Among the popular types of food, frequently appearing in many family meals. However, with the trend of using chemicals in food production, choosing to buy fresh chicken feet is becoming the top concern. Let’s find out how to identify and choose fresh and delicious chicken feet to protect the health of your family.
1 Tips for choosing fresh and delicious chicken feet
Observation from the outside
When observing chicken feet from the outside, they should look plump, with tight round feet, smooth skin without wrinkles, and the size of the feet should be uniform.
If the chicken feet show any abnormal signs such as swelling, purple bruises, or blood clots, it may be a sign of diseased chicken feet. You should also avoid choosing chicken feet with crushed or scratched skin, as it may be a sign that the chicken feet have been preserved for a long time.
Flexible joints
Fresh and delicious chicken feet usually have 4 curved toes, pointing inward. When pressed hard on the feet, they should stretch and puff up. When soaked in water, the toes should stretch, separate, expand, and the joints should become less flexible.
Check the color of the chicken feet
Fresh chicken feet usually have a natural pinkish-white color, with the inner bones still tinged with red.
Touch the chicken feet
When touching the chicken feet, you should not feel any wet or greasy sensation on your hands. The chicken feet should feel firm when held up, and the skin covering them should be tight and elastic, indicating freshness.
2 Differentiating fresh chicken feet from chemically-treated chicken feet
Clean chicken feet | Chemically-treated chicken feet | |
Color | Clean pink, with the inner bones still red | Pale blueish blood, with red spots, sometimes with purple dots, slight greenish hue, or yellowish tint. |
Shape | The skin covering the chicken feet shows distinct wrinkles and the size of each foot is not uniform. | Smooth skin, without wrinkles, damaged skin, crushed with uniform-sized feet, plump. |
Touch sensation | Firm when held, skin has elasticity | Squeezable, feels slippery when pressed, has signs of liquid flowing, loose and slippery skin. |
Toe position | 4 toes curved inward, when pressed hard the feet will stretch and puff up, straighten or spread out. | 4 toes straight, large, toes are quite far apart. |
3 Dishes made from chicken feet
Chicken feet have a characteristic crispy texture, bringing a delicious taste when enjoyed. They can be used in many dishes, each dish has its own enticing and attractive flavor. Let’s go through some delicious dishes made from chicken feet, so that you have more choices on your dining menu.