Chicken nuggets are a beloved fast food for people of all ages. These tasty morsels of breaded and fried chicken are convenient, kid-friendly, and downright addictive with their crispy outside and tender, juicy meat inside. But a common question from health-conscious nugget lovers is – are bare chicken nuggets that you get from restaurants and frozen packages fully cooked already, or do they contain raw chicken? Let’s uncover the truth.
What Exactly Are Bare Chicken Nuggets?
Bare chicken nuggets refer to plain chicken nuggets without any added sauces, seasonings or toppings – just the breaded fried chicken piece. They are made from chopped and ground chicken meat, usually breast meat, combined with some salt, spices and a binder. This mixture is shaped into the familiar nugget shape, coated in a seasoned breading or batter, and then cooked.
Understanding How Chicken Nuggets Are Cooked
The cooking process is essential to answering whether bare nuggets contain raw chicken Here are the typical steps
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Pre-cooking: Many nuggets are par-cooked or par-fried before getting frozen and packaged. This means they are partially fried or baked at a lower temperature first. This pre-cooking cooks them through partially and sets the breading.
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Final cooking For frozen supermarket nuggets, you finish cooking them at home by baking, frying or air frying For restaurant nuggets, they are usually fried again at a higher temperature to make them fully cooked and crispy.
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The breading barrier: With breaded nuggets, the coating can act as a barrier that prevents heat from getting to the center easily. So they may require more time and care to ensure the inside is fully cooked.
Do Raw Chicken Nuggets Exist?
The short answer is no. All chicken nuggets, whether homemade or commercially produced, contain pre-cooked chicken meat. Raw chicken is never ground up and turned into nuggets. The chicken meat used has already been cooked first through methods like steaming, boiling or roasting to make it safe for consumption.
The Verdict: Are Bare Nuggets Fully Cooked?
The answer is yes, bare chicken nuggets you buy are fully cooked. The pre-cooking and final high-heat frying, baking or air frying ensures that chicken nuggets are cooked through fully, for both food safety and taste. The breading gets crispy and the insides tender. So it is safe to eat bare nuggets straight out of the package, box or restaurant kitchen.
However, it’s still essential we handle them properly and consume within safety guidelines, especially if reheating previously cooked frozen nuggets.
How to Tell If Your Chicken Nuggets Are Cooked Through
To double check you are eating fully cooked nuggets, look for these signs:
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Internal temperature of 165°F (74°C) or above – use a food thermometer to test doneness.
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White, opaque color – no pinkish meat visible when you cut through.
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Firm, non-squishy texture – the nugget should not be overly soft or mushy.
When in doubt, cook them a minute or two longer until you are sure the inside is piping hot and cooked through.
Are There Any Risks of Undercooked Nuggets?
Eating raw or severely undercooked chicken poses risks of salmonella, E.coli and other foodborne illnesses. However, since nuggets are always pre-cooked first, the risks of getting sick are very low as long as you handle them properly after purchase. Just make sure to:
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Cook frozen nuggets according to package directions.
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Reheat leftover nuggets thoroughly until hot.
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Store nuggets correctly – keep refrigerated for up to 3 days, or freeze for longer durations.
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Discard if they have an off smell, color or texture.
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Avoid cross-contamination by separating raw meats from ready-to-eat foods.
By taking basic food safety precautions, you can enjoy your nuggets without worry!
Can You Reheat Previously Cooked Chicken Nuggets?
Absolutely! There is no harm in reheating fully cooked frozen or leftover nuggets. In fact, a hot and crispy just-cooked nugget tastes even better. You can reheat nuggets by:
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Baking in a 400°F oven for 10-15 minutes
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Microwaving for 20-30 seconds on high
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Pan/air frying for 2-5 minutes, flipping halfway
Just ensure they are heated through fully until steaming hot, about 165°F. Avoid microwaving in the foil tray packaging due to fire risks.
Are Frozen Nuggets Also Fully Cooked?
Frozen chicken nuggets from the supermarket are fully cooked before freezing. The packaging should indicate if they are ready-to-cook or ready-to-eat. Follow package heating instructions carefully and always check for doneness.
