Chicken must be one of the best blessings of God for humans. These middle-sized birds are among the top of the tastiest food list of most foodies, that is, of course, unless you are a vegetarian. Anyway, did you know you could make Chicken Oil out of the leftover fat?

Is chicken oil healthy? Yes, it is. It contains a decent amount of sodium, protein, different vitamins like A, B6, B12, C, D, E, and K, a few minerals, and a low amount of saturated fat. Besides, you can make this oil at home without the use of harmful chemicals. 

This article will guide you regarding how you can make chicken oil, how to cook with it, and the safety or cautions you will need to remember.  

Is Chicken Oil Healthy? 

As already said, chicken oil can be a healthy addition to your diet. Chicken oil has some health benefits to offer when you use it for cooking. It has a wide variety of food nutrients that make it an ideal option to use for cooking. Here are some of the health benefits of using chicken fat in cooking:

1. Can Help Cholesterol Levels

You need to maintain a balanced level of cholesterol. Both excessive and lack of cholesterol can cause different complications in your body. Chicken oil is a substance that can help you with this. 

Some studies suggest that the addition of chicken oil to your diet has the ability to reduce the risk of LDL and triglycerides, along with the atherogenic index. These are some of the issues related to cardiovascular health. Additionally, it can also increase superoxide dismutase more than soybean oil. It provides cell protection, reduces inflammation, and oxidative stress. 

2. Suits Keto Diet

Are you following a ketogenic diet? Then, chicken oil is a better option than soybean oil. A major characteristic of the keto diet is that it allows a high intake of fat and a very low consumption of carbohydrates. Chicken fat is also composed of healthy fats, including monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats. 

Another benefit of using chicken fat in keto is the absence of carbs. Chicken oil contains no carbohydrates at all, and it makes it an ideal choice for those who are following a keto diet. 

3. Skin Care

Taking care of the skin is very important. It helps you stay youthful. Though chicken oil contains a small amount of fatty acid, it is not as useful as coconut oil or jojoba oil for skincare. Still, adding chicken fat in cooking can contribute to your skincare to some extent. 

4. Boost Your Immune

Chicken oil contains vitamins A, B6, D, Selenium, and Zinc. All these are very important to strengthen your immune system. Vitamin B6 especially plays a crucial role in supporting your immune system. It produces antibodies that fight off infection. Additionally, Vitamin B6 can help in the formation of red blood cells and regulate your body’s inflammatory responses. 

Food Value of Chicken Oil

Chicken oil has a good food value. It contains a variety of nutrients.

Check on the following chart to have a proper idea about the nutritional facts of chicken oil. It shows the nutrition fact of 1 count of chicken oil, which serves a total of 127 calories. 

You can see from the above table that chicken oil contains a number of nutrients that contribute to your immune system. Additionally, it also has a limited amount of saturated fat and cholesterol. Their limited presence is good for your health. However, excessive amounts can cause health problems. Chicken oil contains them in a very moderate amount. 

The presence of phosphorus and vitamin D makes your bone stronger. You can enjoy an overall healthy life. You should use chicken oil to a moderate amount, and this will improve the quality of your health and life. 

How To Make Chicken Oil

You need to use chicken fat or schmaltz to make chicken oil. This is not a very complex process, and you can do it at home. You will only need chicken skin and fat. The result of the instruments or elements you already have in your kitchen. Here is how you can do it:

1. Collect Fat and Skin

 Carefully trim off the excess fat off your chicken. You need to cut the skin of the chicken into small pieces. You should make the pieces as small as possible. It will make the process easier. 

2. Simmering Chicken Fat

The actual process begins with simmering the chicken fat and skin. This is a very simple step. All you need to do is:

• Take a pan and fill it with a small amount of water
• Put the skin and fat of the chicken inside the pan.
• Place the pan over your stove. Light your stove and set it on a low heat. 
• Stir it occasionally to prevent sticking. 

3. Rendering Chicken Fat

The next step is rendering. This is what you need to do in this step. You will notice that water is evaporating, and the fat is melting. The chicken will begin to sizzle. You should stir for even cooking. Keep doing it for about 30 to 45 minutes. The oil will soon turn golden. 

4. Storage

You need to take off the pan from the stove once the oil has turned golden and the skin has become crispy. Let the oil cool down first. Then, pour and store it in a sealed jar or container. Make sure that the jar is air-tight. Otherwise, the oil will get contaminated, and it can lead to spoilage. 

You can also keep chicken oil in the refrigerator. This will enhance the shelf life of the oil by slowing down the oxidation process. 

Can I Cook with Chicken Oil?

Is chicken oil healthy? You have already found your answer. Now, the next thing that might come to your mind is if you can use it for cooking. And the answer is yes, you can. To be honest, it makes your food taste much more delicious. It has a rich flavor and adds to the depth of whatever food you are cooking. 

You can cook vegetables with chicken oil, and it will taste better than ever. You will not believe how those vegetables could be so tasty when cooked with chicken oil. And you can also cook chicken with chicken oil. Isn’t that an interesting thing to do?

Using chicken fat for cooking also has some health benefits. It can be a traditional recipe for liver. You must try frying potatoes and make chips in chicken oil. You must remember to add less than the usual amount of salt. Here are some other tastier foods you can try cooking with chicken fat-made oil:

• Chicken inasal
• Fried rice
• Vegetables
• Popcorn
• Bread and pie crusts
• Beef stew
• Soup
• Roasted potatoes
• Sauce
• Chopped liver and
• Fried chicken

Cooking with chicken oil adds a savory umami flavor with hints of chicken essence. The use of this oil is very popular in Filipino cuisine. The use of the oil can add a distinct flavor that can add depth and richness that make everything delicious for chicken lovers. 

Side Effects of Chicken Oil

Though chicken oil is healthy, you need to maintain some caution. Excessive use of the oil can cause several problems in your body. Isn’t this the same for all food? You need to maintain a balanced consumption of chicken oil. Here are some of the side effects of excessive chicken consumption:

1. High Saturated Fat

This is a major concern regarding chicken oil because it contains a large amount of saturated fat. One count of chicken oil can produce nearly 2.3g of saturated fat. If you use chicken oil for daily cooking, then it will increase the risk of the following diseases:

• Heart-related problems
• Stroke
• Obesity
• Type 2 diabetes
• Digestive problems, and
• Liver issues, etc. 

2. High Calories

You must have seen different advertisements for chocolates and other products saying that they are high in calories. So is chicken oil. But does it really make chicken oil healthy? No, it is the opposite, actually. 

Excessive calorie intake, especially sources like chicken oil, can contribute to weight gain and obesity. This can result in an increased risk of various health issues. That includes heart disease, diabetes, and high blood pressure. 

FAQs

Conclusion

Since you have read so far, “Is chicken oil healthy?” What do you think? It seems like if you want to consume animal oil, then it is a good option. It has health benefits, and it can make your foods taste better. However, you should not consume it in an excessive amount as it can cause health complications. Hopefully, you found this article helpful to lead a healthier life.