6 minutes
Rotisserie chicken is delicious and easy to make. However, is it healthy? Can it be included in the regular diet? In this space we detail it.
Rotisserie chicken is a simple, fast and cheap preparation. You can buy it frozen, make it at home or look for it at the restaurant of your choice. It is a hearty and versatile dish. But if you are taking care of yourself, you may be wondering if its consumption is healthy.
For its preparation, the chicken is placed directly on the fire. It can be in a fireplace, skewered on a rod, with the heat of the oven or on a barbecue. Thus, the speed of cooking depends largely on the method used. Do you want to know more about its nutritional value and its disadvantages? Keep reading!
Rotisserie Chicken Nutrition Facts
In order to define whether the preparation is healthy or not, some factors must be taken into account. Among them, the main one is how the chicken was seasoned. In addition, it also depends on the cut of chicken that is used. The cut that provides the most protein is the breast, with 24 grams. The one that contributes the most calories is the thigh that, equally, contains more fat with 12 grams, and vitamin B12.
For its part, the breast contains 149 grams of calories and between 3 and 7 grams of fat, depending on whether it has the skin or not. Added to this, it contributes 50% of the recommended daily intake of niacin, 9% of riboflavin and 35% of selenium. It also contains small amounts of other nutrients like phosphorus and zinc.
Roasted chicken benefits
The benefits of this preparation go beyond its versatility. We tell you its benefits at a nutritional level.
1. Good source of protein
A person needs to consume on average 0.8 grams of protein per kilo of body weight. That is to say, If someone weighs 50 kilograms, they should eat 40 grams of protein per day. In relation to this, it should be noted that 100 grams of roasted chicken breast provides 24 grams of protein per day.
That is, if you combine it with other sources of this macronutrient throughout the day, you can get your daily quota, according to your needs.
2. Serves to rebuild tissues
In fact, not just tissues, but cells, muscles, bones, and organs. The regeneration Cell refers to the natural process of repairing damaged cells. An example is healing, regeneration of hair and skin, and healing of broken bones.
A lack of protein delays healing. Its low intake prolongs the inflammatory phase and prevents the synthesis of collagen, essential in this process.
3. Strengthens the immune system
Rotisserie chicken contains 843 international units of vitamin A. This nutrient plays an important role in the immune system. Specific, it maintains the normal function of macrophages, neutrophils, and NK cells. The latter kill infected cells. Therefore, they help fight infections.
Rotisserie chicken contraindications
Consuming rotisserie chicken can be harmful to your health, especially because of the way it can be seasoned. Thus, if it contains too much sodium, its intake is harmful in the medium and long term. In relation to this, World Health Organization says that adults should not consume more than 5 grams of sodium a day.
The excessive consumption of salt can lead to high blood pressure, heart problems such as heart attacks, strokes and kidney damage. Therefore, you have to take care of the amount of salt that the rotisserie chicken contains.
What must be taken into account when buying chicken?
To buy rotisserie chicken from a grocery store or frozen, there are a few things to consider. We tell you what they are.
Chicken freshness
Check the expiration date on the chicken. If there is no date on the tray or packaging, ask when they were taken out. If possible, check that the skin is smooth, supple and moist. It should not have traces of feathers or stains. Its color must be uniform and must not have an unpleasant odor. Check that the container has no frost or pink ice. That signals that the chicken was frozen and thawed.
Correct cooking
You should also make sure it has a correct cooking. If it looks white, it is fully cooked. If there is any pink part, it is undercooked. Also see how the chicken is pulled from the bone. If there is a raw texture and it sounds, it is another sign that it is undercooked.
Raw or undercooked chicken may be contaminated with bacteria such as Campylobacter or Salmonella. Eating it this way can lead to food poisoning.
Amount of sodium
Look at the nutritional table on the container for the amount of sodium in the chicken and what it was marinated with. If possible, you have to remove the skin to lower the fat it provides to the body.
How to make roast chicken in the oven at home
Of course, you can try preparing a roasted chicken in the oven. To make it, you will need a whole chicken, salt, pepper, thyme, butter and mustard.
Instructions
- Start with preheating the oven to 230 degrees Celsius. Rinse the chicken and pat dry to make it crispier on the outside. Add the salt and pepper inside. Tie the legs and arrange in such a way that it cooks well inside.
- Sprinkle all the chicken with salt and pepper. Then, put it on a tray to roast for an hour. Take out of the oven, add thyme, melted butter and mustard. Stir well and coat the chicken with the mixture. Let stand 15 minutes and that’s it.
As you can see, it is not a difficult preparation. What you should take into account is the number of times you eat it, and the salt you add. For the rest, you can enjoy it without guilt, since it is a healthy meal.
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