When humans discovered fire, not only do they found the sources of light, heat and protection, but also the means to cook and safely consume food. Fast forward through time, someone might also discover food taste good when boiled in oil. And maybe it would taste better if that food is made of CHICKEN!
Fried chicken is one of the favourite food for many of us. It is good for the soul, bad for the health. But why are we so attracted to these poultries cooked in boiling oil? Its probably because of the crispiness when we bite the fried chicken’s skin. The sound of its crunchiness that gives us the sense that the food is fresh. Although the skin is crispy, the process of frying maintains the meat's tenderness, holding any juices within. So each bite releases that wonderful jus into our mouth.
Recently, KFC Japan has posted a guide on how to eat fried chicken. Their post described each of the chicken parts as having its own taste and texture, and there are ways of eating them.
Fried chicken is usually chopped into nine pieces:
1. Breast
Image source via KFC Japan
This area is the meatiest and the meat texture are soft and have a light taste. By grabbing the breast part with both hands, firmly locate two small bones, the chicken’s wishbone on the meat's left and right. Then divide the meat from the chicken’s cartilage in the middle. The soft bone of the breast can be eaten.
2. Wings
Image source via KFC Japan
They are fatty and also rich in both collagen and flavour. With one hand on the drumette and another hand on the wingette, twist the wings to separate them both. Loosen the joint between the wingette and the tip, so you can easily pull out the bones inside the wingette.
3. Thighs
Image source via KFC Japan
The dark meat of the thigh is more tender. Tilt the meat until it reaches its triangle side. Firmly locate the thigh’s bone and pull it out. With the thigh’s bone out, it is easier to eat any meat left.
4. Drumsticks
Image source via KFC Japan
Other than being tender, this part contains a lot of iron and has rich tastes. Drumstick is easy to hold. Using both hands, hold onto each end of the drumstick. Rotate the drumstick while you eat it. Each end of the drumstick has soft bone joints which you can also eat.
5. Ribs
Image source via KFC Japan
This bone area is rich in ‘umami’ flavour. The meat is found on one side, use your thumb to slide the meat out. Once done with the meat, you can suck on the rib’s bones because they are delicious.
Pretty sure we all have our own preferred way on how to eat fried chicken. Some of us eat them with our fingers, while some eat with cutleries. But regardless of the method, as long as we agree on our love for fried chicken.
Image source via Tenor
So now you know how does fried chicken taste like and how to eat them. Check out these random bits of knowledge so you can insert your dominances among your group of friends when discussing fried chicken.
Scottish Are Believed To Be The First To Fried Chicken
While the rest of the world still cook their chicken either with boiling or roasting, Scotland has already been frying their chicken. During their migration into America, the Scottish brought along together their fried chicken recipes. In the Southern part of the United States, their recipes have mixed up with the locals. Thus the Southern battered fried chicken is born. This inspired Colonel Sanders to cooked his famous fried chicken. Speaking of which,
Colonel Sanders Kentucky Fried Chicken Long Path To Success
Image source via HowStuffWorks
You might know the man with the white hair and eyeglasses. What makes Colonel Sanders fried chicken different from the other competitors, apart from his well-guarded 11 secret ingredients, is how he cooks them. By using the pressure cooker, he can fry the chicken faster. Colonel Sanders story to success is a long one. It was only when Colonel Sanders is 65 years old; his hard work finally pays out. Today, Colonel Sanders success can be seen with 18,000 over KFC franchises opened in 115 countries.
Asia Has Come Up With Their Own Iconic Fried Chicken
Ayam Grepek (left), Yangnyeom chicken (right) Image source via Kompas.com/Wikipedia
If the Southern has its famous battered fried chicken, so does Indonesia, and it’s called ‘Ayam Geprek’. Imagine a crispier version of another local dish, Ayam Penyet. Both are crushed chicken, top with spicy sambal and are usually served together with rice. Meanwhile, in Korea, they have Yangnyeom chicken. What makes this Korean dish well known is that the fried chicken is coated in the thick sauce. They can be spicy and are usually serve as a side dish.
Why did I think these were fried chicken?
It is amazing to think that, fried chicken is so simple, its just a poultry dip inside the hot oil, yet it is very delicious food. It shares with various cultures throughout history. Not to forget, fried chicken also inspire one of the biggest food franchises empires in the world. Regardless of our nationality, we all can agree that fried chicken is the best soul food on Earth. STAY SAFE!!!
