Chicken, broilers or fryers, separable fat, raw
Whole food · Poultry Products
Photo: Wikipedia
This is the raw, separable fat from broiler or fryer chickens, a pure, glistening white to yellowish substance that renders into a clear, flavorful liquid when heated. It has a rich, savory, and distinctly 'chicken-y' aroma and taste, with a smooth, waxy texture when solid that becomes silky and liquid when melted. Nutritionally, it is almost pure fat, providing a dense source of energy (629 kcal per 100g) with negligible protein or carbohydrates.
Calorie split: 2% protein · 0% carbs · 98% fat
↓ Full nutrition💚 Why it's loved
People love it for its unparalleled ability to add a rich, savory depth and authentic poultry flavor to dishes, especially when used to roast vegetables or confit meats. It's a prized ingredient in traditional cooking for creating flaky pie crusts, flavorful gravies, and the crispiest fried potatoes.
⚠️ Watch-outs & how to enjoy it better
Due to its extremely high saturated fat content, it should be consumed sparingly by those monitoring cardiovascular health or calorie intake. To counteract this, use it as a flavoring agent in small amounts (e.g., a teaspoon to sauté aromatics) rather than a primary cooking fat, and balance meals with abundant vegetables and lean proteins.
Key benefits
- Provides a high concentration of energy-dense calories.
- Contains oleic acid, the same monounsaturated fat prominent in olive oil.
- Renders into a versatile cooking fat with a high smoke point.
- Imparts a deep, savory flavor to dishes that vegetable oils cannot replicate.
- A traditional, zero-waste ingredient in many culinary traditions.
🍽️ Popular dishes
🌍 Where it's eaten
💡 Did you know?
The Yiddish word 'schmaltz' (rendered chicken fat) has entered English slang to mean excessively sentimental or effusive art or music, referencing its rich, heavy quality.
Full nutrition (USDA data · scales with serving)
| Water | 28.9 g |
| Energy | 629 kcal |
| Energy | 2632 kj |
| Protein | 3.7 g |
| Total lipid (fat) | 68.0 g |
| Ash | 0.28 g |
| Carbohydrate, by difference | 0.00 g |
| Fiber, total dietary | 0.00 g |
| Total Sugars | 0.00 g |
| Calcium, Ca | 7.0 mg |
| Iron, Fe | 0.70 mg |
| Magnesium, Mg | 6.0 mg |
| Phosphorus, P | 54.0 mg |
| Potassium, K | 64.0 mg |
| Sodium, Na | 32.0 mg |
| Zinc, Zn | 0.45 mg |
| Copper, Cu | 0.03 mg |
| Manganese, Mn | 0.01 mg |
| Selenium, Se | 9.7 ug |
| Vitamin C, total ascorbic acid | 0.00 mg |
| Thiamin | 0.02 mg |
| Riboflavin | 0.06 mg |
| Niacin | 2.0 mg |
| Pantothenic acid | 0.19 mg |
| Vitamin B-6 | 0.02 mg |
| Folate, total | 1.0 ug |
| Folic acid | 0.00 ug |
| Folate, food | 1.0 ug |
| Folate, DFE | 1.0 ug |
| Choline, total | 15.7 mg |
| Betaine | 0.60 mg |
| Vitamin B-12 | 0.07 ug |
| Vitamin B-12, added | 0.00 ug |
| Vitamin A, RAE | 125 ug |
| Retinol | 125 ug |
| Carotene, beta | 0.00 ug |
| Carotene, alpha | 0.00 ug |
| Cryptoxanthin, beta | 0.00 ug |
| Vitamin A, IU | 509 iu |
| Lycopene | 0.00 ug |
| Lutein + zeaxanthin | 0.00 ug |
| Vitamin E (alpha-tocopherol) | 2.7 mg |
