How many ounces are in a chicken breast?
In this brief guide, we’ll address the search query: “How many ounces are in a chicken breast?” Also, we’ll explore what a chicken breast is, how a chicken breast can be cooked, what the nutritional content of a chicken breast is, and what are the health benefits of eating chicken breasts.
How many ounces are in a chicken breast?
On average a chicken breast can weigh about six ounces (roughly 174 grams), though this can vary between chickens.
The weight of a chicken’s breast will depend on the chicken which it is sourced from.
If it is sourced from a factory-farmed hen, or a homegrown chicken, will affect the weight and other traits of the chicken breast.
Smaller, more tender chicken breasts (of about 4 ounces) may be found in dishes, whereas larger ones (between 8 to 10 ounces) may also be procured from butcher shops and convenience stores.
Ultimately, the exact weight will depend on the animal it’s extracted from, and retailers will charge a price that can be correlated to the size of the cut, and the quality of the meat.
What is a chicken breast?
A chicken breast is a cut of meat that as its name indicates, is cut from the pectoral muscle, that is attached to the outside of the sternum (chest bone).
In birds, this muscle is more developed, as it is attached to the wings, whose movement is capable of achieving liftoff from the ground when they fly.
This cut of meat is lean, and readers can request for it to be packaged with or without the sternum, depending on their preference, and the dish they have a mind to cook.
It is a leaner cut than meat found in a chicken’s thighs or legs, and as a result, has fewer calories, pound for pound.
How can a chicken breast be cooked?
Chicken breasts can be cooked in many ways. They can be roasted, stuffed, and baked, they can be pulled to make stews and broths with vegetables, they can be boiled and then eaten with sauces and glazings, and they can be carefully carved and extended on a skillet like steaks, or they can be breaded and fried.
Alternatively, chicken breasts can be cut from the chicken’s sternum, and their meat can be ground to make patties and other dishes with the ground meat.
There are many options for our readers to choose from, and we encourage them to consult the many available recipes, as they’re sure to find something that appeals to their taste.
What is the nutritional content of a chicken breast?
The exact nutritional content of a chicken breast may vary between sources, and what diet that animal has been brought up with. Also, a skinless chicken breast is leaner than its counterpart.
For reference, a 120-gram portion of chicken breast can provide:
- 198 calories – of which 39 are sourced from fat
- 37 grams of protein
- 4.3 grams of fat (7% of the recommended daily intake) –of which 1.2 grams are saturated fat (6% of the RDI), 0.9 grams are polyunsaturated fat, and 1.5 grams are monounsaturated fat.
- 0 grams of carbohydrates
- 102 milligrams of cholesterol (34% of the RDI)
- 89 milligrams of sodium (4% of the RDI)
- 307 milligrams of potassium (9% of the RDI)
Additionally, the same portion of chicken breast can provide 0.5% of the RDI of vitamin A, 1.4% of calcium, and 6.9% of iron.
*Recommended daily intake values are based on a diet of 2000 calories per day. An individual’s exact needs may differ. We encourage our readers to consult with a nutritionist to ascertain what their precise needs are.
What are the health benefits of eating chicken breasts?
Eating chicken breasts has many health benefits, such as being a source of protein, vitamins such as B, and D, some in trace amounts such as vitamins A and C, and containing elements such as zinc and iron.
Protein is essential for maintaining a healthy muscle mass, proper immune function, and various other processes at a cellular level.
Zinc is essential for cell division, growth, development, immune function, and the proper functioning of various enzymes.
Iron is essential as our blood cells use it to transport oxygen throughout our bodies and tissues, allowing for cellular respiration.
However, despite these benefits, some presentations that include chicken breasts may not be so healthy. These include deep-fried dishes and those that are packed with sodium, and/or processed.
We encourage our readers to be mindful of their daily calorie intake and to avoid excessive consumption of processed foods, foods rich in saturated fat, and high in sodium.
Conclusion
In this brief guide, we’ve addressed the search query: “How many ounces are in a chicken breast?” Also, we’ve explored what a chicken breast is, how a chicken breast can be cooked, what the nutritional content of a chicken breast is, and what are the health benefits of eating chicken breasts.
References
https://www.nutritionix.com/food/chicken-breast
https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/326767
https://www.webmd.com/diet/ss/slideshow-too-much-salt
