken a very common food.
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| Grilled Chicken |
However, there is a widespread belief among the population that eating chicken skin can be harmful to our health. But is there any truth to that statement? Is it harmful to us, or is it just a hoax?
Is it good to eat chicken skin?
The answer is no, with nuances that will now be explained. Eating chicken skin is safe for our bodies, as the use of hormones in raising this animal was banned more than twenty years ago. In other words, you won't die if you eat it. However, it's worth remembering that the skin is the most caloric part of the chicken, so eating it will result in more calories and more fat, which is not good for you.
Therefore, eating chicken skin is not harmful as long as it's part of a balanced diet. However, if you have heart problems, high cholesterol, or are simply trying to control your weight, it's advisable to avoid or limit your consumption. It's important to note, however, that the way you cook chicken is also a key factor when it comes to eating its skin.
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| Roasted chicken |
The best way to prevent fat from concentrating in that area is to roast it. This way, the fat is released and retains its juices. However, if you fry chicken, the opposite occurs. This way, the skin will retain its fat (and the oil used when frying it), and can even generate harmful compounds like acrimalide; therefore, it's best to remove the skin when eating fried chicken.
Finally, it's worth noting that chicken skin is the part that accumulates the most bacteria, as it's in contact with the most microorganisms. This means that, if you're going to eat the skin, it's necessary to cook it thoroughly to ensure all the bacteria are eliminated. Interestingly, unlike the skin, the least fatty parts of the chicken, and therefore the healthiest, are the tenderloins and the breast.