What the chicken breast?

Can you see the nutrition facts on the bag of chicken you buy? Generally, what I'll do is put in the exact brand name (like you did), and view the nutrition facts in the entry and compare them to the physical nutrition facts on the bag of chicken sitting beside me.

If I see too many conflicting numbers, I just click an entry and say the information is inaccurate, then edit the entry to the exact facts on the actual bag of chicken I purchased. I then will just weigh my chicken to the serving size on the bag and use my own entry. I'd avoid generic brands, some are accurate but most aren't. I also don't choose the cooked entries, but I could imagine there is some accurate ones out there, but I couldn't tell you which ones.

brittaniao wrote: »

That's helpful. I'll check once I get home. I didn't know something as generic as chicken breast could very so much in calories! Is there a specific reason I should avoid putting the cooked entries?

Just to add on to the advice above, I avoid them because some cooked entries say that a cooked chicken that is 4 oz skinless is 120 calories or so, but it shrinks after you cook it. It should be weighed 4 or so ounces (most serving sizes say it for the raw meat) So after you cooked 4 oz, it should only be around 2.5 oz.. kinda a difference there. The same calories, just less water. So if I were to weigh 4 oz of cooked chicken, it could've been 8 oz raw so I'd have to double calories. That's just my personal chicken I buy though I always double check, and the USDA entries I second agree

brittaniao wrote: »

DragonHasTheSapphire wrote: »

brittaniao wrote: »

That's helpful. I'll check once I get home. I didn't know something as generic as chicken breast could very so much in calories! Is there a specific reason I should avoid putting the cooked entries?

Just to add on to the advice above, I avoid them because some cooked entries say that a cooked chicken that is 4 oz skinless is 120 calories or so, but it shrinks after you cook it. It should be weighed 4 or so ounces (most serving sizes say it for the raw meat) So after you cooked 4 oz, it should only be around 2.5 oz.. kinda a difference there. The same calories, just less water. So if I were to weigh 4 oz of cooked chicken, it could've been 8 oz raw so I'd have to double calories. That's just my personal chicken I buy though I always double check, and the USDA entries I second agree

So for your example above, are you saying you would log 8oz or 4oz of unspecified chicken breast? I usually bake in bulk then weight it out and divide after it's cooked. I specify "baked" as I would assumed if your were to fry it for example, it would be more calories. Thanks for your help!

No problem ! What I was meaning was that it would be best to weigh your chicken raw before it's cooked. So, if I were to have an 8 oz chicken and pop it in the oven, it would shrink to 4 oz. Many people would assume that's the correct portion, but the chicken should weigh to be 4 oz before it's cooked, and usually 2 or 3 ounces once it's done. No need to stress though, calories don't technically evaporate. Only use baked or cooked entires (whether it's specified or not), if you purchased the chicken already cooked. I made the mistake by weighing chicken after it was cooked, and didn't realize that the serving size on my chicken bag was referring to weighing the chicken raw, then you bake it and get your correct serving size. Most raw chicken breasts are 8-12 ounces when you buy them, so a scale is a go-to for me.