How much shredded chicken does a poached 4 pound bird yield? Thank you, everyone. ;o)

AntoniaJames
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5 Comments

Nancy
Nancy September 26, 2015
Antonia, have a look at this blog for empirical results. Using his results, the answer appears to be - for 4 lb raw chicken - 2.2 to 2.92 lb of cooked meat. See what you think. Does this help you estimate for meal prep?
http://www.lylemcdonald.com/forums/showthread.php?t=11179
 
702551
702551 September 26, 2015
That blog post is not particularly relevant. It deals with a *boneless & skinless* cut of one specific part: the chicken breast.

It does not address the weight loss of bones and skin of a whole chicken.

Moreover, the blogger baked his chicken whereas AntoniaJames is poaching hers. There is less weight loss from water evaporation via poaching than baking.
 
Nancy
Nancy September 27, 2015
CV found problems in the first source.
See this second source, USDA on cooking yields from various meats and various formats (includes whole chicken, includes poached).
http://www.ars.usda.gov/SP2UserFiles/Place/80400525/Data/retn/USDA_CookingYields_MeatPoultry.pdf
As they say at Oscars time, for your consideration.
 
702551
702551 September 27, 2015
The second source is actually relevant and estimates yield at 75%. For a four-pound chicken, that means three pounds of meat.

It would be wise to underestimate yield and expect to get 2.75 pounds of meat from a 4-lbs. chicken.
 
702551
702551 September 26, 2015
My guess is about three pounds, maybe a little less. I figure the bones and skin are probably about a pound.
 
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