Chicken, dark meat, drumstick, meat and skin, with added solution, raw
Whole food · Poultry Products
Photo: Wikipedia
This is a raw chicken drumstick, complete with its skin, that has been enhanced with a solution (typically a salt-water or broth mixture) to boost moisture and tenderness. The meat is dark, rich, and slightly more flavorful than white meat, with a firm, satisfying texture that becomes succulent when cooked. It's a high-protein, zero-carb staple, delivering about 18 grams of protein and 8 grams of fat per 100 grams, making it a cornerstone of many hearty meals.
💚 Why it's loved
People love drumsticks for their deep, savory flavor and the perfect balance of tender meat and crispy skin when roasted or grilled. They are a universally accessible, budget-friendly cut that feels satisfying and is the centerpiece of countless comforting, home-cooked meals across cultures.
⚠️ Watch-outs & how to enjoy it better
The skin is high in saturated fat and calories, which some may wish to limit. The added solution often contains sodium, which can be a concern for those monitoring salt intake. **Tip:** To reduce sodium, you can rinse the drumsticks and pat them dry before cooking. To manage fat, you can remove the skin after cooking or opt for skinless versions. Always ensure drumsticks are cooked to an internal temperature of 165°F (74°C) to eliminate foodborne bacteria.
Key benefits
- Excellent source of complete, high-quality protein for muscle maintenance.
- Provides essential minerals like iron and zinc from dark meat.
- Skin adds flavor and healthy monounsaturated fats.
- The added solution helps retain moisture during cooking.
- Versatile base for a wide variety of global cuisines.
🍽️ Popular dishes
🌍 Where it's eaten
💡 Did you know?
The 'added solution' is often a mixture of water, salt, and sometimes broth or flavor enhancers, which can account for up to 15% of the product's weight—a practice known as 'enhancing' or 'plumping' that helps keep the meat juicy.
Full nutrition (scales with serving)
| Water | 73.8 g |
| Energy | 146 kcal |
| Energy | 612 kj |
| Protein | 18.0 g |
| Total lipid (fat) | 8.2 g |
| Ash | 0.94 g |
| Carbohydrate, by difference | 0.00 g |
| Fiber, total dietary | 0.00 g |
| Total Sugars | 0.00 g |
| Calcium, Ca | 8.0 mg |
| Iron, Fe | 0.69 mg |
| Magnesium, Mg | 15.0 mg |
| Phosphorus, P | 135 mg |
| Potassium, K | 179 mg |
| Sodium, Na | 150 mg |
| Zinc, Zn | 1.8 mg |
| Copper, Cu | 0.06 mg |
| Manganese, Mn | 0.01 mg |
| Selenium, Se | 20.8 ug |
| Vitamin C, total ascorbic acid | 0.00 mg |
| Thiamin | 0.09 mg |
| Riboflavin | 0.22 mg |
| Niacin | 4.6 mg |
| Pantothenic acid | 1.0 mg |
| Vitamin B-6 | 0.35 mg |
| Folate, total | 3.0 ug |
| Folic acid | 0.00 ug |
| Folate, food | 3.0 ug |
| Folate, DFE | 3.0 ug |
| Choline, total | 68.7 mg |
| Betaine | 11.3 mg |
| Vitamin B-12 | 0.45 ug |
| Vitamin B-12, added | 0.00 ug |
| Vitamin A, RAE | 15.0 ug |
| Retinol | 15.0 ug |
| Carotene, beta | 0.00 ug |
| Carotene, alpha | 0.00 ug |
| Cryptoxanthin, beta | 0.00 ug |
| Vitamin A, IU | 50.0 iu |
| Lycopene | 0.00 ug |
| Lutein + zeaxanthin | 87.0 ug |
| Vitamin E (alpha-tocopherol) | 0.40 mg |
| Vitamin E, added | 0.00 mg |
| Tocopherol, beta | 0.00 mg |
