Chicken nugget facts for kids
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| Place of origin | United States |
|---|---|
| Created by | Robert C. Baker |
| Invented | 1950s |
| Serving temperature | Hot |
| Main ingredients | Chicken meat or plant-based ingredients |
| Ingredients generally used | Breadcrumbs or batter |
| Similar dishes | |
A chicken nugget is a popular food. It's a small piece of chicken meat. This meat is usually covered in breading or batter. Then, it's either deep-fried or baked. Chicken nuggets became popular in the 1950s. They are now a common fast food restaurant item. You can also buy them frozen to cook at home.
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How Chicken Nuggets Began
The chicken nugget was invented in the 1950s. A food science professor named Robert C. Baker from Cornell University created it. He shared his ideas as academic work, so he didn't patent them.
Professor Baker and his team called their first bite-sized chicken pieces "Chicken Crispies." They were covered in batter and deep-fried. At the time, the meat industry had two main problems. They needed a way to make ground meat stick together without a skin. They also needed a batter that would stay on the chicken when it was fried and frozen.
Baker found solutions to these problems. He discovered that coating the meat in vinegar, salt, grains, and milk powder helped it hold its shape. He also created a special batter made from egg and grain. This batter worked well for both frying and freezing. Thanks to his ideas, chicken nuggets could be made in any shape.
Dino Nuggets
Dinosaur-shaped chicken nuggets became very popular. The company Perdue Farms first trademarked them in 1991. Their popularity likely grew even more because of the successful Jurassic Park movies.
What's in a Chicken Nugget?
Chicken nuggets are often seen as a treat, but they can be high in fat. A study looked at chicken nuggets from two fast food places. It found that less than half of the nugget was actual muscle meat. The amount of fat was often the same or even more. Nuggets can also contain other parts of the chicken. This means they are not just pure chicken breast.
How Chicken Nuggets Are Made
Making chicken nuggets starts with removing the bones from the chicken. The chicken is then cut and shaped to the right size. This can be done by hand or with special machines. Sometimes, a process called grinding is used. This is when softer parts of the chicken are pushed through a mesh. This creates a meat paste, which is then shaped.
Next, the chicken pieces are put into a large spinning drum. This drum coats them evenly with batter and breading. This also adds the desired spices. After that, the pieces are fried in oil. They are cooked until the batter is firm and the outside looks golden. Finally, the nuggets are packaged, frozen, and stored. They are then ready to be shipped to stores and restaurants.
Vegan Nuggets
In recent years, vegan "chicken" nuggets have become available. These are made from plant-based ingredients. You can find them in many stores. They are often made from things like pea protein, soy protein, or wheat gluten.
Companies like Beyond Meat and Impossible Foods sell vegan chicken nuggets. Even some big fast food chains have tried them. For example, McDonald's tested vegan McNuggets made from chickpeas and potatoes in Norway. KFC also started serving vegan chicken nuggets in the U.S. in 2022.
Many young people are interested in vegan food. So, it's not surprising that vegan versions of popular childhood foods, like chicken nuggets, are becoming common.
See also
In Spanish: Nugget de pollo para niños
- Among Us chicken nugget
- Chicken fingers
- Chicken McNuggets
- Fried chicken
