Chicken liver: benefits and harm to the body

The benefits or dangers of offal can be argued for a long time. Many liver lovers prefer to eat chicken, considering the similar product of large animals more severe. Doctors, together with nutritionists, recommend introducing it into the diet, focusing on the enormous benefits and rich vitamin composition, but only to those who do not have strict contraindications to liver use.

Which liver is healthier: chicken or beef

Both products are notable for their low price and speed of preparation, so they are available to most.

If you compare beef liver with chicken, the first loses in calories (only 100 kcal per 100 g). In addition, such a valuable substance as folic acid is contained in larger quantities in chicken offal, which determines its nutritional value.

Beef liver contains more B vitamins and retinol, which is also important for maintaining a normal balance in the body. Nutritionists also note the fact that when eating cow liver for a long period, hematopoietic function significantly improves, and hemoglobin levels increase. The ability to strengthen the immune and nervous system is characteristic of the product, regardless of its origin.

Thus, it is impossible to say unequivocally which liver is more beneficial: chicken or beef. This, most likely, depends on individual preferences to the taste of the finished dish, as well as on the body's ability to easily absorb a particular product.

Composition and calorie content

Chicken offal is an excellent source of protein, which also has a low cost. This is a storehouse of trace elements such as iron, zinc, copper, manganese, chromium. Rare substances such as cobalt and selenium are also present in the composition. Of the macronutrients, a lot of phosphorus, magnesium, potassium, sodium and calcium. This product allows you to replenish the body’s reserves even with poor nutrition, if chicken liver is present in the diet. In addition, this product contains a huge selection of vitamins, including nicotinic acid.

The calorie content of the chicken product, whose energy yield is 137.7 kcal per 100 g of mass, allows you to get the most out of food without harming the figure.

What is useful chicken liver

This product has great nutritional value and can affect the normalization of many organs and tissues.

For women

Chicken liver can replace chicken breast in the diet of a losing weight woman, since the protein content in these two products is almost identical. In addition, this product contains a large amount of folic acid, which is involved in many metabolic processes in the body of a woman. So, the hematopoietic function is regulated, the psychoemotional state is normalized, and the reproductive and cardiovascular systems are maintained and stimulated.

Also, chicken liver is useful for women also in that its components have a beneficial effect on the condition of hair, nails and skin, and also participate in the normalization of the thyroid gland.Thanks to this, the effects of hormonal surges in the female body are negated.

For men

The male body also needs high-quality food support. In addition to the fact that with a chicken liver, a man can get the necessary amount of protein, at the same time he can tidy up the walls of blood vessels, set up the digestive system to work smoothly, and also reduce the risk of manifestations of diseases of the cardiovascular system. Despite the fact that often men try to avoid dishes of offal, properly cooked chicken liver will not leave a single gentleman hungry.

During pregnancy

Since a woman incurs additional energy losses during the period of gestation, and also needs reliable sources of protein, vitamins and nutrients, chicken liver can be an excellent solution in the diet. In addition, do not forget about the function of stimulating blood formation, which is played by the components of the product in the body, which is extremely important for the normal development of the fetus.

When breastfeeding

Although chicken liver is classified as a dietary product, lactation should be carefully introduced into the diet. It is also worth refraining from eating fried liver, and give preference to a boiled or stewed cooking option. In this case, the chicken liver dish will benefit not only the mother, but also the child whom she feeds with her milk.

For kids

Children from 8 months old begin to introduce meat products into complementary foods. Often in the recommendations you can find the liver, but it should be given to the baby to try as soon as possible, while the consistency should be made as tender as possible.

For a growing organism, the entire set of vitamins and minerals contained in the liver is useful. In addition, increasing immunity and improving hematopoietic function is an excellent bonus from a healthy protein meal.

Can I eat chicken liver while losing weight

Known diets in which it is recommended to eat chicken liver in large quantities in combination with vegetables and cereals. Typically, such a diet is calculated for several days.

In addition, many beauties lose weight precisely on dishes from the liver - soups or salads. You can also introduce this product into the diet and prepare a variety of delicious and healthy dishes.

Nutritionists do not recommend abusing liver dishes, and limit yourself to just one meal with chicken liver per day. It is better if the product is cooked by cooking or stewing. In parallel, it is recommended to eat dairy products, vegetables and fruits, rice and fish.

Chicken liver in medicine

The unique nutritional composition of the chicken product determines the high interest in it from doctors. It is known that a healthy person regular use of the liver is only beneficial. But there are conditions in which the use of liver foods should be limited or avoided altogether.

With diabetes

Chicken liver is a unique component of diet food, often used to prevent various diseases, as well as facilitate their course. With diabetes, dishes from the liver are just a find, because, despite the low calorie content and carbohydrate content, they contain many vitamins and such important components for diabetics as iron and copper.

