Wednesday, December 21, 2016
Jack-In-The-Box Chicken Tender Review Part 2
Tonight, I dined once again on the comfort of low expectations. When you order the chicken tenders at Jack In The Box, you pretty much know what you are getting. And I got what I was expecting. They did not make me happy, nor was that what I was seeking. They were mediocrity incarnate. They came with fries and a coke.
Sunday, December 18, 2016
Applebees Chicken Tender Review
I apologize for the delay since my last post. Today, I will be reviewing the chicken tenders from Applebees. America's Averagest Dine-in Option!
https://www.applebees.com/Menu/Chicken/Chicken-Tenders-Platter
That's basically what they look like. All in all, they are acceptable. You get a lot for a low price, especially if you go with a friend and get the 2 for $20 option (which allows you the option of splitting some of their fantastic mozzarella sticks).
The chicken tenders are usually pretty non-descript. They are a little too crispy and somewhat lacking in flavor (or flavour, if you are Canadian). However, they are consistent and inoffensive, which are two key factors for any chicken tender meal. Basically, when you order the chicken tenders you are basically wanting a low-risk option. And Applebees delivers on that promise. Nice work.
https://www.applebees.com/Menu/Chicken/Chicken-Tenders-Platter
That's basically what they look like. All in all, they are acceptable. You get a lot for a low price, especially if you go with a friend and get the 2 for $20 option (which allows you the option of splitting some of their fantastic mozzarella sticks).
The chicken tenders are usually pretty non-descript. They are a little too crispy and somewhat lacking in flavor (or flavour, if you are Canadian). However, they are consistent and inoffensive, which are two key factors for any chicken tender meal. Basically, when you order the chicken tenders you are basically wanting a low-risk option. And Applebees delivers on that promise. Nice work.
Friday, October 14, 2016
Freddy's Chicken Tenders Part 1
I was intending to review Raising Cane's chicken today, but there were literally no parking spots available. They just opened last Monday and are really busy. I am going to try again tomorrow. In the meantime, I went to Freddy's Frozen Custard & Steakburgers so I will review them instead. I ordered a five piece combo with shoestring fries and a drink.
Breading
The strips were very well breaded. Not too crunchy and not too dry, and adhering sufficiently to the chicken. I would note that they look dryer in that picture than they actually turned out to be. 8/10
Juiciness
The tenders were very juicy, although falling a bit short of "succulent" Either way, they are certainly above the average for restaurant tenders. 8/10
Flavor
Peppery, but not spicy. 7/10
Consistency
Admirable. There were no tough spots and the tenders were easy (and delightful) to eat. 8/10
Overall
I look forward to round 2. These tenders rank pretty highly and have certainly captured my heart.
Breading
The strips were very well breaded. Not too crunchy and not too dry, and adhering sufficiently to the chicken. I would note that they look dryer in that picture than they actually turned out to be. 8/10
Juiciness
The tenders were very juicy, although falling a bit short of "succulent" Either way, they are certainly above the average for restaurant tenders. 8/10
Flavor
Peppery, but not spicy. 7/10
Consistency
Admirable. There were no tough spots and the tenders were easy (and delightful) to eat. 8/10
Overall
I look forward to round 2. These tenders rank pretty highly and have certainly captured my heart.
*MUST READ* - Food Critic Helen Rosner Discusses Chicken Tenders
https://www.guernicamag.com/daily/helen-rosner-on-chicken-tenders/
If I may quote part of this article (censorship mine, this is a family blog):
A true connoisseur of the chicken tender knows that there are three immutable rules.
The first is the rule of physical integrity. A tender has a proper shape: flattish, oblong, and gradually tapering from a wide front to a narrow end. Unlike nuggets, which are largely made from processed, re-formed scraps, the chicken tender takes its name from an actual piece of the chicken: the pectoralis minor, a muscle located under the breast, against the sternum. The tenderloin. It’s rare nowadays to get actual tenders when you order them (hence the rise of “fingers” and “strips,” terms of art that veil all manner of creative butchery), but integrity demands that a wedge of breast put at least some effort into mimicking the actual part of the chicken it is trying to be.
