It is one of the most popular animals out there. I personally think that the main reason for this is that crispy and juicy fried chicken drumstick, as well as other delicious chicken dishes including rotisserie chicken, chicken salad, chicken sandwiches, etc.
You can get various cuts from this incredible meat including chicken legs, chicken thighs, drumsticks, tenders, etc. And there are also various cooking methods that you can use, including grilling, stir-frying, pan-frying, roasting, etc.
However, one of the most popular cuts that you can get from chicken is definitely chicken breast. No matter what type of chicken breast you are dealing with, they all have a huge protein content and they are also high in vitamin B6.
However, there are some questions that arise before buying chicken breasts and one of the most important is “How many ounces is a chicken breast?”.
Well, the short answer is “6 ounces or 174 grams”. But, in order to learn more details about the weight of the chicken breast, I suggest you continue reading.
How Many Ounces Is A Chicken Breast? Know The Answer!
When it comes to the average weight of a chicken breast, is estimated at about 6 ounces or 174 grams.
However, in real life, it is not that simple. There are a few factors that need to be taken into account. First, not all chickens are equal. Some types of chickens are bigger and weigh more. Others are smaller and weigh less, of course.
Logically, the breasts of large chickens will be bigger and they will weigh more, and vice versa. Examples of small chickens are fryer chickens and broiler chickens and they weigh about 3 pounds on average, unlike capon chickens that weigh much more, i.e 6-8 ounces.
This factor is quite logical, of course. Other factors that determine the weight of chicken breasts are just a little bit more complicated, but they are also quite obvious as well.
So, there is a difference between chicken breasts without skin and those with skin, as well as chicken breasts without bone and those with bone in. Also, there is a different number of ounces between raw chicken breasts and cooked chicken breasts.
So, let’s learn how these different variables affect the number of ounces of breasts of one of the most eaten foods in the world.
How Much Do Chicken Breasts Weight?
As I already stated, the average weight of 1 chicken breast is about 6 ounces according to the USDA, but in general, it ranges from 4-12 ounces. The exact weight depends on these factors: whether it’s cooked, boneless, skinless, or frozen.
What Is The Number Of Ounces 1 Chicken Breast With The Bone In?
Chicken breasts are highly available in most grocery stores and quite affordable as well. So, you get juicy and flavorful meat for less money. Now I understand why they are so popular.
But, what about their weight? What is their number of ounces?
Well, since the average weight of the chicken breast is 6 ounces and since it is estimated that bone makes up about 20% of total weight, a simple mathematical formula leads us to the result of 7.2 ounces or 204.12 grams.
However, since the weight of chicken breast can vary, that number could range from 4.8-12.8 ounces (136-363 grams).
What Is The Number Of Ounces In One Boneless Chicken Breast?
When you buy chicken breasts from the grocery store, you will most likely find packaging with boneless skinless chicken breasts, i.e. about 2-3 pieces in one packaging. According to them, the average weight is actually calculated.
So, the average boneless skinless chicken breast weighs about 6 ounces (174 grams). But the actual weight really depends on the size of a whole chicken.
Smaller chicken breasts can weigh about 4-5 ounces (113-142 grams) and larger chicken breasts can weigh about 8-12 ounces (227-340 grams).
The decision of whether you will choose smaller or larger chicken breasts really depends on your personal needs.
How Many Ounces Chicken Breast With Skin On Has?
Although the skin doesn’t add much weight, it still adds enough that it can slightly change the number of ounces of chicken breast. It is estimated that skin adds about 1 ounce (28 grams) to chicken breast.
So, if the average chicken breast is not boneless and skinless, it will weigh about 8.2 ounces (233 grams).
Since the number of ounces of chicken breast with bone in it can vary from 4.8-12.8 ounces, the weight of chicken breast with both bone and skin will range from 5.8-13.8 ounces (164-391 grams).
On the other hand, if the skin-on chicken breast is boneless and has skin on it, its average weight will be 7 ounces (about 198 grams). But, it can range from 5-13 ounces (141-368 grams).
