What is the white thread in chicken killers? Moreover, is it safe to eat and how can you remove it easily? (2024)

Chicken is one of the healthiest protein choices you can make when deciding what to eat. Andchicken breasthas a great taste with minimal internal fat, making it low in calories yet high in protein. However, if you haven't worked with chicken much before, you may notice as you prepare it that there is a white stringy thing in the chicken breast. And you may be wondering if you should remove it or if it's safe to eat.

What is the white thread in the chicken fillet and can I eat it?

The white thread you see on your chicken is just a tendon. Tendon is connective tissue that allows muscles to attach to bones, just like the tendons we have! It is perfectly edible and not dangerous to eat, but it can become a bit tough or rubbery during cooking, so it is up to you whether you want to remove it or not.prepare your chicken.

Which part of the chicken is the most tender?

Some people think that chicken giblets are just strips cut from the chicken breast. But in fact, the sirloin is an independent secondary muscle that lies directly under the breast. Sometimes the entire breast is removed, including the tenderness; sometimes they are removed individually. The tendon contains the visible part of the tendon, which resembles a piece of string.

How to Remove Tendon from a Raw Chicken Breast or Breast

The tendon in chicken breast meat runs through the center of the tenderloin and can be removed whether you leave the tenderloin attached to the breast or not. How to remove the tendon:

• Place the breast (or tender) skin side up on a cutting board with the pointed end toward you.
• Use a paper towel to pinch the white end of the tendon firmly between your fingers and place your chef's knife at a 30-degree angle so that the tendon is sandwiched between the knife and your cutting board.
• While holding the tendon, slowly rotate the blade back and forth to expose more of the tendon and get a better grip on it. Once you have about the first inch of tendon firmly held, you should be able to hold it firmly and press the angled blade against the board to cut the tendon out without damaging the meat.

Alternatively, place the tendon between the tines of a fork, grasp the tendon with a paper towel, and slowly pull it out of the chicken while pushing the fork down in the opposite direction to the direction you are pulling the tendon. The tendon slips right out, as shown in this viral TikTok video from @raerae738 (we tried it too and it worked!).

Should I remove the tendon from chicken?

You do not need to remove the tendon from the chicken. The tendon is perfectly edible and not dangerous at all. Removing the tendon is often an aesthetic decision or is done because tendons can be hard and rubbery when cooked.

What happens to a tendon when the chicken cooks?

Tendons are essentially ligaments that attach muscles to the chicken's bones. This connective tissue is very strong. When you cook it, the tendon hardens and contracts, making it slightly tougher than the surrounding meat. That's why some chefs choose to remove it before cooking. For home cooks, it can often be easier to simply eat around the tendon or remove it after cooking.

In short

If you love chicken breast but hate that rubber band, it's not hard to learn how to remove it before cooking. But if it doesn't bother you, rest assured that it's not dangerous to eat! Fancy chicken tonight? Try this delicious oneGrilled chicken fillet with tomato-caper sauceor this tasty recipe forChimichurri-kip.