WHAT IS A CHICKEN GIZZARD?
This muscle is the reason why bird’s don’t need teeth to chew their food! Named after the Latin word for giblets, they aid in the digestion process. The gizzard grinds food much like a millstone grinds wheat into flour. This is also the reason chicken’s will swallow inedible objects like gravel or dirt. These lodge in the digestive tract and help to further grind and crush all food passing through. Much like with chicken feet, this protein is tough and not a popular ingredient in Western cuisine.
WHERE IS THIS CUT LOCATED?
It’s the muscles lining the walls of a bird’s stomach. It is one of 2 parts (the other being the Proventriculus for food storage).
HOW DO YOU COOK CHICKEN GIZZARD?
This delicacy is served in a variety of ways depending on the region of the world. In southeast Asia it’s street food that’s grilled or in Africa it’s fried. However in Mexico it’s popular soup ingredient. In general you need to peel off the inner lining, and tenderizing it prior to exposure to high heat can help.
DO ONLY BIRDS HAVE GIZZARDS?
No! Lizards, earthworms, reptiles, fish and even some crustaceans have this method of digestion. It might seem weird that creatures like crocodiles who already have sharp teeth also have gizzards. But they don’t use their teeth for chewing, only for killing their prey.