Types of Poultry and How They Are Different
The difference between beef and pork is obvious. So is the difference between pork and chicken. But not everyone knows the difference between different kinds of poultry.
Together with 5-Minute Crafts, you can find out more about poultry and see why chicken is different from turkey, and from goose.
Main bird categories people eat
All the birds people eat can be divided into 4 big categories.
- Domestic land fowl
All the non-swimming domesticated birds are in this category: chickens and turkeys, among others. - Domestic waterfowl
These are the birds that swim: geese, ducks, and domesticated swans, among others. - Game birds
These are wild birds people hunt for: wild turkey, ducks, pheasants, grouses, black grouses, and partridges, among others. - Other poultry
These are the birds that don’t fit into any other category, like ostriches and pigeons, among others.
Some kinds of meat, like wild poultry, can be very hard to find, so we’re only going to tell you about the most popular ones.
Chicken
Chicken is one of the few kinds of meat that contains a lot of protein and not a lot of saturated fats. Chicken is soft, tender, fibrous, and has fewer calories than duck.
- Chicken contains a lot of protein and not a lot of calories. Thanks to a low amount of fat and high amount of protein, chicken can keep you feeling full without additional calories.
- Chicken is a great source of creatine.
Chicken contains a lot of creatine — an element that helps improve your performance and stamina. - Chicken contains vitamin B.
Chicken contains less vitamin B than red meat (like beef or lamb). But it’s still a good source. - Chicken contains glycine that helps us produce collagen.
- Chicken is rich in selenium which is an antioxidant.
Chicken can be cooked in different ways: baked, fried, stewed, or grilled.
Duck
Duck is very juicy and tender, and it has a richer flavor than chicken. In terms of taste, it’s like red meat but the meat is white.
- Duck contains enough glycine to keep your skin healthy.
- Duck also contains a lot of protein — from 19 to 23 grams in 100 grams of meat.
- Duck meat contains less cholesterol than chicken. It also has almost 3 times more vitamin B1 and 2 times more vitamin K.
- Duck contains a lot of iron and copper. And it’s rich in selenium.
Duck is universal — it can be fried, stewed, and grilled.
Turkey
Turkey has very tender meat that is very hard to cook without making it too dry. It’s a lot like chicken but has a richer taste like pork.
- Turkey contains a lot of vitamin B, especially B3 and B6.
- Turkey contains compounds like carnosine, creatine, and taurine. They’re good for your stamina and cardiovascular system.
- This bird contains a lot of selenium. 225 grams of turkey can give you 100% of your daily required selenium.
- Turkey contains a lot of protein. No other meat contains as much protein as turkey.
- Iron, phosphorus, and zinc, are the elements turkey is rich in.
- Turkey meat has less fat than chicken.
Turkey can be used in various meals and it’s mostly fried. Turkey is often used in salads and sandwiches.
Goose
Goose is more flavorful and juicy, fattier, and tougher than chicken. It’s more like red meat in terms of taste and look.
- Goose is a good source of fat and protein. There are almost 23 grams of protein in 100 grams of goose. Most of the fats in goose meat are not saturated.
- Goose contains a lot of amino acids, especially glycine.
- This meat contains a lot of different minerals. Goose meat is rich in copper, phosphorus, iron, and zinc. It also contains a lot of selenium.
- Goose contains vitamin B, especially lots of B6.
Even though goose can be cooked in many different ways, the best way to make it is by roasting it. This will make it very tender.
Quail
Quail is a delicacy and has a lot of good features. It’s juicy, tender, and smells like a wild bird.
- Quails are low-calorie, so even the people that have special diets can eat them. 100 grams of meat only contains 230 calories.
- Quails contain a lot of vitamins (A, D, K, and B) and minerals (calcium, potassium, iron, and copper).
- Quail meat has a low cholesterol level.
- Quail meat contains several amino acids, like arginine and histidine.
- Quail meat is easy to digest which is important for people who have digestive issues, diabetes, and other problems.
- Quail meat doesn’t cause any allergic reactions. Even very young children can eat it.
Muscovy duck
Muscovy ducks have dark red meat, with a spicy flavor that is sometimes compared to roast beef and veal in terms of tenderness.
- Because Muscovy duck is a kind of domesticated duck, its meat has characteristics similar to duck meat. It’s a good source of iron, vitamin B, and glycine.
- Muscovy ducks are low-calorie (they contain even fewer calories than turkey), and they are the least fatty among all other ducks.