The second rule of chicken tenders is that, contra any advice your mother may have given you, what’s on the outside matters infinitely more than anything on the inside. A chicken tender lives or dies by its exterior: batters, breadings, the disappointing faux-sophistication of panko. The subtlety or intensity of its spice and salt. The crispness of the exterior is what creates the tenderness of the interior, its structural cohesion when submerged in hot oil helps the chicken inside stay juicy and good. But it can’t adhere only to itself: a good chicken tender’s breading stays connected to the chicken inside once you take a bite, not slipping off like a silk stocking or the bulls**t batter on an onion ring.
The third rule of chicken tenders is that sauce is a last resort. You shouldn’t have to dip your chicken tenders in anything. If you want a vehicle for ranch dressing, order the crudités.
This is a must read.
If I may quote part of this article (censorship mine, this is a family blog):
A true connoisseur of the chicken tender knows that there are three immutable rules.
The first is the rule of physical integrity. A tender has a proper shape: flattish, oblong, and gradually tapering from a wide front to a narrow end. Unlike nuggets, which are largely made from processed, re-formed scraps, the chicken tender takes its name from an actual piece of the chicken: the pectoralis minor, a muscle located under the breast, against the sternum. The tenderloin. It’s rare nowadays to get actual tenders when you order them (hence the rise of “fingers” and “strips,” terms of art that veil all manner of creative butchery), but integrity demands that a wedge of breast put at least some effort into mimicking the actual part of the chicken it is trying to be.
The second rule of chicken tenders is that, contra any advice your mother may have given you, what’s on the outside matters infinitely more than anything on the inside. A chicken tender lives or dies by its exterior: batters, breadings, the disappointing faux-sophistication of panko. The subtlety or intensity of its spice and salt. The crispness of the exterior is what creates the tenderness of the interior, its structural cohesion when submerged in hot oil helps the chicken inside stay juicy and good. But it can’t adhere only to itself: a good chicken tender’s breading stays connected to the chicken inside once you take a bite, not slipping off like a silk stocking or the bulls**t batter on an onion ring.
The third rule of chicken tenders is that sauce is a last resort. You shouldn’t have to dip your chicken tenders in anything. If you want a vehicle for ranch dressing, order the crudités.
This is a must read.
Tuesday, October 11, 2016
Strips Chicken Part 1
Tonight I tried the chicken strips at the aptly named Strips Chicken. I ordered a 5 piece combo with home-made fries and a donut (!). They were out of crinkly fries. I also ordered a Mountain Dew (drinks are not included with the combos). Total price was $10.50.
Breading
The strips had a hand-breaded style, and were pretty heavily breaded compared to the amount of chicken. The breading was crunchy and tended to fall off the chicken a bit (as is typical of hand-breaded tenders). 8/10
Juiciness
The chicken was moderately juicy, but the juice in the chicken itself was mostly overpowered by the oily/greasy flavor of the fried breading. 7/10
Spiciness/Flavor
The flavor was dominated by the oiliness and greasiness of the breading. However, it was not nearly as bad as Jack in the Box in this manner and the greasiness was actually somewhat endearing. 5/10
Texture/Consistency
The chicken was consistent all the way through and met all of the requirement in this category. 7/10
Overall
The strips were above average for fast food chicken strips and hold their own against restaurant tenders. I look forward to trying them again soon.
Breading
The strips had a hand-breaded style, and were pretty heavily breaded compared to the amount of chicken. The breading was crunchy and tended to fall off the chicken a bit (as is typical of hand-breaded tenders). 8/10
Juiciness
The chicken was moderately juicy, but the juice in the chicken itself was mostly overpowered by the oily/greasy flavor of the fried breading. 7/10
Spiciness/Flavor
The flavor was dominated by the oiliness and greasiness of the breading. However, it was not nearly as bad as Jack in the Box in this manner and the greasiness was actually somewhat endearing. 5/10
Texture/Consistency
The chicken was consistent all the way through and met all of the requirement in this category. 7/10
Overall
The strips were above average for fast food chicken strips and hold their own against restaurant tenders. I look forward to trying them again soon.
