Some people have reported seeing a weird, white gel-like material come out of chicken when cooking it. Questions about its nature, safety, and potential prevention measures have arisen since this phenomena has baffled many.
What exactly is the white goo?
The good news is that the white substance is a normal byproduct of cooking chicken and is totally harmless. So, what is it, and why does it show up, precisely?
Researchers in the field of food science have determined that the white substance is really the chicken’s released water and proteins when they cook. The muscular fibers in the meat contract and draw out the liquid inside when it is heated. A white solid forms from this liquid while the protein cooks.
Like how the color and texture of cooked egg whites change, the white gunk is really compressed beef fluids.
What Makes Some Varieties of Chicken More Prone to This?
Because of differences in processing and storage methods, some varieties of chicken are more likely to have the look of the white goo. The white goo is more likely to come out of chicken that has been frozen, for instance, since the freezing process weakens the bird’s muscles, which allows more liquid to escape while it cooks.