| Tocopherol, gamma | 0.12 mg |
| Tocopherol, delta | 0.00 mg |
| Tocotrienol, alpha | 0.01 mg |
| Tocotrienol, beta | 0.00 mg |
| Tocotrienol, gamma | 0.01 mg |
| Tocotrienol, delta | 0.00 mg |
| Vitamin D (D2 + D3), International Units | 8.0 iu |
| Vitamin D (D2 + D3) | 0.20 ug |
| Vitamin D3 (cholecalciferol) | 0.20 ug |
| Vitamin K (phylloquinone) | 0.00 ug |
| Vitamin K (Dihydrophylloquinone) | 0.00 ug |
| Vitamin K (Menaquinone-4) | 11.0 ug |
| Fatty acids, total saturated | 2.3 g |
| SFA 4:0 | 0.00 g |
| SFA 6:0 | 0.00 g |
| SFA 8:0 | 0.00 g |
| SFA 10:0 | 0.01 g |
| SFA 12:0 | 0.01 g |
| SFA 14:0 | 0.05 g |
| SFA 15:0 | 0.01 g |
| SFA 16:0 | 1.8 g |
| SFA 17:0 | 0.01 g |
| SFA 18:0 | 0.46 g |
| SFA 20:0 | 0.01 g |
| SFA 22:0 | 0.01 g |
| SFA 24:0 | 0.00 g |
| Fatty acids, total monounsaturated | 3.6 g |
| MUFA 14:1 | 0.02 g |
| MUFA 15:1 | 0.00 g |
| MUFA 16:1 | 0.55 g |
| MUFA 16:1 c | 0.55 g |
| MUFA 17:1 | 0.01 g |
| MUFA 18:1 | 2.9 g |
| MUFA 18:1 c | 2.9 g |
| MUFA 20:1 | 0.04 g |
| MUFA 22:1 | 0.00 g |
| MUFA 22:1 c | 0.00 g |
| MUFA 24:1 c | 0.00 g |
| Fatty acids, total polyunsaturated | 1.9 g |
| PUFA 18:2 | 1.6 g |
| PUFA 18:2 n-6 c,c | 1.6 g |
| PUFA 18:2 CLAs | 0.01 g |
| PUFA 18:3 | 0.09 g |
| PUFA 18:3 n-3 c,c,c (ALA) | 0.08 g |
| PUFA 18:3 n-6 c,c,c | 0.02 g |
| PUFA 18:4 | 0.00 g |
| PUFA 20:2 n-6 c,c | 0.01 g |
| PUFA 20:3 | 0.03 g |
| PUFA 20:3 n-3 | 0.00 g |
| PUFA 20:3 n-6 | 0.02 g |
| PUFA 20:4 | 0.09 g |
| PUFA 20:5 n-3 (EPA) | 0.00 g |
| PUFA 22:4 | 0.03 g |
| PUFA 22:5 n-3 (DPA) | 0.01 g |
| PUFA 22:6 n-3 (DHA) | 0.01 g |
| Fatty acids, total trans | 0.05 g |
| Fatty acids, total trans-monoenoic | 0.04 g |
| TFA 16:1 t | 0.00 g |
| TFA 18:1 t | 0.03 g |
| TFA 22:1 t | 0.00 g |
| TFA 18:2 t not further defined | 0.02 g |
| Fatty acids, total trans-polyenoic | 0.02 g |
| Cholesterol | 95.0 mg |
| Tryptophan | 0.18 g |
| Threonine | 0.76 g |
| Isoleucine | 0.76 g |
| Leucine | 1.4 g |
| Lysine | 1.5 g |
| Methionine | 0.46 g |
| Cystine | 0.19 g |
| Phenylalanine | 0.65 g |
| Tyrosine | 0.60 g |
| Valine | 0.79 g |
| Arginine | 1.2 g |
| Histidine | 0.48 g |
| Alanine | 1.0 g |
| Aspartic acid | 1.6 g |
| Glutamic acid | 2.6 g |
| Glycine | 0.89 g |
| Proline | 0.73 g |
| Serine | 0.69 g |
| Alcohol, ethyl | 0.00 g |
| Caffeine | 0.00 mg |
| Theobromine | 0.00 mg |
FAQ
What does 'with added solution' mean on the label?
It means the chicken was injected or soaked in a solution (usually water, salt, and sometimes other flavorings) before packaging. This helps the meat retain moisture and can add flavor, but it also increases the sodium content and the total weight of the product.
Is the skin nutritious?
The skin is a significant source of the fat and calories in the drumstick. It does contain some nutrients like collagen and healthy fats, but it's best enjoyed in moderation. You can easily remove it after cooking if you prefer a leaner option.
How is dark meat different from white meat?
Dark meat (from legs and thighs) comes from muscles used more frequently, so it has more myoglobin (an iron-rich protein), giving it a darker color, richer flavor, and slightly higher fat content. It's more forgiving during cooking and stays moist longer than breast meat.