Monday, October 10, 2016
Green Bay Packers TE Jared Cook finds chicken head at Buffalo Wild Wings
http://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/17739862/green-bay-packers-te-jared-cook-finds-fried-chicken-head-takeout-wing-order
This is pretty terrible. And especially bad since there are reports that Cook may become a vegetarian due to this. Don't do it! Even if you give up on wings in general (or Buffalo Wild Wings specifically) please don't turn your back on other forms of chicken. Tenders, for example.
This is pretty terrible. And especially bad since there are reports that Cook may become a vegetarian due to this. Don't do it! Even if you give up on wings in general (or Buffalo Wild Wings specifically) please don't turn your back on other forms of chicken. Tenders, for example.
Monday, October 3, 2016
Sonic Super Crunch Chicken Strips - Part 1
Today's review is for Sonic's Super Crunch Chicken Strips. I ordered a large combo that came with 5 tenders, a large order of tater tots, and a large drink. It costs $8.84 after tax, which is on the high side. The service was also particularly slow at this location. However, none of these will factor in to the review - only the quality of the chicken tenders themselves.
Breading
The breading was not quite a crunchy as their description suggests, but that may actually be a positive. It was certainly more crunchy than crispy, but never to an "audible" extent. They were not, however, overbreaded. 6/10
Juiciness
The oil of the fried breading tended to overpower any natural juiciness of the chicken itself. This is sadly common in fast food chicken tenders, but better than no flavor at all. 5/10
Spiciness/Flavor
Again, the flavor was more oily and the chicken itself was a bit flavorless. However, taken holistically, the strips were pretty decently flavored. 5/10
Texture/Consistency
They were fine. The only real complaint I have is one end of one of the strips was just breading. This phenomenon is relatively common, but it was a small enough area that I powered through it. 5/10
Overall
This chicken tenders were incredibly...adequate. They likely mark a suitable midpoint between "good" and "bad" chicken tenders. I would not recommend them based on the price, but they are just fine.
Breading
The breading was not quite a crunchy as their description suggests, but that may actually be a positive. It was certainly more crunchy than crispy, but never to an "audible" extent. They were not, however, overbreaded. 6/10
Juiciness
The oil of the fried breading tended to overpower any natural juiciness of the chicken itself. This is sadly common in fast food chicken tenders, but better than no flavor at all. 5/10
Spiciness/Flavor
Again, the flavor was more oily and the chicken itself was a bit flavorless. However, taken holistically, the strips were pretty decently flavored. 5/10
Texture/Consistency
They were fine. The only real complaint I have is one end of one of the strips was just breading. This phenomenon is relatively common, but it was a small enough area that I powered through it. 5/10
Overall
This chicken tenders were incredibly...adequate. They likely mark a suitable midpoint between "good" and "bad" chicken tenders. I would not recommend them based on the price, but they are just fine.
Friday, September 30, 2016
Slim Chickens Chicken Tender Review - Part 1
This evening, I went to Slim Chickens and ordered what they call a "Slims Plate". This item comes with 5 of their chicken tenders, fries, two pieces of toast, and a drink. I misplaced the receipt but I believe the total was around $8.50 before tax. I have been to this place a few times and have been extremely pleased with them on every visit. They promise "Life Changing Chicken", and I believe their tenders certainly qualify. Below is a picture of my order.
Breading
The breading on these chicken tenders is minimalist, but highly effective. It is crispy when it needs to be, but very light and generally stays out of the way of the chicken tenders. It is a uniform golden brown, not greasy, and delicious. However, I would also categorize this as the weakest part of the tenders as it could be crispier, but it earns a 9/10 anyway.
Juiciness
This is easily the best facet of these chicken strips. From the moment you bite in to them, they explode in juicy deliciousness. I cannot fathom a juicier chicken tender. 10/10, and easily.
