In the United States, National Fried Chicken Day is observed each year on July 6th. On this day, fried chicken lovers across the country celebrate this American favorite at a nearby restaurant, home or an outdoor picnic.
Scottish immigrants brought their tradition of deep-frying chicken in fat to the southern United States. After its introduction to the American South, fried chicken soon became a staple. Over time, seasonings and spices were added to enrich the flavor of the chicken.
Fried chicken is a dish that consists of chicken pieces which have been floured or battered then pan-fried, deep-fried or pressure-fried. The breading adds a crisp coating to the exterior of the chicken.
Traditionally the chicken is fried in lard. However, corn oil, peanut oil, canola oil or vegetable oil are also frequently used.
- The greatest height a chicken egg has been dropped from without cracking is 700ft.
- This bird was probably first domesticated for the purpose of cockfights, not as food.
- Chickens aren’t completely flightless—they can get airborne enough to make it over a fence or into a tree.
- These birds are omnivores. They’ll eat seeds and insects but also larger prey like small mice and lizards.
- With 25 billion chickens in the world, there are more of them than any other bird species.
- Chicken as a meat has been depicted in Babylonian carvings from around 600 BC.
- Chicken is the most common type of poultry in the world.
- There are more chickens on earth than people.
- The largest serving of fried chicken (2,493 lbs) was served at Kentucky Fried Chicken in celebration of the restaurant’s 70th anniversary.
- Chicken consumption in the United States increased during World War II due to a shortage of beef and pork.
- According to the National Chicken Council, more than 1.25 Billion Chicken wing portions (more than 100 million pounds) were consumed on Super Bowl weekend in 2012.
- Popeyes Chicken is named after the character Popeye Doyle in the movie “The French Connection.”
- The Rhode Island Red [chicken] (Gallus gallus domesticus) was designated as the Official Bird of Rhode Island in 1954.
- Alektorophobia is the fear of chickens
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