Air chilled chicken breasts are becoming increasingly popular in grocery stores and restaurants. But what exactly does “air chilled” mean? How are these chicken breasts different from conventional chicken? This article will explain everything you need to know about air chilled chicken breasts.
How Are Air Chilled Chicken Breasts Processed?
The main difference between air chilled chicken breasts and regular chicken breasts is the cooling method used after slaughter. Conventional chicken is submerged in cold water baths to quickly lower the temperature This water-chilling process causes the chicken to absorb extra water, diluting flavor.
Air chilled chicken is cooled by hanging the freshly slaughtered birds in a cold room with powerful fans circulating cold air. This air chilling process takes more time, about 3 hours compared to less than an hour for water chilling. But the benefit is chicken with better flavor that hasn’t been diluted by excess water absorption.
Why Should You Buy Air Chilled Chicken Breasts?
Here are the main reasons to choose air chilled chicken breasts:
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More intense chicken flavor – Since the chicken doesn’t absorb extra water during processing, the flavor is more concentrated and chicken-y. The texture is also firmer.
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Crispier skin – The lack of excess moisture helps air chilled chicken get deliciously crispy skin when cooked Especially great for roasting a whole chicken,
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No risk of contaminated chiller water – With water chilling there is a slight risk of bacteria contamination from the water source.
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Humane treatment – Most air chilled chicken brands pride themselves on humane treatment of chickens with no antibiotics or hormones.
So for the chicken lover who wants juicy, flavorful meat with crispy seasoned skin, air chilled is the way to go. The premium quality does come with a slightly higher price tag, but it’s worth it!
Where Can You Buy Air Chilled Chicken Breasts?
A decade ago, it was hard to find air chilled chicken. But now, many mainstream grocery stores carry at least one brand of air chilled chicken, typically the more premium selections like Whole Foods 365 Organic.
Here are some of the most common air chilled chicken brands to look out for:
- Bell & Evans
- Mary’s Free Range Chicken
- Smart Chicken
- Kirkland Organic (at Costco)
- Whole Foods 365 Organic
- Pilgrim’s Pride Air Chilled Organic Chicken
- Perdue Harvestland Organic Chicken
The best place to find a wide selection is specialty grocers like Whole Foods or Sprouts Farmers Market. Prices may be $1-3 higher per pound compared to conventional chicken. But look at cost per edible weight since air chilled chicken isn’t inflated with extra water.
You can buy air chilled chicken in all the usual cuts like bone-in breasts, tenderloins, thighs, drumsticks, wings, and whole chickens. It’s also sold ground into chicken patties, tenders, and sausage.
How to Cook Air Chilled Chicken Breasts
The great flavor and moisture content of air chilled chicken breasts make them perfect for all kinds of home cooking methods including baking, pan frying, grilling, sautéing, and more.
Try cooking air chilled chicken breasts in one of these tasty ways:
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Pan roasted – Pat the chicken dry and sear skin-side down in an oiled skillet until golden. Flip to finish cooking through.
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Herb crusted – Coat chicken all over with a layer of pesto, herb blend, or mustard before baking. The flavors really pop.
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Marinated and grilled – Soak chicken in a yogurt, spice, and citrus marinade before grilling until charred and cooked through.
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Breaded and baked – For easy chicken parm or tenders, coat in breadcrumbs and bake on a sheet pan until crispy.
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Simmered in soup – Dice or shred chicken and add to soups and stews for extra protein.
For food safety, always cook air chilled chicken to an internal temperature of 165°F. The naturally juicy texture means it’s hard to overcook.
Is Air Chilled Chicken Worth the Cost?
While air chilled chicken breasts cost a bit more than regular chicken, the benefits of better flavor, guaranteed crispy skin, and humane sourcing make it worthwhile for many shoppers. Think of it as treating yourself to a premium protein a few times a month.
For chicken lovers who care about quality and want the very best flavor and texture, air chilled is absolutely worth the minor uptick in price. You’ll never go back to bland water chilled chicken after tasting the air chilled difference.
So next time you’re browsing the poultry section, keep an eye out for air chilled organic chicken. Your homemade meals will benefit from the concentrated fresh chicken essence. Air chilling brings out the very best qualities in chicken.
What Makes Our Chicken Different
Air-chilled chicken is available in our Meat department year-round. We offer whole chickens, along with breast, thighs, wings and drumsticks from birds raised to our Quality Standards for meat:
- No antibiotics, ever and no added hormones.*
- No animal byproducts in feed
- No physical alterations
- Appropriate litter provided for comfort and to satisfy foraging instincts
- Animal Welfare Certified
Simply look for “air-chilled” on the label or ask a team member in the Meat department at your Whole Foods Market store for assistance.
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- Everything You Need to Know About Our Air-Chilled Chicken
It’s juicier than your average bird — and you can find it in our Meat department.
What’s the key to tastier chicken? Keep it chill — specifically, air-chilled. Perhaps you’ve heard of air-chilled chicken or seen it in our stores. If you crave a juicy bird with extra-crispy skin, then you’ll want to give it a try. And theres no antibiotics, ever, as with everything in our Meat department.
As part of processing chicken, the birds have to be cooled to a certain temperature to ensure food safety. This can be done in one of two ways: immersion in cold water or air-chilling. The most popular method in the U.S. has been to water-chill birds. However, a handful of chicken processors have embraced the air-chilled method, which has been used in Europe for more than 40 years.
During air-chilling, each bird is individually chilled over the course of about three hours. Birds are moved into carefully monitored temperature-controlled chambers where purified air cools them. The air-chilling process results in several standout benefits — namely great-tasting chicken. It produces tender, succulent meat and keeps the flavor intact. Some say air-chilling is the key to the making the perfect roast chicken with extra-crispy skin.
What is Air-Chilled Chicken and Why You Should Try It
FAQ
What is the difference between air-chilled chicken and regular chicken?
The main difference between air-chilled and water-chilled chicken lies in the chilling process after slaughter. Air-chilling uses cold, purified air to cool the chicken, while water-chilling immerses the chicken in cold water.
What’s the big deal about air-chilled chicken?
The air-chilling process results in several standout benefits — namely great-tasting chicken. It produces tender, succulent meat and keeps the flavor intact.
Does air-chilled mean frozen?
Air chilling is a processing method where chickens are cooled with purified cold air—these chickens simply taste better. They aren’t exposed to any chemicals, nor do they come into contact with treated water or solutions. No excess water is absorbed.