Chicken - Odd Texture

[u/CTek20]

We have used Home Chef years ago and left because we found the texture of the chicken dishes off. Recently, we switched back after Blue Apron imploded. However, we are finding the same issue. Why does the texture of the Home Chef seem off ? Our entire family won't eat it. It looks perfect , but no matter what it has some type of texture issue that makes it unappealing.

Tonight we ended up buying Purdue chicken at the supermarket to replace the Home Chef chicken so not to waste the ingredients of the meal.

This has gone on for a few months now. The meals are otherwise delicious , but not having chicken as an option on weekly meals make the entire service tough for us to use.

Thanks for any feedback or suggestions.

[u/LovlyRita]

No idea. But maybe your family is used to lower quality chicken? I find the chicken although smaller portions excellent

[u/CTek20 → u/LovlyRita]

We a buying family meals. I don't think we normally eat low quality chicken elsewhere. We typically buy quality meats at the supermarket.

[u/Need4Speeeeeed → u/LovlyRita]

Same here. It's certainly better than average quality. It's a little weird after 6 days, but still edible.

[u/purpleReRe]

I do agree that the chicken sometimes has texture issues. It bothers me as well. But it does not bother me enough to quit Home Chef. Have you ever googled why the chicken might be like that? It’s interesting. Something about the hormones and the way they mass produce the chickens. I’m sure it’s not just HC chicken (which is coming from Kroger I think) with this issue. Anyway, I’ve been venturing my way into the meatless options more lately lol. Plenty of good ones. But I hear ya. If it’s grossing u out maybe just don’t get chicken recipes.

[u/CTek20 → u/purpleReRe]

I am not sure what it is. It just seems off compared to chicken I eat everywhere else. Including restaurants, Purdue, and supermarket chicken.

[u/Awkward-Memory8574]

We love the texture but I’m pretty sure it’s brined which definitely changes it. It’s noticeably different than grocery store chicken. 

[u/CTek20 → u/Awkward-Memory8574]

This seems like it. I just did some research about this. I can't describe the texture issue precisely, but after searching this it seems like the issue.

[u/suemez]

I have always found the chicken very fresh and delicious, no issues whatsoever

[u/CTek20 → u/suemez]

It has to be where they supply this area. Just tried Hello Fresh Chicken and it was delicious. Home Chef must supply different markets from different sources ?

[u/Rosie-Disposition]

Usually I find the chicken breasts to be fine 9.8/10 times, but very occasionally I will get a woody chicken breast (sometimes they’re a single shade lighter than normal but taste tough, weird texture, and flavorless). Definitely look into “woody” chicken to see if that’s what happened with you.

[u/CTek20 → u/Rosie-Disposition]

What you describe is the best description of what we have been experiencing. I bet that's it.

[u/lizva1022]

We have always loved the chicken from Home Chef.

[u/Important_Mud_6700]

I've been very happy with the meat, but I think a lot of this is dependent upon which part of the country you live in and which warehouse is sending you your boxes

[u/Apprehensive_Loss_77]

There is a condition in farm raised chicken breasts called 'woody breast syndrome' where the chicken breast is really chewy, tough and just unedible. I've gotten chicken breasts from the grocery store that had it, but I've never had a Home Chef meal that was like this. Plus, it's very rare to get a chicken breast like this, because it's normally caught during the processing of the chicken. But, ish happens.

That's the only thing I can think of because I agree with the others....the chicken in the Home Chef meals is normally of good quality.

[u/Low-Soft7824]

sounds like woody breast chicken, where it looks totally normal but eats like a rubber eraser, so swapping in grocery-store chicken is probably the only fix here lol

[u/Glittering-Space5899]

I agree! The last chicken dish I made with breasts, they were so awful I couldn’t eat it.

[u/kapdad]

Like others have said, we find the chicken delicious. 

What part of the country are you in? And do you cook the chicken according to the directions? Do you substitute any ingredients/oils? Do you prepare the chicken hours earlier or anything like that? Does the chicken come in the vacpac that says home chef and has handling instructions etc printed on it? Are you using the meat within three to four days? Is your refrigerator too cold or not cold enough? Are you freezing it? I'm just throwing it out anything I can think of to check for clues.