Chicken Question! Silly but legit!

Leka1000

I am wondering that when I log "chicken leg no skin 100grams", does that include the weight of the bone in there or just the actual meat? and does it mean you have to COOK WITHOUT THE SKIN too?
Because I cooked the chicken leg with the SKIN ON - dumped lots of chicken grease out of pan couple of times and the meat is greasy while eating also.
Also, when I plated up my chicken I just tore off the meat and weighed 100grams of meat only.
Is my method accurate?

pootle1972

I would cook without skin and just log it as cooked chicken.....I can't figure.out bone in,uncooked etc..made my brain hurt

M30834134

When I started logging, I wondered the same thing and my researched showed that calories are listed for parts that you actually eat (dont have any references as that was a while ago) - the calories listed are for edible parts only, so, including bone would not be appropriate.

I think you did it correctly as long as you picked "cooked" version of database entry for chicken leg

Leka1000

MasterVal wrote: »

When I started logging, I wondered the same thing and my researched showed that calories are listed for parts that you actually eat (dont have any references as that was a while ago) - the calories listed are for edible parts only, so, including bone would not be appropriate.

I think you did it correctly as long as you picked "cooked" version of database entry for chicken leg

You are awesome! Thank you. You made my day! I love being accurate. Kind of a perfectionist thing I got going...lol

Leka1000

I wonder if chicken loses much weight when cooked. I know ground beef does for sure!

But what about cooking with the skin on? Should I take if off before cooking so i don't get all that oil in the pan? Will def have to cook mine separate cuz husband loveeeesss the skin and it would defeat the purpose if my skinless chicken was cooked in the same pan with all the grease from his skinful ones.

Francl27

I cook with the skin, take the skin off, and weigh what I eat and log it as 'chicken dark meat cooked (there's some MFP entry for that).

Leka1000

Francl27 wrote: »

I cook with the skin, take the skin off, and weigh what I eat and log it as 'chicken dark meat cooked (there's some MFP entry for that).

You confident is accurate though?

Francl27

Leka1000 wrote: »

Francl27 wrote: »

I cook with the skin, take the skin off, and weigh what I eat and log it as 'chicken dark meat cooked (there's some MFP entry for that).

You confident is accurate though?

Oh there's actually a 'Chicken, broilers or fryers, leg, meat only, cooked, roasted' entry. Probably more accurate. The 'dark meat' entry gives more calories. Hmm...

But either way, it's always an approximation, just pick one and don't drive yourself crazy over it... unless you have chicken legs every day, it won't make a huge difference in the end.

JeffBrown3

I always cook with skin on... Keeps the meat juicy. Gets kinda tough when I don't. But I always weigh with bone, and subtract weight of bone after in grams.

M30834134

Leka1000 wrote: »

I wonder if chicken loses much weight when cooked. I know ground beef does for sure!

I dont know about chicken legs, but chicken breast 1 oz raw "shrinks" to 0.6-0.7 oz cooked.

If I cooked chicken breast for one portion, I use the barcode and raw weight. If I cook for later, I found that "Chicken, broiler or fryers, breast, skinless, boneless, meat only, cooked, grilled" (verified) entry is very accurate for cooked weight.

Leka1000

JeffBrown3 wrote: »

I always cook with skin on... Keeps the meat juicy. Gets kinda tough when I don't. But I always weigh with bone, and subtract weight of bone after in grams.

But all that grease MUST be extra calories! I would love to know if MFP is calculating the skin grease in the pan....even if you dont eat the skin!

JeffBrown3

Leka1000 wrote: »

JeffBrown3 wrote: »

I always cook with skin on... Keeps the meat juicy. Gets kinda tough when I don't. But I always weigh with bone, and subtract weight of bone after in grams.

But all that grease MUST be extra calories! I would love to know if MFP is calculating the skin grease in the pan....even if you dont eat the skin!

That's why I use a rack and put it on a pan. The grease drips down into the pan. As far as the entry, it would only include the grease (melted fat) for the skin-on in-bone entry I would think. But I could be wrong. ;-)

Leka1000

So if I cook the chicken with skin on but place onto of a rack, then I should be accurate to log 100g of chicken no bone no skin! Sweet! I need to buy a rack!