Is chicken considered a meat? This debate has been going on for ages. Some experts put chicken in the category of meat but for others, it is not meat at all. You are not alone if you are also wondering whether or not poultry is also meat.
The confusion stems from different definitions of meat. Chicken or poultry is meat if we take the simplest definition that meat is the flesh of the animals consumed for food. Chicken is an animal and thus it is meat.
However, some people distinguish chicken and fish from meat derived from mammals such as pork, lamb, and beef. This also contributes to the confusion leaving you thinking is chicken a meat or not.
Difference between Poultry and Meat
It is important to discuss the difference between poultry and meat to remove the confusion.
Poultry is meat, to be honest. The major difference between meat and poultry is that meat is mammals’ flesh and poultry is birds’ flesh. We consume both types of fleshes as food.
We cook both kinds of meat before eating. They are also susceptible to diseases caused by fungi and bacteria. Therefore, you need to store, handle, cook, or market them properly to avoid food poisoning or foodborne diseases.
Various religions and sects also use meat in different rituals and celebrations. There are also different rules and beliefs exclusive to different regions and religions about meat.
What is Meat?
Meat is animals’ or particularly mammals’ flesh, such as cattle, lamb, and pork, taken for food. The meat of different animals also has particular names such as beef for cattle, mutton for lamb, venison for deer, pork for pigs, and veal for calves.
The production of meat on the industrial scale started after the domestication of animals like sheep, cattle, and pigs. Meat is primarily made of proteins, fat, and water. You should cook it before consuming it even though you can eat it raw. Meat also plays an important role in the economies and cultures of various countries. For example, Muslims don’t eat pork whereas Hindus don’t eat any kind of meat at all.
What is Poultry?
Poultry includes various kinds of domesticated birds such as chickens, turkeys, fowls, quails, etc. They are raised for their eggs, flesh, and feathers. Bird meat in particular is referred to as white meat as well which also means the chicken is indeed a kind of meat.
Poultry is rich in protein but low in fats and fatty acids. It can also suffer from bacterial infections such as Campylobacter and Salmonella. Therefore, it can also cause foodborne diseases if not stored, marketed, handled, or cooked properly.
Is Chicken Meat, Yes or No?
Chicken is meat because it meets the standard definition of meat which is the flesh of animals killed for food for humans. When you are using the word meat, you are using a general word incorporating all kinds of animals’ flesh.
There are many other reasons to classify chicken as meat as well. These factors are mostly related to meat storage and cooking.
For example, meat is more likely to have dangerous bacteria compared to other foods. Therefore, you have to cook it separately using dedicated utensils and a chopping board. You also need to thoroughly wash all the equipment used to handle raw meat. Not to forget, you must also wash the area where you put the meat.
When it comes to storing meat, you have to be more careful than storing vegetables. Chicken juices can dip for a while even in the fridge and thus, meat should always go to the bottom container. Similarly, it should always be frozen or chilled to prevent it from going bad. Improperly stored meat has a greater chance of causing food poisoning than any other kind of food.
All the above things apply to chicken as well, necessarily making it meat. You have a high risk of contracting foodborne diseases if you fail to store or prepare chicken properly just like beef and mutton.
So does chicken count as meat? Yes, food safety bodies also give general guidelines for handling and preparing meat to reduce food poisoning cases. They don’t distinguish between chicken and meat. Therefore, you can consider chicken as meat and should handle it as you handle other meats.
Why Chicken is sometimes not Considered Meat?
Chicken is not the flesh of any mammal and therefore, it is sometimes treated differently from other kinds of meats. People distinguish chicken and other poultry from mammal meat based on the fact that they are not red meat.
Poultry is always dark or white meat but it can never be red meat. On the other hand, most mammals especially cattle are red meat. It makes poultry a different kind of food or meat. Most often, poultry is taken as a healthier and lighter alternative than red meat.
Chicken helps you improve your diet by reducing the consumption of red meat. Chicken is low in fat but high in protein. Therefore, it becomes an extremely fulfilling diet and an integral part of various diet plans.
Chicken is a healthy food no doubt but it also depends on the dietary requirements of an individual. Lean or white meat such as chicken is always healthier than red meat. However, not all white meats are good and not all red meats are bad. You should consume both types of meat moderately to maintain a healthy diet.
Normally, turkeys, ducks, and chicken make white meat but you can also include pork in this category. Similarly, it is not exclusive to poultry only because fish is also white meat.
Are all Kinds of Poultry Meat?
Yes, you can consider other kinds of poultry including turkeys, ducks, and pheasants as meat because they are living animals after all.
They are also meat by the standard definition of meat. Just like chicken, they are high in protein and low in fats as well.
Do Vegetarians Eat Chicken?
A true vegetarian will never eat any animal. Chicken is also an animal and thus, vegetarians do not eat chicken. However, there are some exceptions because some “vegetarians” don’t consider chicken as meat.
The practice of eating birds or fish but not the meat of mammals is truly bizarre. If the idea of eating certain animals such as cattle or sheep is discomforting then why eating a fish or chicken is acceptable? You either eat all the animals or don’t eat any of them. You cannot be a vegetarian if you eat chicken or fish. It is as simple as that. Vegetarianism is all about refraining from meat which also includes fish and poultry.
Is Chicken Considered a Meat by Restaurants?
Almost all hotels and restaurants consider poultry or chicken as meat. They never include chicken or poultry dishes in their vegetarian options. A true vegetarian will never eat a chicken because it is widely believed to be meat.
Restaurants also have to follow strict guidelines to prepare chicken as they do for other kinds of meat. Therefore, they count chicken as regular meat. You would seldom find a restaurant that doesn’t classify poultry as meat because they don’t have any reason to do so.
Also Read: Is Halal Meat Healthier Than Conventional Meat?
Frequently Asked Questions
Is chicken considered red meat?
No, chicken is not considered red meat. Chicken as well as other types of poultry are white meat because they are white when cooked.
Why is chicken not considered red meat?
Only meat from cattle, sheep, pigs, lambs, etc is counted as red meat. Their meat has a high level of myoglobin, giving it a reddish color. The white meat includes the meat of chicken, turkeys, rabbits, fish, and other birds. They have low levels of myoglobin and thus, appear white while cooking.
Is chicken a meat or poultry?
All kinds of poultry including chicken are meat because they are the flesh of various animals. Poultry plays an important role when it comes to ensuring food security and providing high quality protein-rich food.
What is chicken meat called?
Meats from different animals have different names. However, chicken meat is simply called chicken.
Final Thoughts
Chicken falls into the category of meat. You can group it with other types of meats when it comes to storage, preparation, cooking, and dietary preferences. We cannot find any reason not to classify chicken as meat.
The only difference between chicken meat and mammal meat is the color. The former is white and the latter is red. That is why some people distinguish between them but chicken is meat without any doubt.
The only thing I wish I knew was how stressful it can get to prepare all those dishes such as turkey, desserts, sauces, and side dishes in one day. You just don’t get the time to relax and enjoy with your guests. There are some dishes such as pies, dried bread for stuffing, turkey stock, and sauces a day or two before Thanksgiving.
You should never work alone while making the Thanksgiving dinner. It is a bit ambitious to do everything at your own. It is always better to delegate duties. Ask a couple of younger guests to serve or pour drinks during the dinner. However, beware of having too many cooks in the kitchen if you don’t want to spoil the broth.