Some extra tips for frozen nuggets:
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Don’t eat directly from frozen – cook first until hot.
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Defrost first for more even cooking results.
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Adjust cooking times as needed if oven cooking.
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Use a thermometer and visually check they are cooked through fully with no cold spots.
How Should You Cook Nuggets at Home?
To cook homemade nuggets or any uncooked breaded chicken pieces, aim for an internal temperature of 165°F. Here are some methods:
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Oven baking: Bake at 425°F for 15-18 minutes on a greased sheet.
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Pan/air frying: Fry for 6-8 minutes, flipping occasionally, at 375°F.
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Deep frying: Fry for 5-7 minutes in oil heated to 350-375°F.
Breading can make nuggets cook unevenly, so use a thermometer and cut one open to double check doneness. Cook longer if needed to ensure the center is fully cooked.
Can Kids and Adults Alike Enjoy Nuggets Safely?
Absolutely! Chicken nuggets make a quick, protein-packed meal for kids of all ages when handled properly. For kids under age four, be extra careful with the choking hazards of hard nugget shapes. Cut into halves or strips for toddlers.
For adults, enjoy nuggets as an occasional fast food treat. Opt for baked or air fried at home for a healthier take. Nuggets can fit into a balanced diet when eaten in moderation alongside veggies and whole grains.
So go ahead – dig into those golden nuggets without fear! Just follow basic food safety practices, and you can feel confident that your chicken nuggets are fully cooked and ready to enjoy.
Air Fryer Just Bare Chicken Nuggets
- 12 oz Just Bare Frozen Chicken Nuggets about 20 pieces
- 1/4 cup Sour Cream
- 1/4 cup Buffalo Sauce
- Preheat your air fryer to 420F.
- Lightly spray the chicken nuggets with Pam.
- Place the nuggets in the air fryer and heat for 6 minutes.
- Flip the nuggets over and cook for another 6 minutes until an internal temperature of 165F is reached.
- Serve the nuggets with sour cream and Buffalo sauce.
The breading turned a crispy golden brown and looked delicious! Every time we have made these we have been delighted at how well they tasted. There is a perfect balance of meat to breading, the pieces are a nice size and the flavors are just a little salty, savory and slightly sweet.
We picked up on some tangy flavor notes that made it seem like the chicken had been marinated in buttermilk or pickle juice? And yes, these nuggets taste just like the ones from Chick-fil-A!
We have eaten these with Primal Kitchen’s No Dairy Buffalo Sauce (amazing) and the Primal Kitchen Mango Jalapeno BBQ Sauce (really good)!
These chicken breast chunks are a serious step up from mystery meat “chicken nuggets”.
Easy to prepare, relatively healthy and quite tasty is a great combination.
Nutrition, Ingredients and Labelling
Let’s take a closer look at what you get with this massive bag of boneless chicken breast chunks!
One bag of the Costco chicken nuggets has four pounds of product with a serving size of 3 ounces. The nutrition facts for a single serving are:
- Calories: 160
- Fat: 6g (8% DV)
- Cholesterol: 50mg (16% DV)
- Sodium: 540mg (23% DV)
- Carbohydrates: 9g (3% DV)
- Protein: 16g
All told these chicken nuggets are not that bad for you! They are a little high in sodium but are otherwise low in fat, carbs and cholesterol.
I weighed out some nuggets and found, on average, that it took about 5 nuggets to make a 3 ounce serving. This means that a single nugget should have the following calories and nutrition:
- Calories: (160/5) = 32
- Fat: (6/5) = 1.2g
- Cholesterol: (50/5) = 10mg
- Sodium: (540/5) = 108mg
- Carbohydrates: (9/5) = 1.8g
- Protein: (16/5) = 3.2g
These chunks are not uniform in size so there will be differences in calories between them but this should get you into the right ballpark.