Due to the fact that the nutritional components of the liver are in it in an activated state, they are absorbed at a high speed. The undeniable benefits of the product are important both for people with diabetes and for healthy people.

However, for diabetics, it is important to learn how to properly prepare the liver in order to avoid the dryness of the finished dish. Also, when preparing multicomponent dishes, you should carefully select the products so as not to accidentally add the forbidden ones with such an ailment.

Important: the glycemic index of chicken liver is 0 units.

With pancreatitis

Care should be taken in choosing a diet, this also applies to offal dishes. There is no definitive ban on the liver, but it is necessary to compare the possible harm and benefit from the use of the product, as well as use the most non-aggressive methods of heat treatment.

With gastritis

With this disease, the liver is not a prohibited product, on the contrary, it is recommended to include it in the menu. However, the offal can bring both benefit and harm, so you should carefully approach the method of preparing a dish from the liver, so as not to complicate the process of digestion.

For constipation

Medicine knows the ability of chicken liver to stimulate intestinal motility and normalize the digestive system. In addition, the ability of the liver to influence the hematopoietic function of the body is manifested in the fact that when it is used, the blood supply to the organs improves, which is extremely important for digestion in various parts of the intestine. Therefore, the liver with constipation can be consumed, while paying attention to the method of preparation. Too greasy dish will negatively affect intestinal motility.

With gout

With this ailment, the liver, as well as other offal and meat, is prohibited. Since with gout nutrition plays a large role in the general condition of the body and the course of the disease, you should not neglect the ban.

With cholecystitis

Diet with this ailment involves the rejection of fried and fatty foods. If you want to enjoy a chicken liver dish, then it is better to use it in a boiled or stewed form. At the same time, oil should be excluded from classical recipes during cooking.

Harm and contraindications

As with any product, there are a number of contraindications for the liver, in which it is worth abandoning its use. These include:

1. Acute forms of renal failure.
2. The tendency to poorly absorb chicken protein or its complete intolerance.
3. Individual intolerance, allergy.
4. High blood cholesterol.
5. Acute diseases of the digestive and excretory systems, such as an ulcer or kidney failure.

There is also a categorical prohibition on the use of stale, spoiled or with obvious external defects of the product.

How to choose and store chicken liver

A careful selection of the product will make it possible to prepare a healthy nutritious dish without risk to health, therefore, the process of choosing high-quality and fresh offal should be given special attention.

The ideal liver is devoid of any inclusions, has a smooth surface with a slight sheen, as well as a burgundy brown tint over its entire area. In addition, the presence of large blood clots or large vessels should alert you - it is better to refuse such a product.

A sign of a poor-quality product is:

• friability;
• heterogeneity and the presence of inclusions;
• clots and large vessels;
• fat areas that indicate poor cleaning.

And also the greenish color of the product - means that at the stage of cutting and packaging the product got traces of the enzyme that came from a bursting gall bladder.

If the liver is frostbitten, a pale orange offal will indicate this.

Repeated attempts to thaw and freeze a liver will be indicated by its consistency - if it is loose and crumbles into pieces, then this process was repeated several times.

To prepare a healthy dish, it is better to take chilled or fresh liver, and if there is a need for defrosting, this should be done first in the refrigerator.

The most delicate taste differs from the product of domestic chicken, so high-quality healthy liver can be purchased at the farmers market.

After purchase, fresh offal can be stored for no more than two days on the middle shelf. At room temperature, the chicken liver can lie for no more than 12 hours, after which it should be prepared or not used at all in the future.

Is it possible to freeze

You can freeze chicken offal, but it’s better to do it once only, since repeated freezing negatively affects the quality of the product. At a temperature of about minus 10 degrees, useful properties will remain for several months. And if you translate it into a state of deep freezing at -25 degrees, the shelf life can be extended to ten months.

As already mentioned, repeated freezing renders the liver unusable. In addition to the fact that the product may be covered with dark spots and mucus may appear on it, its use can lead to food poisoning.

How to quickly defrost chicken liver

For quick defrosting without compromising the vitamin composition of the liver, you can use the average microwave mode (with a wavelength of about 300) for 7-10 minutes. The mildest thawing is obtained at room temperature. But this process is quite lengthy. If it needs to be accelerated, you can hold the product under a stream of slightly warm water. Simultaneous analysis of the liver into pieces may also help.

What can be cooked from chicken liver: recipes

A properly prepared offal is able to retain a maximum of nutrients and vitamins, as well as quickly absorbed by the body. To do this, you must adhere to the rule of short heat treatment.

