Why does supermarket chicken seem so chewy lately?

[ExasperatedIs]

Has anyone else noticed how chewy supermarkets chicken is recently ?? I’ve tried various chicken breast fillets from supermarkets, yesterday had Ocado own brand diced chicken breast and again it’s rubbery and chewy!
Why is it so hard to find nice chicken?! Where is everyone buying their chicken from? Ideally I’d like organic but the cost of it is ridiculous!

I have noticed this too. I'm wondering if it's because it's frankenchicken. Probably won't be a problem for me much longer if things keep going the way they have been because I'll be priced out of meat.

I buy M&S Organic chicken breasts. I know they’re expensive compared to non organic but the cost is worth it. Free range chicken from M&S or Ocado is another option. If the chicken is rubbery and chewy you could just be overcooking it.
Personally if cost is an issue I’d buy better quality but have it less often.

If it's chewy you have overcooked it. Chicken goes stringy and chewy if overcooked.

Supermarket food generally is declining. Watery, flavourless potatoes. Fruit that rots within hours. Crap quality meat. Even the butter seems to have a higher water content.

I’ve noticed this too – with Ocado chicken fillets recently.

I've gone on to Quorn chicken pieces. Has a nicer texture and flavour than actual chicken.

Woody breast?
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Woody_breast

I have found this in most supermarket chicken. Sainsbury's is the worst, Tesco seems more reliable. The only place I haven't found it is Waitrose. I think that may be because they've moved to the BCC so the conditions are better.

I’ve noticed this for a while now (Waitrose chicken breasts, so to anyone hoping that buying more expensive chicken might solve the problem - sorry to disappoint you).

Out of 4 pieces in a pack, there always seems to be one that is chewy and tough. It’s 100% not the cooking: all 4 are cooked at the same time, in exactly the same way - and one is almost inedible whereas the others are fine.

It could well be woody breast, but it’s damned annoying. And yes, I could stop buying Waitrose - but (a) it’s my closest supermarket by far and (b) by the sounds of it all the supermarkets are the same anyway. We don’t have a butchers near us, unfortunately, or I’d try that instead.

Never heard of woody breast! But yes I’ve tried cooking loads of different ways and noticed the last few months a lot has been rubbery and chewy.
Also when went to Croatia blueberries tasted of blueberries- they taste of nothing here!

Agree the Waitrose chicken breasts are chewy. Best ones I have tried are the M&S ones.

I’ve found this with Tesco, in a pack that has two breasts one is horrid, and the other is fine.
having clicked on the link above it does seem to be woody breast.
after throwing away two lots, I’ve now started going to the butchers, which was cheaper than M&S

I always buy boneless chicken thighs - so much better flavour and texture

You are right it is awful I get mine from Sainsburys. When I cut it up I end with throwing away at least one chicken breast size as you have to cut so much off so it not chewy

I buy from the local butcher because of this; much better quality and bigger.

It's a thing called "woody breast" 🤢 and it is noticeable even when cutting the raw chicken, so it's not related to overcooking. Just horrible.

It’s been like that for a few years now. I’ve tried various supermarkets and a couple of burgers and all have been awful. I’ve stopped eating chicken breasts.

Real local butcher. Best quality going. I get Ocado and not found anything on there that compares

I tbink most supermarket chicken is like this now even M&S… I now only buy chicken breasts from butchers but not a lot as it’s expensive

Ah sorry to report I’ve only had it with Waitrose organic chicken which I was lightly poaching for chicken salad sandwiches. I was able to cut it into pieces but just could not chew it, it was like rubber erasers.
We usually get chicken with our veg box from Abel and Cole and that has always been good but it costs a fortune. I also sometimes buy cooked thighs from Waitrose which are always fine but I guess thighs aren’t affected.

I hate supermarket chicken now and have just stopped cooking it at home, but sometimes eat it when out. It is full of strange white watery substance which comes out when it's fried, and just tastes so strange unless you cover it in sauce. It isn't healthy feeling at all, I've started eating a lot of veggie food as chickpeas still taste the same!

Swap for button mushrooms or tofu, you won’t regret it!

Agree, and the mince in the vacuum packs is awful now - really clumpy and chewy. I went to a Lidl in Ireland a few weeks ago and couldn’t get over the difference in quality. Carrots actually tasted like carrots and not waterlogged crunch wood. The meat was all much better quality, and everything lasted like it was supposed to and lasted to the best before date. The fresh fruit sections of my local Asda looks like an outpost of Soviet Russia at the moment unless all you want is £3 tomatoes and cheap bananas (of which there are MILLIONS - almost 2/3ds of an entire aisle.

Woody chicken breasts have been around for years. I only eat chicken thighs now - better flavour and none of that horrid wood-like texture

I have given up eating mince as well. I just can't eat grey cloggy clumps of meat, again, it pours with water and oil. I used to love spag bol but not so much any more.