How Many Ounces Is In A Chicken Breast Once It Has Been Cooked?
Once you cook your chicken breast, a few changes occur. Well, once you cook chicken breast, its size, and weight decrease.
The main reason for that is the fact that almost all water dries out in the cooking process. Another reason is the fact that during that same cooking process, you also cook off a lot of fat which makes a decent amount of chicken breast total weight.
So, let’s turn our attention to the numbers. Once you cook raw chicken breast, it tends to lose about 25% of its total weight and size. So, when you cook an average chicken breast (6 ounces), its weight will decrease to about 4.5 ounces (130.5 grams).
How Many Ounces In Frozen Chicken Breast?
If you have fresh raw chicken breasts that you want to freeze, but you worry that their weight will change, there is really no room for worrying because the freezing process won’t change the weight of your chicken breasts.
The same goes for thawed chicken breasts. Once you thaw them, their total weight will remain the same. However, pre-frozen chicken breasts that you can find in many grocery stores make a difference.
Since pieces of meat tend to stick together during the freezing process, producers add a certain amount of a special coating that prevents sticking. So, pre-frozen chicken breasts weigh a bit more than fresh ones just because of that special coating.
When you buy those pre-frozen chicken breasts, you first have to thaw them in order to achieve their regular weight.
See Also: Can You Freeze Cooked Chicken? The Right Way To Do It
How Can You Weigh Your Chicken Breast?
There are a few creative ways to weigh chicken breast. But the most precise one is definitely by using a kitchen scale if you have one. I do not have to explain the procedure because it is quite simple.
All you have to do is to put that chicken breast on the surface of the kitchen scale and see what numerical value your digital device will show you.
Another way is a measuring cup. Honestly, this is the last method I would recommend to you but people still use it to measure the weight of chicken breasts. I wouldn’t recommend it because the volume of chicken can vary depending on how small it’s chopped.
If you bought a package of chicken breasts in your local grocery store, it is quite simple to find out what is the average weight of each and every piece in the packaging. Of course, if you know the basic rules of mathematics.
Since the package of chicken breasts is usually priced per pound, you can easily calculate the total weight of the packaging.
When you do that, you will divide that number by the number of pieces in the packaging and you will get the average weight of each piece in the purchased package.
And I will also show you two interesting ways of measuring the weight of your chicken breasts.
If you bought a 3 oz chicken breast, you can check if it really weighs that much by just putting it next to the deck of cards because a deck of cards equals about 3 ounces of chicken breast visually.
And a last interesting method that you can use to check if your chicken breast really weighs 3 ounces is to compare it to the palm of your hand. If those two are equal, then your chicken breast really has about 3-4 ounces and your palm got it right.
However, this method is not quite accurate since some people have a larger or smaller palms on their hands. But it is quite interesting so I had to mention it.
What Is The Average Chicken Breast Size?
When it comes to chicken breast average size, has increased rapidly in recent years.
At the beginning of the 20th century, one average chicken weighed only about 2.5 pounds. Nowadays, the number of pounds is 6.
Then, one packaging of chicken breasts held 10-12 pieces. Nowadays, one packaging holds only 3-5 pieces and it weighs the same.
There are many concerns about this phenomenon. Many people think that farmers and producers in general tend to use hormones and extra water to make their chickens bigger. Because of that, I personally always buy chicken breasts or any other piece of chicken from the butcher.
There in his shop, the butcher always weighs those chicken breasts in front of me, chicken pieces have quite normal sizes, and I can always take a serving size of chicken breasts that will suit my needs.
However, if you tend to buy yours from the grocery store or supermarket, always pay attention to their size. Broiler and fryer chicken breasts are normally smaller and their weight is generally about 3 ounces (85 grams) per piece.
If you notice that these pieces of chicken are unusually large and heavy, there is a good chance that they are pumped with water and hormones. I would warmly suggest you avoid them for your own good.
What Are The Cooking Methods That Can Be Used On Chicken Breasts?
So, now that you know how many ounces is a chicken breast, let’s say a few words about chicken breasts themself and what you can make of them. It is a lean cut of meat that is taken from the pectoral muscle on the underside of the animal. Here are a few tips on cooking and enjoying them.