Spiciness/Flavor
The strips are not spicy, nor do they need to be. The chicken is moist and flavorful enough on its own, so no heavy spicing is needed to compensate. The flavor is perfect. 10/10.
Texture/Consistency
The strips are perfectly tender throughout. There are no rough spots, no inedible portions, and nothing to get in the way. This is how a chicken tender should be. 10/10.
Overall
These are possibly the chicken strips of the gods. They are ambrosia and the juice is nectar. If the breading was slightly crispier, they might be more than that. If I had three wishes, two of them would be for two buckets of these chicken tenders.
The breading on these chicken tenders is minimalist, but highly effective. It is crispy when it needs to be, but very light and generally stays out of the way of the chicken tenders. It is a uniform golden brown, not greasy, and delicious. However, I would also categorize this as the weakest part of the tenders as it could be crispier, but it earns a 9/10 anyway.
Juiciness
This is easily the best facet of these chicken strips. From the moment you bite in to them, they explode in juicy deliciousness. I cannot fathom a juicier chicken tender. 10/10, and easily.
Spiciness/Flavor
The strips are not spicy, nor do they need to be. The chicken is moist and flavorful enough on its own, so no heavy spicing is needed to compensate. The flavor is perfect. 10/10.
Texture/Consistency
The strips are perfectly tender throughout. There are no rough spots, no inedible portions, and nothing to get in the way. This is how a chicken tender should be. 10/10.
Overall
These are possibly the chicken strips of the gods. They are ambrosia and the juice is nectar. If the breading was slightly crispier, they might be more than that. If I had three wishes, two of them would be for two buckets of these chicken tenders.
Thursday, September 29, 2016
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Wednesday, September 28, 2016
Jack In The Box Chicken Tenders - Round 1
Today, I will be doing my first round review of Jack In The Box's Crispy Chicken Tenders. I have had these before, but from my experience they are generally pretty consistent in regards to quality. Specifically, I ordered a medium #13 combo, which comes with 4 of their tenders, and with a total cost of $7.80. I also ordered regular fries and a Coke.
Breading
The strips themselves have a rather flat profile compared to most chicken tenders. The breading of the strips isn't particularly thick compared to the size of the strips. The breading is crispy and the flavor of the breading is best described as "greasy". The breading was consistent, however, and this is probably the best aspect of these chicken tenders. 6/10
Juiciness
The chicken itself was fairly lacking in flavor. The grease from the exterior of the strips greatly overshadows any juiciness of the tenders within. 4/10
Spiciness
Is grease a spice? 3/10
Texture/Consistency
The chicken texture was surprisingly good. There were no rough spots and each strip maintained its texture throughout. Especially for fast food, I have no complaints. However, the strips do lose points simply from being so...thin. 6/10
Overall
These strips are pretty par-for-the-course for fast food chicken tenders. The greasy flavor is actually fairly endearing, even though it does have a bit of an unpleasant aftertaste. Still, it's an good, edible strip, but stay away if you don't like greasiness.
Breading
The strips themselves have a rather flat profile compared to most chicken tenders. The breading of the strips isn't particularly thick compared to the size of the strips. The breading is crispy and the flavor of the breading is best described as "greasy". The breading was consistent, however, and this is probably the best aspect of these chicken tenders. 6/10
Juiciness
The chicken itself was fairly lacking in flavor. The grease from the exterior of the strips greatly overshadows any juiciness of the tenders within. 4/10
Spiciness
Is grease a spice? 3/10
Texture/Consistency
The chicken texture was surprisingly good. There were no rough spots and each strip maintained its texture throughout. Especially for fast food, I have no complaints. However, the strips do lose points simply from being so...thin. 6/10
Overall
These strips are pretty par-for-the-course for fast food chicken tenders. The greasy flavor is actually fairly endearing, even though it does have a bit of an unpleasant aftertaste. Still, it's an good, edible strip, but stay away if you don't like greasiness.
