Can I Eat Black Chicken Meat?

In this brief guide, we’ll address the search query: “Can I eat black chicken meat?” Also, we’ll address what black chicken meat is, how it should be stored, how it should be cooked, what the nutritional content of chicken meat is, and what are the health benefits of eating chicken.

Can I eat black chicken meat?

Yes, meat sourced from black chickens is safe to eat. While it may be unusual in western cultures, black chickens can be found in southeast Asian countries, as well as China and India.

Other than its characteristic coloring, it remains poultry meat and differs little from other chicken meats.

However, some authors maintain that this poultry may have a different flavor when stacked up against factory-farmed fowl, as these chickens are allowed to forage freely, and on occasion are even regarded as pet quality birds.

Their taste is allegedly more rustic and savory, as their diet is more varied.

What is black chicken meat?

Black chicken meat is sourced from chickens that present hyperpigmentation; a genetic mutation that results in their cells producing a dark pigmentation that extends to their organs, skin, and flesh.

Black meat can be sourced from four different chicken breeds: the silkie breed, the Swedish Svarthöna, the black H’Mong from Vietnam, and the Indonesian Ayam Cemani.

According to a professor from the University of Uppsala in Sweden, this mutation can be traced to a single individual who presented it as a novel gene.

At a genetic level, this mutation results in chickens having a gene that tells their cells to produce copious amounts of pigment, without distinguishing the type of cells, or their function. As a result, these chickens also have black organs and innards.

Despite the peculiar nature of the mutation, black chickens remain edible, and additionally, they’re prized for their appearance and kept as pets and exhibition animals.

How should I store black chicken meat?

Black chicken meat should be stored the same as any other type of poultry. Readers should anticipate within what timeframe they’ll consume the meat, and decide whether refrigeration or freezing is more convenient for their needs.

In refrigeration, chicken meat can keep for up to four days, whereas frozen, it can be preserved for up to one year.

Cooked chicken can remain frozen for up to four months, and in refrigeration, it can be stored in the fridge for up to four days.

Raw chicken that has been left to sit out at room temperature for more than an hour should be discarded, as the naturally present microbes in the flesh will have flourished and may trigger symptoms of food poisoning.

Cooked chicken should be stored either in refrigeration or by freezing before it has been left out for more than two hours, for the same reason. Microbes that cause spoilage may have found their way onto the meat and begun to multiply.

How should I cook black chicken meat?

Cooking black chicken meat can be done in a wide variety of ways, the only rule being that the meat reaches an internal temperature of 165°F (74°C), for at least ten minutes.

However, the cooking temperature may increase if the chicken is whole, and it may decrease if the meat has been cut into smaller portions such as breasts, thighs, and drumsticks.

Black chicken meat can be cooked in every way that normal chicken can be prepared; it can be roasted, stewed, baked, deep fried, sautéed, grilled, etc.

We encourage our readers to consult the many available recipes, to find one that suits their taste.

What is the nutritional content of chicken?

The exact nutritional content of chicken meat will depend on the animal it has been sourced from, its diet, and its physique. For reference, a 3-ounce (85-gram) portion of chicken meat will supply:

187 calories – of which 100 are sourced from fat
20 grams of protein
11 grams of fat (17% of the RDI) – of which 3.1 grams are saturated (16% of the RDI), 2.4 grams are polyunsaturated, and 4.4 grams are monounsaturated
0 grams of carbohydrates
60 milligrams of sodium (3% of the RDI)
80 milligrams of cholesterol (27% of the RDI)
173 milligrams of potassium (5% of the RDI)

Additionally, the same portion of chicken will provide 10% of the RDI of vitamin A, 0.6% of vitamin C, 0.8% of calcium, and 7.6% of iron.

*Recommended daily intake values are calculated based on a diet of 2000 calories per day.

What are the health benefits of eating chicken?

Chicken can provide many health benefits; it’s a good source of protein, and iron and most of its calories are sourced from fat, which makes it ideal for weight loss dietings such as Keto and Atkins.

Its protein content can help you maintain healthy muscle mass levels, and optimal immune function, and help you recover faster from injuries.

However, despite these benefits, chicken should be avoided if it is processed or prepared with copious amounts of fat (such as deep-frying).

Excessive fat consumption is associated with an increased risk of heart failure, circulatory problems, and other disorders.

Processed meats are high in sodium, which is associated with heart disease, high blood pressure, kidney disease, an increased risk of stomach cancer, and other disorders.

We encourage our readers to be mindful of their caloric needs and intake and to always opt for meals that provide more benefits than detrimental effects.

Conclusion

In this brief guide, we’ve addressed the search query: “Can I eat black chicken meat?” Also, we’ve addressed what black chicken meat is, how it should be stored, how it should be cooked, what the nutritional content of chicken meat is, and what are the health benefits of eating chicken.