Types of Chicken Cuts You See on Menus, Explained

Almost everyone loves chicken dishes, whether they feature the eggs or the meat. Both can serve as the base for a wide range of recipes. The meat in particular can be prepared with several techniques, including steaming, frying, grilling, boiling and roasting.

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Special techniques are needed not only for cooking chicken but also for cutting it, because the way a chicken is cut depends on the dish being prepared. There are many types of chicken cuts that will broaden your culinary knowledge. Here are the types of chicken cuts and what each one is used for.

Chicken leg

The chicken leg cut is usually used for braised dishes and casseroles. Its defining feature is that the chicken is cut into 4 main pieces.

Drumstick

The drumstick cut is usually used for grilled or fried chicken. One reason chicken is cut into drumsticks is so the seasoning soaks in better before cooking. Its defining feature is that the lower thigh is cut away from the rest of the bird.

8-piece

This cut is widely used by chicken sellers, because each of the pieces can be used as the base for a different dish. Specifically, it consists of 2 thighs, 2 breasts, 2 wings and 2 back pieces.

Chicken breast

The next type of chicken cut is the chicken breast. This cut is divided into four pieces that combine the breast and the wing. It is generally used for dishes such as casseroles, stewing and roasting.

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Chicken breast fillet

This cut is ideal for curries and Asian-style dishes. The most distinctive feature of the chicken breast fillet is that it is boneless breast meat, so you can eat every part of it.

Chicken Escalope

The chicken escalope cut is already very popular, because the chicken escalope is commonly used for breaded fried chicken. It is also relatively easy to prepare: the chicken is simply coated in breadcrumbs and pan-fried in a little oil.

Chicken liver

Next on the list of chicken cuts is chicken liver. As the name suggests, this cut consists mainly of the chicken's liver. In Western cooking, chicken liver is often used as a stuffing for roast chicken. It can also be turned into an appetizer in the form of pâté.

Chicken wing

Almost every part of the chicken can be served, and the wings are no exception. They are usually cut into chicken wings. Chicken wings can be used in many kinds of dishes, whether grilled, fried or roasted. Before grilling, though, the wings are usually marinated in balsamic vinegar or honey first.

Giblets

Some people consider offal to be waste that is not fit to eat. Others, however, love offal and cook it as food. Giblets is the cut that groups the offal together, such as the gizzard, heart and liver, along with the neck.

You have probably seen the chicken cuts above on restaurant menus many times. As it turns out, many restaurant chicken dishes are named after the type of cut they use. Now that you know the different types of chicken cuts and what they are used for, you can order the best dish at a restaurant without worrying about choosing wrong.

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