Tuesday, September 27, 2016
Another Reason Chicken Nuggets Are Inferior
http://www.cnn.com/2016/09/27/health/tyson-chicken-nugget-plastic-recall/index.html
I will let the article speak for itself, but basically Tyson is recalling 130,000 pounds of cooked chicken nuggets due to them possibly having pieces of hard plastic in them. I have never been a harsh critic of Tyson - if you are going to do frozen chicken nuggets then their Southern-Style Chicken Nuggets were pretty good (although I'm not sure they still make them). However, the quality of any chicken product is severely compromised by the introduction of hard pieces of plastic. You don't see this kind of thing with real chicken tenders!
I will let the article speak for itself, but basically Tyson is recalling 130,000 pounds of cooked chicken nuggets due to them possibly having pieces of hard plastic in them. I have never been a harsh critic of Tyson - if you are going to do frozen chicken nuggets then their Southern-Style Chicken Nuggets were pretty good (although I'm not sure they still make them). However, the quality of any chicken product is severely compromised by the introduction of hard pieces of plastic. You don't see this kind of thing with real chicken tenders!
Monday, September 26, 2016
Arby's Chicken Tenders - Round 1
My first review will be for Arby's Prime-Cut™ Chicken Tenders. I will post a final overall score once I have had a chance to visit twice, preferably from different locations. I ordered a 3 piece #20 combo with curly fries and a Mountain Dew. Total cost was $6.67. The fries weren't that great and the Mountain Dew was flat, but that is not why you are here! The chicken tenders.
Breading
I think the best way I can describe them is "decent strips with excellent packaging", by which I mean the breading. The first bites of each strip were pretty good - the breading was flavorful and crispy and did exactly what it was supposed to. They were just SLIGHTLY over-breaded near the end, but the overall impression is positive. 8/10
Juiciness
The tenders were fairly juicy for fast-food, but not competitive with most sit-down restaurants. The first tender was the worst of the three but the final strip was quite good. I would add a point if all the tenders were like the third. 7/10
Spiciness
This might be the hardest dimension to measure. The breading certainly had a peppery taste that was not too bad. Otherwise, they were flavorful, especially compared to fast-food restaurants. 7/10
Texture/Consistency
This is the weakest component of these strips. The first tender had an area near the end that was inedible and I had to work around. This is a never a good thing. The second strip was only passable with regards to consistency, but the third strip was okay. 5/10
Overall
Pretty good for fast food, and not too bad for the price. I look forward to revisiting Arby's for my second review and providing the final score.
Breading
I think the best way I can describe them is "decent strips with excellent packaging", by which I mean the breading. The first bites of each strip were pretty good - the breading was flavorful and crispy and did exactly what it was supposed to. They were just SLIGHTLY over-breaded near the end, but the overall impression is positive. 8/10
Juiciness
The tenders were fairly juicy for fast-food, but not competitive with most sit-down restaurants. The first tender was the worst of the three but the final strip was quite good. I would add a point if all the tenders were like the third. 7/10
Spiciness
This might be the hardest dimension to measure. The breading certainly had a peppery taste that was not too bad. Otherwise, they were flavorful, especially compared to fast-food restaurants. 7/10
Texture/Consistency
This is the weakest component of these strips. The first tender had an area near the end that was inedible and I had to work around. This is a never a good thing. The second strip was only passable with regards to consistency, but the third strip was okay. 5/10
Overall
Pretty good for fast food, and not too bad for the price. I look forward to revisiting Arby's for my second review and providing the final score.
Thoughts on upcoming 2016 Presidential Debate
I doubt either candidate will directly address chicken tenders, so the debate will likely lie outside the scope of this blog. Should a candidate specifically mention chicken tenders, I will report on it. Please stay tuned.
Introduction - Chicken Tender Review
Welcome to the Chicken Tender Review blog. The purpose of this site is to document, review, and rate chicken tenders from a variety of sources. First, I think it is important to provide some definitions and to outline the scope of this site, as well as the criteria I will be using to rate the tenders. I must also clarify, up front, that I have no training in food criticism, cooking, professional writing, web design, nutrition science, or any related fields. I have only my passion for quality chicken tenders to rely on.
