Are you looking for a way to increase your collagen intake? Since it is one of the most commonly found proteins in the human body, it is something to supplement. While you can use things like pills and powders to do so, there are other ways many people shy from.
Upping your collagen intake can lead to healthier bones, hair, skin, nails, and joints. It is one of the vital components of your body and can positively affect the way you do everyday tasks. More recent research has made the many benefits of collagen, including the ones listed above, better known to the public.
What are chicken paws used for? Chicken paws are used as a fantastic source of collagen. This may occur by eating them directly or extracting the collagen from them to be used in other ways. Another direct use is an alternative form of gelatin.
What are Chicken Paws Used For?
Though considered a byproduct of chicken, chicken paws have many uses. Whether it be a culinary or commercial use, both focus on the same aspect. On the culinary side of things, eating every part of an animal reduces waste. However, not everyone eats this way, it has its benefits both in health and environmentally.
Chicken paws are a source of collagen, gelatin, and calcium. This makes them desirable as a food and a commercial source of said products. These aid in skin, hair, nail, bone, and joint health. Chicken paws can also naturally thicken things like broths and soups.
Commercially extracting these beneficial parts of chicken paws leads to more options for supplements. It also provides more forms of gelatin for those who cannot use more common gelatins. Continue reading to find out more about why these things are so important to include in your daily life.
Possible Benefits of Eating Chicken Paws
Many foods have health benefits, chicken paws being one of them. As stated above, they are high in necessary proteins that affect multiple parts of your body. Collagen supplements are often used to promote hair and nail growth, as well as healthier skin. On top of this, bone and joint health may also improve.
Collagen decreases joint pain and increases bone density. It may also help with muscle gain, and boost overall heart health. Improved gut health has also been recognized when collagen intake rises. Adding collagen-rich foods to your diet, as well as supplements can help boost your natural production of the protein as well.
Collagen differs from other forms of protein because of its ability to produce natural collagen production. Other sources do not contain the correct amino acids to encourage this behavior. Without the proper amount of collagen in your body, mobility and the ability to perform daily tasks may become compromised. Your skin may also lose some elasticity, and you may experience overall weakness.
How to Include Chicken Paws to Your Diet
You can eat chicken paws as their own dish, or include them in others. A variety of cultures enjoy the alternate source of protein, and you can too. With proper cleaning and a few new recipes, you can be on your way to increasing your collagen levels, along with many other necessary nutrients.
Boiling, deep-frying, and steaming are the most common ways to prepare chicken paws. You can serve them as a soup, a snack, the main dish, or even a side.
As with most foods, it is important to wash chicken paws before consuming them. Chickens walk through their own manure and other contaminates you would not want to eat. A soak and a gentle scrub, until they look free of any unwanted particles, should suffice. You should also peel the outer skin, boiling them for a short time and pulling it away from the meat, starting at the nails.
If you are using chicken paws to thicken a bone or chicken broth, parboil them to ensure cleanliness and loosen any unwanted sections. After cutting those away, add them to fresh water along with any other meat, vegetables, and spices, and allow them to simmer away as usual.
Other Preparations of Chicken Paws
As stated above, deep-frying and steaming are alternate ways to cook chicken paws. If they are deep-fried, boiling them in the seasonings you intend to use is best. They can be prepared with or without a batter, depending on your preference. Always remember to clip off the nails before frying.
Steamed chicken feet, most commonly served as Chinese Dim Sum, are the final preparation. As with the others, boiling first is recommended to make peeling and removing unwanted areas simpler. Follow up the boiling process with a marinade. Before steaming, let soak overnight to improve the texture of the end dish.
Additional Questions
Q: What is the difference between chicken paws and chicken feet?
A: Chicken paws, which are the focus of this article, are everything below the ankle of a chicken leg. Chicken feet, however, include part of the lower leg as well.
Q: Are there any risks to eating chicken paws?
A: If not properly cleaned, chicken feet may cause illness. They also may be a choking hazard because of the various small bones throughout.
Q: Are there any other uses for chicken paws?
A: Like with many meat byproducts like hearts and livers, chicken paws can be used as a treat for your dogs. They offer many of the same benefits to pets as they do to us humans. They also make great long-term additions to your compost.
Final Thoughts
- Chicken paws are an interesting source of protein, namely collagen.
- There is a high quantity and varied list of health benefits to eating chicken paws.
- Chicken paws have multiple preparations from various countries all over the world.
The health benefits and natural thickening properties of chicken paws are the reasons they are so desirable. There are multiple ways to include them in your diet. Do not deny yourself this tasty treat and its health improving factors.