Chicken tenders are a popular staple that offers endless possibilities for quick and easy meals. But figuring out exactly how much chicken you’re working with can be tricky. In this complete guide, we’ll break down everything you need to know about chicken tender sizes and weights.
What is a Chicken Tender?
A chicken tender, also known as a chicken tenderloin or chicken strip, refers to a specific cut of meat from the chicken breast. It is the pectoralis minor muscle located right under the breast.
Chicken tenders are naturally smaller, more narrow, and tender than chicken breast slices. Their elongated, strip-like shape makes them perfect for breading, frying, grilling, and any application where you want boneless, uniform pieces of chicken
Average Weight of a Chicken Tender
The average weight of a single cooked chicken tender falls between 15 and 25 ounces (42-71 grams). However, this range can vary pretty widely based on a few key factors
- Size and source of the chicken
- Exact cut of the meat
- Preparation method
- Whether it’s homemade or from a restaurant
To better understand the potential fluctuations, let’s explore what impacts the final weight.
What Impacts the Weight of a Chicken Tender?
Size and Cut of the Chicken
The single biggest factor is the size of the chicken itself. Larger chickens naturally produce larger tenders.
The specific cut and portioning also play a role. Some suppliers may include more breast meat when trimming tenders, rather than isolating just the tenderloin muscle. More breast meat equals more weight.
Preparation Method
-
Raw vs Cooked A raw tender will weigh 20-25% more than after cooking due to moisture loss
-
Breading: Heavily breaded, fried tenders can weigh 100% or more than an unbreaded, grilled tender. Thick breading adds ounces quickly.
-
Cooking Method: Frying adds oil weight while grilling or baking leads to moisture evaporation and slightly lighter meat.
Homemade vs. Store-bought
-
Restaurant tenders are often larger and pre-portioned for consistency. Special processing can alter the natural weight.
-
Home-cooked tenders allow for control over ingredient portions but lead to greater variability in sizing and weight.
How Many Ounces in a Pound of Chicken Tenders?
As a very rough estimate, one pound of chicken tenders includes approximately 5 to 8 individual tenders, assuming an average cooked weight of 2 ounces per tender.
However, this number can range from as few as 3 up to 10+ tenders per pound depending on their exact size and thickness of breading. Wider variability should be expected.
Common Questions About Chicken Tender Weights
How much do raw chicken tenders weigh?
Raw tenders weigh 2-3.5 ounces (57-99g) on average. Remember to account for a 20-25% weight reduction after cooking.
How many calories are in a chicken tender?
Calories vary greatly. A plain grilled tender may have 80-100 calories while a breaded, fried tender can reach 200-300+ calories.
What is the difference between a chicken tender and a chicken strip?
A tender refers to the specific pectoralis minor muscle while a strip is a slice from the larger breast. Tenders are naturally smaller and more tender.
Does the chicken breed affect tender weight?
Slightly. Larger broiler chickens bred for meat tend to produce heavier tenders compared to smaller heritage or egg-laying breeds. But it’s a minor factor compared to the chicken’s overall size.
Should I weigh tenders before or after cooking?
For the most accurate calorie count, weigh tenders before and after cooking. This accounts for moisture and oil weight changes. Use cooked weight for calories.
Does freezing affect the weight of chicken tenders?
Generally no, assuming no added water or ingredients. Check the label of frozen tenders for any water or filler content that may increase initial weight.
Which preparation method is healthiest?
Grilling or baking without breading is healthiest. This minimizes added fat and calories without sacrificing flavor. Consider herbs and spices over salty seasonings.
How does cooking time impact tender weight?
The longer the cooking time, the more moisture loss occurs, resulting in lower final weight. Avoid overcooking to prevent excessive drying.
How to Accurately Weigh Chicken Tenders
If you want to dial in the exact weight of your chicken tenders for portioning or calorie counting, here are some tips:
-
Invest in a digital kitchen scale for the most precise measurements
-
Weigh tenders prior to any breading or seasoning
-
Weigh again after cooking to account for moisture changes
-
Refer to cooked weight for calorie counts whenever possible
-
Understand restaurant tenders may differ from homemade
-
Buy tenders individually rather than in packs to better control sizing
-
Adjust portion sizes or counts as needed if tenders are smaller or larger than average
-
Aim for an internal temperature of 165°F (74°C) when cooking for ideal texture
The Takeaway on Chicken Tender Weights
While an average chicken tender weighs around 1.5 to 2.5 ounces cooked, a wide range of factors from the chicken size to cooking method can dramatically impact the final weight. For cooking, rely on visual cues like color rather than weight. For nutrition tracking, consider weighing tenders before and after cooking for maximum accuracy.
Understanding the potential variations is key. With a few simple tips, you can better gauge portion sizes, calorie counts, and the number of tenders per pound. Armed with the knowledge of what impacts tender weights, you can perfectly tailor your recipes and meals to satisfy any craving.
Breaded Chicken Tenders 30 oz. Bag
Our 100% whole breast meat chicken tenders are perfect for an easy dinner, appetizers or a healthy after-school snack. It’s the natural tender portion, not mechanically chopped or separated meat, lightly breaded for great taste. They are now available in this convenient and resealable 30 oz. bag!
- No Hexane Most poultry producers use hexane-processed soybeans as a cheap source of chicken feed. But hexane pollutes the air and environment. We keep chemicals out of our feed.
- No DDGS DDGS is a protein alternative producers can get at a lower cost than corn. Antibiotics are used to control bacteria in the fermentation process. Some antibiotics remain in the DDGS. We use only corn and soybeans for protein. Period.
- 100% Air Chilled Our air chill method eliminates the need for chilled chlorinated water that most producers use, which ends up in your chicken.
- No Hormones This product is free from artificial growth hormones.
- No Junk This product is made with no fillers, no preservatives and no artificial flavors—in other words, no junk.
- No Antibiotics Bell & Evans is the first company to raise 100% of our flocks without antibiotics—from the egg throughout the chicken’s entire lifespan.
- Time Saver
Chicken breast meat tenders. Marinated in water and sea salt. Breaded in unbleached wheat flour, water, cane sugar, dried yeast, sea salt, black pepper, paprika.
Flash fried in organic expeller pressed soybean oil to set breading.
ALLERGEN INFORMATION: Contains wheat.
Our Breaded Tenders are uncooked, so that way they are only cooked once- in your home. No dry chicken tenders here!
For safety, this product must be cooked to an internal temperature of 170°F as measured by the use of a meat thermometer. Cooking times may vary.
Bake: Preheat oven to 375°F. Spread frozen tenders on a baking sheet and bake for 25-30 minutes.
Pan Fry: Heat vegetable oil (1/8″) in skillet until hot. Fry tenders in the hot oil over medium heat 10-12 minutes, turning over after 5-6 minutes. Tenders should be golden brown on both sides.
Air Fryer: Cook frozen tenders for approximately 15 minutes at 400°F, flipping each tender and rotating racks (if applicable) after 8 minutes.