Forget thewings,tenders, and cutlets.Nuggetsare America’s preferred form of frozen chicken.
It’s not much of a stretch to suggest that the vast majority of these nugget-eaters are probably kids.
The fact that the totalU.S.
Photo: Shutterstock. Design: Eat This, Not That!
child populationin 2020 also numbered around 73 million is either an absolute indication or a remarkable coincidence.
One of the country’s most prolific consumers of chicken nuggets lives right here in my home.
She is fiercely loyal to one store-bought brand: Applegate Farms.
Chris Shott/Eat This, Not That!
A 16-ounce bag disappears with mind-boggling speed.
It’s not really a big issue until local supplies run low.
Finding a replacement that passes muster with my discerning, resident nugget connoisseur can be challenging.
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A peaceful household sort of depends on it.
But, these nuggets didn’t just have to yo meideally, they should also yo my pickiest child.
The Look: Oblong and tan.
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The breading is thinly layered but noticeable, while the meaty interior is stark white and condensed.
The Taste: Perfectly palatable, if a bit basic.
Both of my kids adore these, especially the younger one, who consumes them on the regular.
Chris Shott/Eat This, Not That!
“The 22-ounce bag cost me $11.99.
The Look: Uniformly large and flat.
In fact, it’s a lot chewier than any other nugget in this test.
Chris Shott/Eat This, Not That!
My daughter despised the texture, which she described as “sticky"a total non-starter.
The brand’sfrozen baked nuggetspromise no artificial flavors or colors, and no antibiotics, either.
An eight-ounce package cost me $5.99.6254a4d1642c605c54bf1cab17d50f1e
The Look: Round and dark brown.
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Each orb came with a thick, crusty coating, speckled with seasonings.
The meat inside looked printer-paper white but mechanically compacted.
The Taste: Crunchy and well seasoned.
Chris Shott/Eat This, Not That!
The zippy flavor of the breading reminded me of a crab cake or Southern-style hush puppy.
They are battered and breaded with rice and corn flours, making them suitable even for the gluten-averse.
A one-pound bag cost $4.99.
Chris Shott/Eat This, Not That!
The Look: Plump and meaty.
These nuggets came in a wide range of shapes and sizes.
Some were massive chunks.
Unlike other nuggets, the meat clearly presented as real chicken.
The Taste: Succulent and savory.
Though not intensely flavored, these chicken chunks were among the most tender and juiciest of the bunch.
Even so, my daughter was not thrilled with the texture of these, either.
She said they stuck to her teeth “in a weird way.”
They’re also gluten-free.
A 22-ounce bag cost $8.99.
The chicken inside seemed genuine and juicy.
Meanwhile, my young nuggetarian described them as “too sour” for her liking.
A 12-ounce package set me back $7.99.
The Taste: Like chicken.
Of all the various nuggets, B&E tasted the most pure to me.
The razor-thin breading allowed the bird’s natural flavor to shine through undisturbed.
Also, quite naturally, the youngster really disliked these.
“No, no, no,” she said.
Priced at $6.49, the hefty 29-ounce bag is arguably the best bargain of the entire testing group.
The breading noticeably cracked in a few places during cooking.
The meat inside looked minced and mashed together.
The Taste: Balanced and satisfying.
Though hard to discern the precise flavors, the overall effect was pleasant and savory.
These morsels basically dissolved in the mouth with little to no chewing required.
Even my hardest-to-just child seemed okay with them.
“I liked these a little bit,” she said.
“They taste pretty good!”
That’s about as close to a ringing endorsement as I will get on this tasting adventure.
Ginormous four-pound bags are available atCostco, which is where I picked them up for $17.99.
The Look: Stubby and misshaped.
On the inside, though, it’s all perfect: just juicy, white meat.
The Chick-fil-A comparison is spot on.
There’s a highly appealing savoriness to these morsels that the rest of them simply lack.
Sure, my youngest didn’t like these, either"way too spicy,” she said.
But, forget all that: these nuggets are so delicious that I’m keeping them all to myself.
That’s why they’re ranked No.
