Are chicken wings white or dark meat? A heated debate has been going on for a long about this issue. According to some, wings are a part of a chicken’s breast, and therefore, they are technically white. Others argue that the high fat content and the darker color of chicken wings make their meat dark.
So, are chicken wings white meat or dark meat? This question is difficult to answer. They offer something of both worlds. For example, they have a mild flavor and lighter color such as chicken breast. On the other hand, they are also high in fat and have the juicy texture of dark meat. Believe it or not, most people consider them dark meat. However, a small but extremely vocal minority insists on classifying them as white meat.
Where does the Meat of Chicken Wings Come from?
Chicken wing bones have a lot of flesh which becomes chicken wings’ meat. The three main parts of the chicken wing are the tip, the wingette, and the drumette. The drumette not only has the most bones but it is also the meatiest part of the chicken wing. After the drumette, the wingette (the middle part) has the most bones and meat. The last part of the wing is the tip which has fewer bones and less meat compared to the other two parts.
Does it Matter to Classify Chicken Wings as White or Dark Meat?
Yes, it matters because you treat white and dark meats differently in the kitchen. You need to cook thighs and legs longer than chicken breasts and at higher temperatures as well because of their dense texture and higher fat content. However, you also have to monitor chicken breasts carefully while cooking because of their leaner and soft texture. They would turn dry if you cook them for as long as the legs and thighs. Therefore, you must know is a wing dark meat or not to cook it properly.
Are Chicken Wings White or Dark Meat?
Let us see what makes chicken wings white or dark.
Chicken Wings are White Meat
Most people classify chicken as a whole as white meat. However, it consists of both dark and white muscle fibers. How often chickens use both kinds of muscles determine their proportion. The dark muscle fibers make up most of the endurance muscles which chicken use for extended activities. These fibers have myoglobin which gives them their red color. White fibers mostly make the twitch muscles which enable chickens to move suddenly or quickly.
Chickens keep standing or walking for most of their lives. Therefore, they have predominantly dark muscle fibers in their thighs and legs. Similarly, their breast and wings mostly have white muscle fibers because they seldom fly, and that too in short bursts. It means you can categorize chicken wings as white meat.
But – High Fat Content also makes Wings Dark
As mentioned above, chicken wings are considerably fatty. Chicken thighs have almost 4% fat while chicken wings and breasts have 3.5% and only 1.25% fat respectively according to the USDA.
What makes wings even fattier is that they have more skin than any other part. Collagens make up 60-80% of the skin. It converts into gelatin when heated to 135° F. Gelatin is a gel-like substance that enables many types of meat to have higher moisture holding capacity besides making them tenderer and juicier. The gelatin not only facilitates the cooking of chicken wings but also gives the perception of juiciness. That is why some people consider chicken wings as red meat.
Difference between White Meat and Dark Meat Chicken?
We have ascertained that chicken meat has both white and dark muscle fibers. So, what is the main difference between them?
What is White Chicken Meat?
White meat comes from the wings and breasts of the chicken. Tenderloins are also part of the breast, making them white meat as well. The protein within these parts of the chicken is pale and extremely tender. Similarly, they have predominantly white muscle fibers because chickens don’t normally use them.
What is Dark Chicken Meat?
Dark chicken meat refers to the chicken’s legs (drumsticks) and thighs. They have high levels of myoglobin because chickens use them excessively while standing or walking. The red color also comes from myoglobin. The color changes from red to brown when cooked.
With Skin or without Skin
You can eat chicken with or without skin, unlike most animals. You can keep the skin in the case of both white chicken and dark chicken and enjoy it to the fullest. Or, you can remove the skin and it will still be delicious.
The skin is the fattiest part of the chicken. Therefore, you will not only enjoy juicier meat but will also consume a lot of healthy fats if you keep the skin on. However, it will also result in the consumption of additional calories. Keep in mind that 1 ounce of chicken skin has 90 calories. Therefore, you need to take this into account if you want to control your diet and weight.
Frequently Asked Questions
What pieces of chicken are dark meat?
The thighs and legs of the chicken are dark meat because they contain a lot of myoglobin which also imparts red color to them. They have darker muscle fibers which enable a chicken to keep standing or walking for most of its life.
Which is healthier white or dark chicken meat?
Both white and dark types of chicken meats are healthy. They are an excellent source of different nutrients such as proteins, fats, carbohydrates, fiber, etc. However, dark chicken is a bit more nutritious as it has greater amounts of iron and zinc.
Are Chicken Wings Healthy?
There is no definite answer to this question. Baked or fried chicken wings have excessive saturated fats and calories, making them unhealthy to eat. However, regular chicken wings are an excellent source of key minerals and nutrients such as proteins. They are also rich in vitamin B12 and iron and don’t have many carbohydrates as well.
Final Thoughts
Technically, chicken wings are white meat. However, some of their parts contain a high amount of fats and collagen. Therefore, you can cook them at high temperatures just like dark meat. Some people categorize them as dark meat because of their high fat content and dense texture. Whatever you consider them, chicken wings are not only delicious but quite healthy as well provided you don’t cook them in an ocean of oil.