After 10 minutes of frying, the liver begins to lose some of its vitamins and minerals, so long-term processing is only suitable for stews. In addition, the optimal combination with fats can be achieved if olive oil is used as a vegetable oil.

The use of taste enhancers and seasonings with a rich chemical composition should also be avoided during cooking. It is better to give preference to fresh herbs, garlic, vegetables. To maintain the protein structure during long-term cooking, you can add some sour-milk product. Milk, sour cream, cream or yogurt will help preserve the protein component of the product before serving.

Salad

A healthy and tasty salad that can be used in a diet while losing weight contains, in addition to chicken liver (about 200 grams), leeks, Chinese cabbage (300 grams), and red bell pepper. Grind all components, cut the liver into cubes. As a dressing, use soy sauce, garnish with herbs.

Cake

Even those who do not favor offal dishes love the liver cake. This incredibly tasty dish is not difficult to prepare, but troublesome. You will have to tinker with cake layers.

To make a chicken liver cake you will need:

• liver - 600 grams;
• 5 eggs - 3 raw for dough and 2 boiled for decoration;
• carrots - 3 pieces, of which one is left for decoration;
• fat sour cream - 2 tablespoons;
• mayonnaise - about 250 grams;
• flour - half a glass;
• greens;
• garlic - a few cloves;
• cooking oil for frying.

How to cook:

1. Rinse offal thoroughly under running water, remove films and veins. The product should be carefully reviewed for gallbladder residues. They usually have a greenish color and are able to spoil the taste of the finished dish due to their bitterness.
2. Combine a clean liver with eggs, sour cream and flour. Beat the whole mixture with a blender to a homogeneous consistency and salt.
3. Bake cake cakes in a pre-heated frying pan, greased with a small amount of vegetable oil immediately before frying the first pancake.
4. Pour the dough into the pan in the form of a pancake of small thickness (about 3 mm), distributing it evenly over the entire surface in a circular motion.
5. Fry pancakes over low heat, their willingness to turn over can be determined by the edges lagging behind the pan. This will happen in 1-2 minutes.Gently with a spatula you need to turn the pancake over and fry it on the wet side for another minute. If the pancake is torn during the turning, do not worry - during the assembly of the cake the defects will be successfully masked.
6. Separately, it is necessary to stew the pre-chopped carrots and onions with the addition of salt and pepper. Cool the prepared vegetable mass, stewed for 10 minutes. It will be used as a layer between pancakes.
7. The sauce for smearing the liver cake is prepared as follows: squeeze the garlic into a container with mayonnaise, mix well.
8. Next, put the pancakes on a large dish. Grease each layer with garlic-mayonnaise sauce and cover with a fry of onions and carrots.
9. For decoration, grind 2 boiled eggs and 1 boiled carrot. Sprinkle the resulting mass into the upper cake. As a final chord, you can decorate the cake with a sprig of greenery.

Serve chilled to the table.

Cutlets

To prepare the cutlets, you should take the chicken liver, rinse it thoroughly under running water and pour over boiling water. The last manipulation will allow you to get rid of possible bitterness, while the dish will turn out very tender.

Grind the liver with a blender or with a meat grinder. Stuffing has a liquid consistency, so you should add an egg and a small amount of flour to it. Liver cutlets are fried like pancakes. However, in the process of preparation, it should be borne in mind that the liver is preparing quickly, so you need to remove the patties from the fire and turn over on time to avoid dryness.

Optionally, you can add onions, carrots, herbs and any spices to the stuffing. Also, to give viscosity, it is recommended to use breadcrumbs for breading.

Soup

This recipe is actively used by those who are on a diet for weight loss. A tasty and healthy dish is prepared as follows: boil about 400 grams of chicken liver, then take the broth separately, add chopped potatoes, onions and carrots, as well as sweet pepper if desired. Cook for up to 10 minutes. Add cooked beans prepared in advance, a spoonful of tomato paste and finely chopped liver to the finished dish. You can spread the liver into each plate separately, and then fill it with broth.

Fritters

Would need:

• 500 g of the liver;
• 1 egg (chicken);
• 1 PC. onions (onions);
• to taste vegetable oil;
• 2 tbsp. tablespoons of flour (wheat);
• ground black pepper - optional;
• salt to taste.

How to cook:

1. Mix the twisted liver, onion, beat the egg into the resulting mass and add flour, beat everything together with a blender.
2. Grease a frying pan on a stove with oil. The main thing is not to overdo it so that the pancakes do not come out bold.
3. Pour the composition portionwise. Fry for about a minute (time is indicated on each side).
4. Finish fritters chopped finely chopped greens.