• BBQ Chicken Breasts: Prep time is a little longer, but it is worth every minute. The BBQ mixture in which breasts are marinated contains brown sugar, ketchup, ground mustard, molasses, Worcestershire sauce, seasonings, and vinegar. When the breasts are marinated, they are grilled over medium heat and enjoyed to the fullest.
• Chicken Soup With Noodles: If you want healthy and delicious at the same time, chicken noodle soup is your best bet. Alongside incredible Tan Tan noodles, this is my favorite dish. Very simple to make, chicken noodle soup contains chicken breasts, chicken broth, egg noodles, and a few healthy veggies that include carrots, onions, and celery.
• Thai Chicken: If you are a fan of Asian cuisine and you love chicken breasts as well, then all you have to do is to coat chicken breast in a glaze of fish sauce, garlic, chile sauce, ginger, soy sauce, and lime, roast it, and top it with cilantro and peanuts. You’ll love this one.
• Chicken salad: If you want to simplify things, you can just make yourself one delicious and refreshing chicken salad made from chicken breast pieces, various veggies, and seasonings, as well as mayonnaise and almonds.
You can also use chicken breasts to create one of the popular Indian dishes, Butter chicken or Tikka Masala.
Can Eating Chicken Breasts Provide You With Any Health Benefits?
If you do not overdo the number of chicken breasts, i.e. if you consume them in moderation, they can provide you with a lot of health benefits since it is a particularly healthy part of the chicken. Also, it is recommended to eat chicken breasts skinless because the skin contains a lot of fat.
Nutritional Information (4-ounce serving size without bones and skin)
• Calorie Count: 110
• Fat: 1 gram
• Protein: 26 grams of protein
• Sodium: 85 grams
• Cholesterol: 75 grams
• Carbohydrates: 0 carbs
Health Benefits
If weight loss is something that you are looking for, then chicken breasts might be your thing since they really do offer some benefits for health.
Chicken breasts, especially those from organic, free-range chickens, are an excellent source of lean protein that is great for weight loss, muscle building, cardiovascular diseases, faster metabolism, etc.
Chicken breasts are also rich in healthy fats and including monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats that can not be found in red meat. Chicken breasts have zero carbs which are also great for weight loss, especially if you’re on the popular ketogenic diet.
Some important nutrients which these breasts contain include vitamins A, B, C, and D, as well as some important minerals like calcium, zinc, and iron which can provide you with numerous health benefits.
FAQs
Here are some frequently asked questions that I answered and whose answers I want you to know.
How Many G In A Chicken Breast?
When it comes to one average chicken breast, weighs about 174 grams or 6 ounces. However, different types of chicken breasts can weigh from 113-340 grams (4-12 ounces) depending on their size.
How Much Is A 6-Oz Chicken Breast?
It is 174 grams of chicken meat, i.e. 0375 pounds or about 1/3 pound of that delicious juicy meat.
Most chicken breasts without bones and skin have that number of ounces. However, there are types of chicken breasts that weigh less, i.e. about 4-6 ounces, and more, i.e. about 6-12 ounces. That mainly depends on the size of the whole chicken from which they’ve been cut
Average Chicken Breast Weight Answered
Chicken meat is fantastic since it is so delicious, healthy, and versatile. All the parts of the chicken are awesome, but one part that stands out is definitely the chicken breast. It is delicious and versatile, and it is full of lean protein. Zero carbs guarantee you successful weight loss.
All that is great, but how many ounces is a chicken breast? In this article, you were able to find out that the answer to this question is “6 ounces (174 grams or little more than 1/3 pounds)”.
However, in real life, chicken breast weight ranges from 4-12 ounces and the exact weight depends on a few factors, i.e. the size of a chicken, whether is chicken boneless or with bone-in, skinless or with skin on it, as well as whether is it raw or cooked.
In this article, I explained in more detail how those factors influence the weight of the chicken breast, so if you have read it, I believe that everything is perfectly clear to you.