The Chicken Chunks have the following ingredients:
- Chicken Breast
- Water
- “Seasoning” (Sugar, Salt, “Spices”)
- Rice Starch
- Breading
- Wheat flour
- Sugar
- Salt
- Dry Milk
- Dried Egg Whites
- Baking Powder
- “Spice”
- Paprika
- Vegetable oil
I am not crazy about the fact that one of the primary ingredients is a generic term called “Seasoning” that, when described more fully, includes the generic term “Spices”. Come on guys…either tell us what is in here or don’t pretend that you are giving us information.
The labelling indicates that this product is:
- Fully Cooked
- Made from chicken with no added hormones, antibiotics or steroids.
- Sold in a resealable bag.
I appreciate that they let us know that the chickens do not receive antibiotics but am annoyed at the “no hormone”. Federal law prohibits the use of hormone addition so essentially we get a marketing claim of, “We followed the Law.”
The resealable bag claim is accurate but was useless for me. I assumed that the seal was a reclose able strip on the top of the bag like 95% of resealable packages.
After I opened the package, by cutting it open at the top, I realized that the resealable packaging requires you to pull the bag open from a tab at the front of the bag. Oh well, looks like I will be using a Chip Clip to keep these fresh!
The chicken is already fully cooked but you want to heat it through to an internal temperature of 165F. The package provides three sets of cooking instruction: Air Fry, Oven, Microwave.
We found the Air Fry method to be the fastest and also produces the best crunch but had to modify the instructions.
- Preheat air fryer to 350°F.
- Place frozen chicken pieces in basket in a single layer.
- Air fry for 8 minutes.
- NOTE: We heated the chicken chunks up in my Ninja Foodi Air Fryer for 12 minutes at 420F. This is longer than the package directions but is what works in our air fryer.
- Preheat oven to 375°F.
- Place frozen chicken pieces in a single layer on an ungreased baking pan.
- Bake uncovered for 23 minutes.
- Place frozen chicken pieces in a single layer on a microwave safe dish.
- Microwave on high for 2.5 minutes.
Costco Has A Chicken Nugget Secret! Just Bare vs Kirkland #shorts
FAQ
Are bare chicken nuggets pre-cooked?
Yes, Just Bare chicken nuggets, including their breast bites and strips, are fully cooked.
Is just bare chicken precooked?
Yes, Just Bare chicken products, like their lightly breaded chicken breast bites and strips, are fully cooked.
What temperature are bare chicken nuggets done?
Place frozen chicken pieces in a single layer on a microwavable safe dish. 2. Microwave on high for 2.5 minutes. Continue to heat chicken until a meat thermometer portion of the product reads 165 degrees F.
Where can I buy Just Bare Chicken Nuggets?
Just Bare is a globally famous brand known for its high-quality chicken, which contains no harmful ingredients and no antibiotics. You can find Just Bare Chicken Nuggets in any Costco store. They come in frozen packaging.
Are bare chicken nuggets healthy?
Just Bare Chicken Nuggets are not only tasty but also healthier due to the quality ingredients used in their production. They are made from chicken that is cage-free, hormone-free, and antibiotic-free. This commitment to quality ensures you’re feeding yourself and your family a nutritious meal without compromising on taste.
Are Costco bare chicken nuggets good?
Costco’s bare chicken nuggets have good ingredients in their chicken chunks, except for the high sodium content (540 mg, or 23% of your daily recommended value). One serving of 3 oz may not be enough to fill you or a 3-year-old child.
Are chicken nuggets easy to make?
Chicken nuggets are easy enough to make from scratch, but this bag of bite-sized breaded chicken is for nights when dinner needs a jumpstart. These nuggets are made with lean chicken breast meat from antibiotic-free animals.
Are chicken nuggets mostly chicken meat?
Contrary to popular belief, chicken nuggets are not entirely made of chicken meat. In fact, only about half their content is really chicken meat. The rest contains over 3 dozen additives and fillers, including aluminum sulfate, as reported by various media studies.
What to eat with chicken nuggets?
Just Bare Chicken Nuggets are versatile and pair well with a variety of side dishes and dips. Classic options include French fries, sweet potato fries, or a fresh salad to add some greens to your meal. You can also serve them with a side of roasted vegetables for a healthier approach.