Beef Stroganoff

To prepare this gourmet dish, you need a little less than a kilogram of liver, two onions, about half a glass of sour cream, 0.5 liters of pure water, butter, pre-melted (2 tablespoons), 2.5 tablespoons of flour, a teaspoon of sugar and a pinch of salt as well as spices to taste.

How to cook:

1. You must first let the chopped onions in a pan, then add the liver, sliced ​​into pieces. Add spices and mix.
2. Then pour the flour on top and mix thoroughly. Fry until the liver is cooked with periodic stirring.
3. It should be separately prepared dressing, mixing sour cream with water.
4. Pour the liver with the resulting dressing, let it boil and introduce seasonings. After boiling, simmer another 10 minutes.

Pate

Home cookers have long chosen a recipe for making chicken liver pate and have come up with a few key rules that will help you get a tasty and healthy dish:

1. Chicken liver needs preparation - after washing and removing fatty layers and ducts, it should be finely chopped.
2. Paste vegetables must first be peeled, chopped and stewed.
3. To prepare the paste, you need boiled, fried or stewed liver.

To prepare a dish according to the classic recipe, you will need such components: one each of onions and carrots, butter and vegetable oil, your favorite spices and chicken liver in an amount of at least 0.5 kilograms. At will, the quantity and composition of vegetables can be changed at your discretion. Many housewives also add cream or milk. Spices for paste can be simple (for example, bay leaf, salt, pepper), or more specific - everything tastes to households.

Before combining the ingredients in the most delicate paste, you should first stew the vegetables, and seasonings are added precisely during the stew. The liver can be prepared separately. If it is cooked, then this process should take time sufficient to achieve a state of readiness. If the chopped liver is stewed with vegetables and spices, then this process should take at least half an hour.

When all the components are ready, they are interrupted by a blender. It should turn out a gentle mashed mass. If the paste is slightly dry, you can add a little milk to it. It is important not to overdo it with the amount, so that the finished paste does not spread further.

How to put out

Very tender dishes are obtained with stewed chicken liver. To obtain it, you need to place the pre-washed and cut into pieces offal in a hot frying pan with a drop of vegetable oil. Then fill the liver with water so that it covers the product completely, cover and simmer until cooked. You can add vegetables during cooking. For example, it is better to fry onions or carrots before adding the liver, and other vegetables, such as green peas, zucchini, can be added at the same time.

How to cook

Boiled liver cooks pretty quickly. First you need to boil the water, and then lower the liver into it. The cooking process takes about 15 minutes. Readiness can be checked with a knife - if colorless juice is released when punctured, then the dish is ready.

How to fry

In the process of frying, a dry liver dish is often obtained. To prevent this from happening, the product must be thoroughly washed, and then held in milk for about 20 minutes. This will add tenderness to the finished dish and will allow you to preserve the protein structure, despite the aggressive cooking conditions. Fry in a pan with onions and butter.

How to cook chicken liver in sour cream

The recipe is the same as when frying, but after the liver has changed color from red to brown, you need to salt the dish and add pepper, pour sour cream and simmer for a few more minutes.

How to Make Chicken Liver Gravy

To prepare aromatic liver gravy, you will need the offal itself, any vegetables you want (onions, carrots, peppers), spices, herbs and frying oil. Also an important component of gravy is tomato paste, which should be taken from the calculation of one large spoon for every 300 grams of liver.

After frying the liver with other ingredients, add tomato paste and simmer for a couple of minutes.

Why chicken liver is bitter

For the liver, a bitter taste is a normal occurrence. But excessive bitterness should alert - the offal, most likely, has soured.

The beauty of the chicken product is that a little bitterness is easily washed under running water.

Do I need to soak

Chicken liver is a rather tender product and does not need preliminary soaking. If you have to fry, then you should first soak the liver in any dairy product. This will preserve the protein structure under the influence of high temperatures.

How to clean

Offal, including chicken, need to be thoroughly cleaned.Therefore, this step should not be neglected before cooking - it is better to get rid of films and streaks.

The white film from the chicken liver is difficult to remove, so it must first be doused with boiling water. If this does not help, you need to scald the product again, separation will occur much faster. You can also lower the liver into a pot of hot water and hold for several minutes.

To quickly remove the film, you need to cut it a little from one end. After that, shoot it at an angle upward, while striving to remove the entire film at a time.

Is it possible to give animals chicken liver

For pets, chicken liver is no less useful than for humans. For cats, it serves as an excellent way to fill the diet with the necessary amount of nutrients. But still, you should avoid the cat’s daily intake of liver, as this can lead to excessive accumulation of retinol, which, in turn, causes malfunctions in the digestive system of the animal.

Do not get carried away with cats liver problems with the production of gastric juice, especially in the acute period of the disease.

In addition, it is necessary to give animals only fresh, past strict quality control offal.

Photo of chicken liver