| Vitamin E, added | 0.00 mg |
| Vitamin D (D2 + D3), International Units | 130 iu |
| Vitamin D (D2 + D3) | 3.3 ug |
| Vitamin D3 (cholecalciferol) | 3.3 ug |
| Vitamin K (phylloquinone) | 2.4 ug |
| Alcohol, ethyl | 0.00 g |
| Caffeine | 0.00 mg |
| Theobromine | 0.00 mg |
Fat & fatty acid profile (per 100g)
| Fatty acids, total saturated | 20.3 g |
| SFA 4:0 | 0.00 g |
| SFA 6:0 | 0.00 g |
| SFA 8:0 | 0.00 g |
| SFA 10:0 | 0.00 g |
| SFA 12:0 | 0.04 g |
| SFA 14:0 | 0.60 g |
| SFA 16:0 | 14.7 g |
| SFA 18:0 | 4.1 g |
| Fatty acids, total monounsaturated | 30.3 g |
| MUFA 16:1 | 3.9 g |
| MUFA 18:1 | 25.3 g |
| MUFA 20:1 | 0.73 g |
| MUFA 22:1 | 0.00 g |
| Fatty acids, total polyunsaturated | 14.2 g |
| PUFA 18:2 | 13.3 g |
| PUFA 18:3 | 0.70 g |
| PUFA 18:4 | 0.00 g |
| PUFA 20:4 | 0.04 g |
| PUFA 20:5 n-3 (EPA) | 0.00 g |
| PUFA 22:5 n-3 (DPA) | 0.00 g |
| PUFA 22:6 n-3 (DHA) | 0.00 g |
| Fatty acids, total trans | 0.75 g |
| Cholesterol | 58.0 mg |
Amino acid profile (per 100g)
| Tryptophan | 0.03 g |
| Threonine | 0.13 g |
| Isoleucine | 0.12 g |
| Leucine | 0.22 g |
| Lysine | 0.22 g |
| Methionine | 0.07 g |
| Cystine | 0.06 g |
| Phenylalanine | 0.13 g |
| Tyrosine | 0.09 g |
| Valine | 0.16 g |
| Arginine | 0.29 g |
| Histidine | 0.07 g |
| Alanine | 0.30 g |
| Aspartic acid | 0.33 g |
| Glutamic acid | 0.46 g |
| Glycine | 0.59 g |
| Proline | 0.35 g |
| Serine | 0.15 g |
FAQ
What's the difference between chicken fat and schmaltz?
Chicken fat is the raw or rendered separable fat from a chicken. Schmaltz is the specific Yiddish term for chicken fat that has been slowly rendered, often with onions or cracklings, into a clear, flavorful cooking fat and spread.
Is chicken fat healthier than butter?
Both are high in saturated fat, but chicken fat contains more monounsaturated fat (like oleic acid) and less saturated fat than butter. However, it is still a concentrated fat and should be used in moderation as part of a balanced diet.
How do I render raw chicken fat at home?
Chop the fat into small pieces, place in a pot with a splash of water to prevent burning, and cook over very low heat until the fat has melted and the solids are golden. Strain through a fine-mesh sieve. Store the liquid fat in the refrigerator.
Nutrient density (calculated · NRF9.3)
Nutrient Rich Foods index: beneficial nutrients (protein, fiber, vitamins, minerals) minus saturated fat, added sugar & sodium, per 100 kcal.
NRF9.3 index — Fulgoni, Keast & Drewnowski, 2009. Computed from USDA nutrients.
Weight-loss friendliness (composite index)
Energy density 6.29 kcal/g · 2% calories from protein · 0.0 g fiber · 0.0 g sugar per 100 g.
Composite of energy density (Rolls et al., 1999), protein & fiber satiety, minus sugar. A calculated heuristic — ranks satiety-per-calorie, not a clinical measure.
Dietary load (calculated from USDA values)
Potential renal acid load. Positive = acid-forming, negative = alkaline-forming.
Sodium-to-potassium ratio: 0.50 (lower is better — aim for ≤ 1)
Sodium:potassium per WHO potassium guidance. Computed from USDA nutrients.