Fried versus Grilled Chicken
Are you unsure about ordering grilled or fried chicken? We’re all aware of the health benefits of grilled chicken, but is there actually a difference?
Deep-frying chicken in oil results in a crispy, crunchy exterior. It cooks more quickly than grilled chicken, but the calorie content is significantly larger. Spices are applied to grilled chicken before it is cooked over a higher heat source. The chicken’s flavor and texture are enhanced by grilling.
DIFFERENCE BETWEEN FRIED CHICKEN AND GRILLED CHICKEN
The table below shows some of the major differences between Fried Chicken and Grilled Chicken and the parameters that they are based on.
| Sr. No. | Parameters | Fried Chicken | Grilled Chicken |
| 1 | Method of Cooking | Fried by immersing in oil | On direct heat grill or oven |
| 2 | Way of Processing | Skillet or Frying Pan | Grills, Ovens, Charcoals, Pans |
| 3 | Time Taken for cooking | About 10 minutes | Around 20 minutes |
| 4 | Texture | Crispy, crunchy and soft | Little harder than fried chicken, no crisp or crunch |
| 5 | Method of Seasonings | Batter and Dry flour with seasonings | Only rubbed with seasonings and a little oil |
| 6 | Flavor | Spices are not very pronounced | Spicy and a hint of Smoke |
| 7 | Fat Content | Very High as its fried in oil | Far less, as very little oil is used in the marinade |
| 8 | Calories | Very High in Calories-350 per 100 grams approximately | Not high in calories-150 per 100 grams approximately |
Method Of Cooking
The primary distinction between grilled and fried chicken is the cooking technique. Partially or completely submerging the chicken in oil yields fried chicken. In order to fry the chicken, the pan or skillet must have at least 3–4 inches of oil in it. When cooking chicken, it can be grilled over direct fire or baked without the use of a cooking medium.
Way Of Processing
Fried Chicken is fried in a skillet or a pan. Grilled chicken is grilled on the grills with or without charcoals, or in the oven.
Time Taken For Cooking
Since the temperature of oil reaches higher degrees of 325F thus the chicken cooks faster in about 10 minutes. Whereas the grilled chicken takes longer to cook about 20 minutes.
Pro Tip: Never put chicken taken directly fro the fridge in the hot oil. As it lowers the temperature of the oil and the chicken takes longer to cook. Also it ends up absorbing more oil than the chicken fried at higher temperatures in oil.
Texture
Fried chicken is moist and tender from within, and crispy and crunchy from outside. Whereas a grilled chicken is tougher in texture compared to fried chicken. This happens mainly due to lack of medium in cooking grilled chicken takes away the moisture from the chicken and renders it on the drier side.
Method Of Seasonings
Although the seasonings and spices used are generally similar however, the method of seasoning it is very different fried chicken is dipped in a seasoned flour orat times coated with seasoned batter. Whereas, the spices are mixed into marinade with a tablespoon of oil and rubbed on the chicken.
Flavor
Spices in fried chicken are subdued and not very pronounced. Whereas in a grilled chicken the spices take a dominant role and the right kind of spices in right quantities is essential. Also, it has a smoky flavor after being cooked.
Fat Content
The fat content in fried chicken is very high and is due to the fact that the coating and the breadcrumbs soak in a lot of oil while being cooked in oil. However, in grilled chicken this not the case. The fat content is very low.
Calories
Fried chicken as approximately 250 – 380 calories in 100 grams. This varies on the various factors such as the type of oil used, ingredients, the number of times it has been fried. However, compared to fried chicken grilled chicken has about 150 – 180 calories per 100 grams of chicken. Whic isn’t very high.
IS GRILLED CHICKEN HEALTHIER THAN FRIED CHICKEN?
Grilled chicken is healthier than fried chicken as it has less amount of oil that is applied on the chicken. Frying with unhealthy fats increases the risk of LDL cholesterol and lower HDL cholesterol in the body leading to higher chances of cardiovascular diseases and hardening of arteries leading to heart attack.
However, studies have shown that grilled meats are cooked over high heats and open flames. Which leads to increase in carcinogens such as : heterocyclic aromatic amines (HCAs) and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). Studies show HCAs and PAHs cause changes in DNA that may increase the risk of cancer.
How to make grilling Safer:
- Marinating with alcohol or acidic juices have shown to reduce the formation of heterocyclic amines (HCA) and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) carcinogens.
- Microwaving meat before cooking at higher temperatures can reduce the carcinogens as suggested by The National CAncer Institute.
- Do not cook with the fats that have dripped from the meat.
- Also, grilling thinner pieces of meats reduces the production of carcinogens as the meat is cooked faster.
- The charred part of the meats shouldn’t be consumed.
- Flip the meat often.
These are just some of the precautions that one can take while grilling chicken to make reduce or stop the formation of carcinogens.
WHICH CHICKEN HAS MORE NUTRIENTS – GRILLED CHICKEN OR FRIED CHICKEN?
Following is the table that shows the nutrient value for 1 serving of chicken – fried and grilled.
| Parameters | Fried Chicken | Grilled Chicken |
| Calories | 377 | 147 |
| Total Fats | 21g | 8.36g |
| Proteins | 40 g | 16.79g |
| Cholesterol | 126mg | 54mg |
| Sodium | 180mg | 251mg |
As we can see that there are 200 more calories in fried chicken than griled chicken per serving. Also the total fat content is phenomslly high at 21grams per serving. Also the cholesterol is higher compared to grilled chicken at 126mg.
What Has More Protein Content – Grilled Chicken Or Fried Chicken?
As we can see from the table above which shows the nutrient values of grilled chicken compared to fried chicken. We can see that fried chicken has more protein content than grilled chicken. ONe serving of fried chicken contains 40grams of protein and grilled chicken has 16.79 grams of protein.
Thus we can see that fried chicken has 23grams more protein content than grilled chicken. However, the protein content also varies on te part of the chicken that has been used.