What is a chicken tender?
Chicken tenders, also sometimes known as chicken fingers, chicken strips, or chicken fillets, are generally strips of chicken breast meat, that are breaded and fried.
What is NOT a chicken tender?
Similar items such as fried chicken breast or other on-the-bone chicken, chicken nuggets, chicken wings, schnitzel, chicken fried steak, or other similar meat products are not chicken tenders. As a result, these will fall outside the scope of this blog. This is not out of any disrespect to any of these dishes, but allow a more apples-to-apples comparison. Apples are also not considered chicken tenders as they are a fruit.
How will the chicken tenders be rated?
I will taste-test chicken tenders from each location two times (in order to reduce the chances that a one-off error produced a bad sample). I will order and consume the tenders "plain", which means I will not utilize any sort of sauces, including dipping sauce. Also, if the location has the option of Spicy and Mild, I will order Mild. When tasting the tenders, I will rate them on the following dimensions and provide a final score (which will not simply be the sum of the various factors). Each piece will be rated on a ten point scale, as will the final score.
1) Breading
The coating should be crispy, but not too crunchy. A cross section of an idealized chicken tender should contain more chicken than breading. The breading should not be too dry, nor too soggy.
2) Juiciness
The juiciness of the chicken itself is paramount, and is generally the single greatest indicator of the overall quality of the chicken. Dry chicken strips will be marked down.
3) Spiciness
Although I will be using the "mild" version of chicken strips if available, that does not mean that the strips need be bland. The saltiness and spiciness of the tenders contribute greatly to the quality of the meal.
4) Texture/Consistency
The texture of the chicken is also important. Encountering a rough spot, bone, or something inedible that needs to be spit out is a major penalty.
How will the chicken NOT be rated?
Not included in my ratings will be nutrition information, cost/value, portions, service, and convenience. If one of these factors is significant, I will mention it but it will not generally impact the final rating.
What is a chicken tender?
Chicken tenders, also sometimes known as chicken fingers, chicken strips, or chicken fillets, are generally strips of chicken breast meat, that are breaded and fried.
What is NOT a chicken tender?
Similar items such as fried chicken breast or other on-the-bone chicken, chicken nuggets, chicken wings, schnitzel, chicken fried steak, or other similar meat products are not chicken tenders. As a result, these will fall outside the scope of this blog. This is not out of any disrespect to any of these dishes, but allow a more apples-to-apples comparison. Apples are also not considered chicken tenders as they are a fruit.
How will the chicken tenders be rated?
I will taste-test chicken tenders from each location two times (in order to reduce the chances that a one-off error produced a bad sample). I will order and consume the tenders "plain", which means I will not utilize any sort of sauces, including dipping sauce. Also, if the location has the option of Spicy and Mild, I will order Mild. When tasting the tenders, I will rate them on the following dimensions and provide a final score (which will not simply be the sum of the various factors). Each piece will be rated on a ten point scale, as will the final score.
1) Breading
The coating should be crispy, but not too crunchy. A cross section of an idealized chicken tender should contain more chicken than breading. The breading should not be too dry, nor too soggy.
2) Juiciness
The juiciness of the chicken itself is paramount, and is generally the single greatest indicator of the overall quality of the chicken. Dry chicken strips will be marked down.
3) Spiciness
Although I will be using the "mild" version of chicken strips if available, that does not mean that the strips need be bland. The saltiness and spiciness of the tenders contribute greatly to the quality of the meal.
4) Texture/Consistency
The texture of the chicken is also important. Encountering a rough spot, bone, or something inedible that needs to be spit out is a major penalty.
How will the chicken NOT be rated?
Not included in my ratings will be nutrition information, cost/value, portions, service, and convenience. If one of these factors is significant, I will mention it but it will not generally impact the final rating.
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