One of the most controversial subjects people engage in is canned chicken. You either love it or hate it.
It’s reasonable to turn your nose up on this, for canned meats, in general, have the reputation of being overly processed and might contain other chemicals that can harm the body.
Although canned chicken may have not-so-good benefits, you can still get some health benefits.
Everyone knows how stressful and tiring it is to cook fresh chicken, especially when you are in a hurry and don’t have much time to prepare.
So, if you need a quick and easy meal, you can always turn to canned chicken recipes.
Many dishes are available to try on with canned chicken, and they only require much less of your time.
Hence, here are some crucial facts about canned chicken that you should know.
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1. It’s Fully Cooked and Ready to Eat
Like the other canned goods out there, canned chicken is completely cooked, and all you have to do is eat it as soon as you open the can.
As required by the Food and Drug Administration, all canned chicken must be cooked to a specific temperature to guarantee any dangerous pathogens are killed.
More importantly, once the chicken is canned, it creates a barrier that safeguards against bacteria and at the same time takes away the oxygen on which bacteria feeds.
It means the process of canning chicken freezes the meat before it’s ready to be eaten and before being spoiled.
Make sure you eat the whole thing when you’ve opened the can, for it won’t stay fresh for long.
2. Not All Cans Are Created Equal
Canned chicken is, of course, different from one another, depending on the brand you choose.
It might not be your first choice when craving chicken, but it can be one of your quick solutions to a last-minute meal.
There are good brands you can count on when it comes to canned chicken. Some offer tender and moist chicken and less sodium.
So, it’s up to you which one to buy. All you have to do is search for the best brands and when you’ve finally found them, stick to them.
3. It Can Last Up to 3 to 5 Years
Regular cooked chicken only lasts up to 3 to 4 days in your fridge. If you want to keep it longer, canned chicken is the better and more viable option.
As long as it’s properly sealed, it can last up to 3 to 5 years on your shelf.
Though there is an expiration date printed on the can, that normally indicates the date at which the chicken exceeds its peak quality.
After that specific date, it is still safe to eat.
However, if you notice a foul smell or see moldy, discolored chicken once you open the can, you can throw it right away regardless of the printed expiration date. It’s always best to be on the safe side rather than risk food poisoning.
4. It’s High in Sodium
It’s not surprising that canned chicken is high in sodium, as most canned goods are.
While it’s ready to eat and delicious, you wouldn’t want to eat it every single day.
With the excessive amounts of salts added to it, you can never risk your health.
Consuming too much salt not only can cause high blood pressure but even stroke or heart attack.
Better think twice about eating a lot of it regularly. And the amount of sodium in a single can ranges from 500 mg to 1000 mg. Yes, that’s a lot!
5. You Can Make Canned Chicken at Home
For your convenience, you can make your own canned chicken at home.
By eliminating the excessive processing of a store-bought can, you can preserve chicken with a little effort and in the comfort of your own home.
Follow all the canning protocols to ensure that your food is safe to eat.
Canning chicken gives you more control over the flavor of the meat.
You can also do a browning of the meat before sealing it in a can to make it more flavorful.
Additionally, you need functional and up-to-date equipment to succeed in home canning.
6. It’s Not Always a Good Alternative to Fresh Chicken
Not all the time, canned chicken is the best alternative to use in some recipes. Even if it’s non-perishable, easy to prepare, and ready to eat, it can’t still beat fresh chicken.
Some of the fresh chicken taste is removed in the canning process, and the result is either flavorless or salty chicken.
And when it’s mixed into a recipe that requires additional cooking, canned chicken usually leaks out the liquid it is soaked in.
7. The Chicken Normally Comes From Factory Farms
Since canned meat requires more processing than fresh ones, the animals are usually raised in factories where chickens are crowded and abused.
Industrial chickens are raised in terrible conditions, and many are treated with antibiotics and have infections.
And this is one of the major downsides of eating meat from a can. In addition, industrialized meat has less nutrition than fresh chicken.
They don’t provide you with omega-3 fatty acids, beta carotene, and Vitamin E, found in fresh chicken.
It’s not always rainbows and butterflies in the world of canned chicken.
Like most canned goods out there, chicken in a can is strongly processed and contains huge amounts of sodium.
Nonetheless, more brands come up with a more wholesome and free-range chicken production that leads to a better quality of this canned food these days.
Takeaway
Knowing these significant facts about canned chicken helps you become more knowledgeable about what you consume.
It’s an easy and convenient solution when you have no time to cook something for breakfast, lunch, or dinner.
Eating it once in a while is fine, but always keep in mind that consuming canned goods all the time is not good for the body.
Make sure to prepare other nutritious food and make time to cook healthy dishes for your loved ones.
