Commercial operators find fully cooked poultry addresses operational demands.
August 2, 2019
Sponsored by Hormel Foodservice
As rising labor and food costs, delivery fees and other expenses cut into operators’ already-thin margins, many are seeking strategies designed to provide relief. To help ease the pressure, commercial operators are turning to automation, streamlined menus and convenience items like already-prepped produce, sauces and pre-portioned proteins
Fully cooked proteins have proven to be an especially powerful tool in restaurateurs' efforts to contain costs. Incorporating products like Hormel® Fire Braised™ Chicken Breast, for example, slashes production time, labor and space devoted to a heavily menued ingredient.
Cooking raw chicken demands time and attention — two factors in short supply in many foodservice kitchens. From start to finish it can take hours, and ensuring the product is fully cooked means the kitchen staff must carefully monitor its temperature. Because Hormel® Fire Braised™ Chicken Breast is already cooked to perfection, a less-skilled kitchen team can produce consistently high-quality chicken dishes with more confidence.
Operators that rely on Hormel® Fire Braised™ Chicken Breast reap more than simple labor savings. The pluses include:
• Superior quality. These are not just any chicken breasts. Hormel Foods starts by flame-searing them to bring out the natural chicken flavor, with nuances of caramelization and char. Next, the chicken is slow cooked, yielding a tender, juicy product that retains its natural flavor and texture. The natural shape and a caramelized exterior mimic the results of scratch cooking. For restaurant kitchens, worries about undercooking disappear with Hormel® Fire Braised™ Chicken Breast.
• Consistency without waste. Available in 3-ounce, 4-ounce and 5-ounce portions, Hormel® Fire Braised™ Chicken Breast ensures portion consistency, eliminating guesswork in the kitchen — especially important in operations that offer catering. The cooking process ensures the same exacting ingredient standards whenever a recipe calls for chicken breasts, a boon in standardizing results. And product waste is never an issue.
• Peace of mind. Fully cooked chicken eliminates operators’ concerns about safety issues associated with handling and preparing raw chicken. The potential for cross-contamination can be a concern with raw chicken because of the multiple steps and touchpoints involved in preparing and cooking the product — from proper thawing to rinsing, trimming, seasoning, parcooking and holding.
Each of these steps opens up the possibility of improper handling or cross-contamination, but a fully cooked product like Hormel® Fire Braised™ Chicken Breast cuts out those steps. It also reduces the liklihood of serving undercooked product, which can trigger foodborne illnesses and a subpar dining experience.
• Versatility. Nearly every corner of the world can boast a signature chicken recipe, a testament to its adaptability and compatibility across a broad swath of flavor profiles, preparation methods, seasonings and ingredients. That versatility allows operators the latitude to stay on top of evolving consumer trends and to energize menus with innovative dishes. Hormel® Fire Braised™ Chicken Breast performs well in any global preparations that calls for chicken breasts — Mediterranean, Asian, American, Middle Eastern and others.
It can play a starring role in dishes from entrées to sandwiches, wraps, salads, pastas, burrito fillings, soups and chilis, bowls, stir-fries and more. What’s more, the growing popularity of the breakfast and brunch daypart and all-day breakfast operations has fueled demand for even more chicken applications, from sandwiches to omelets to chicken and waffles.
• Popularity. Chicken’s relatively low calorie count, strong protein profile and overall health halo have strong appeal to diners. From fried chicken fans to keto diet followers and health-focused consumers, chicken satisfies a wide variety of eating preferences. According to the Datassential “The New Healthy” report, “high protein” is one of the descriptors that most appeals to consumers. And 32 percent of the 1,101 consumers surveyed for the report said they would pay more for high-protein menu options.
Providing the option to enhance the protein content and customize a salad, grain or greens-based bowl, pasta, grilled cheese sandwich or other item with an add-on of already-cooked and portioned chicken is a convenient and profitable way to satisfy these guests.
• Menu creativity. By eliminating time- and labor-consuming steps involved in preparing chicken, culinary teams have more freedom and flexibility to focus on menu development and customization to accommodate guest preferences and keep menus fresh. Minimally processed without artificial ingredients, Hormel® Fire Braised™ Chicken Breast is tailor-made for operators looking to provide options for their clean-eating patrons as well.
Fully cooked proteins are a boon to operators seeking ways to overcome profitability, safety and quality challenges. By streamlining production and reducing potential issues with cross-contamination and less-than-optimal cooking, products like Hormel® Fire Braised™ Chicken Breast provide a valuable tool.
