Chickens have one breast, though it is commonly referred to and sold as two separate "split breasts."
Here's a breakdown:
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Anatomical Reality: A chicken possesses a single breast muscle located on its chest.
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Culinary Usage: In cooking and commerce, this single breast is often divided lengthwise during processing, resulting in two pieces commonly known as "chicken breasts" or "split breasts." This division is purely for portioning and serving convenience.
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Nutrition: When nutritional information refers to "a breast," it's generally understood to mean one half of the whole breast, weighing roughly 3-8 ounces. These split breasts provide between 30 to 45 calories per ounce, making them a lean protein source.
In short, while you might buy "two chicken breasts" at the store, those are halves of the single breast the chicken had.
