Chicken has always been one of the most popular sources of protein across the world. It’s a staple among different cultures and races and one of the greatest culinary bridges to sample cuisine from across the world, no matter where you come from.
Recently we have seen an increase in the popularity of quail meat as a substitute for chicken. Its admirers argue various health and nutritional benefits of quail meat over chicken meat. They are aslo easy to feed, make sure you get the right food for your quail.
In this post, we will discuss the benefits and drawbacks of quail meat vs. chicken meat, comparing them across various categories, and give you a detailed discussion so that you are well informed the next time you visit the meat aisle of your supermarket.
What is a Quail?
If you have never heard about quails before, you should know that quail serves as a generic term that encompasses a wide variety of medium-sized game birds. Generally, they can be classified into domestic and wild varieties.
Quail meats are most commonly produced in farms, but there are wild game hunters who hunt for wild quail. But, there’s little chance that you’ll see wild quails in your meat shop. You can find more information about quail keeping in this book.
Why is Quail Meat Getting Popular?
For most of us, chicken has been the most reliable and one of the cheaper sources of lean protein for the length of our lives. But, all across the world, the number of quails produced each year is increasing, and quail meat is grabbing a larger share of the global diet. Here are a few reasons for that.
1. Economic Benefits
Quail meat vs. chicken meat, economice beneftis. The recent popularity of quail meat comes with some research data to back up the economic argument for raising quails. Various researches conducted show that quails are relatively easier to farm in smaller spaces, which makes raising them a feasible economic choice for lower-income households living in small apartments.
2. Nutritional Benefits
Quail meat vs. chicken meat, nutritional benefits. Many nutritionists have argued that quails have many health benefits that are unknown to people. Quail meat is said to have a higher protein content and rich in minerals and beneficial fatty acids.
3. General Health Benefits
Aside from the arguments presented by the nutritionists, quail meat has some practical health benefits that are often less discussed. Quail meat vs. chicken meat, general health benefits.
Many doctors advise diabetic patients to eat chicken meat as it is a good source of protein for them that doesn’t irritate the pancreas. Quail meat is also great for the same reason and can be even less stressful for your body to digest. Quail meat broth and soups make very nutritious foods for recovering patients.
It is rich in minerals, protein, and cholesterol that can boost the recovery process. In the elderly, consumption of quail can benefit atherosclerosis. People with this condition need cholesterol from an easily digestible source.
Quail Meat vs. Chicken Meat Nutritional Value
Now that you have a good idea about the general arguments made for quail meat over chicken- let’s have a detailed discussion about the pros and cons. We will try to show the comparison in a few different aspects of nutrition to get a clear picture.
The data we’ll be using comes from the Food and Nutrition Information Center, USDA. The comparison will be made between the nutritional values of quail meat and broiler chicken meat.
1. Water Content
Water content is a good indicator for identifying leaner meats. Higher water content means that the meat will have fewer calories per gram of weight. Food critics say that higher water content will make the meat more tender and juicy after cooking.
Quail meat has a higher water content than chicken. Quail meat features a 69.7% water content compared to 66% for broiler chicken meat, making it a much better option over chicken for people who want to add low-calorie proteins to their meals.
2. Caloric Content
If you want to lose weight, stay lean, or put on weight, having a clear idea about your food’s caloric content is vital to your goal.
Per 100 grams of meat, quail meat gives you 192 calories. For the same amount, chicken meat gives you 215 calories. This doesn’t necessarily make one a better option over the other.
If you want to lose weight or just want to cut a few more calories off of your diet, quail meat can be the perfect substitute for you. However, if you are looking to gain weight or gain some muscle, a chicken will give you more calories.
3. Proteins
Proteins are essential for muscular tissue regeneration and growth. If you have a very physical job or if you are involved in sports or gym-related activities, higher protein content in your meat should be desirable for you.
In every 100 grams of quail meat, you can find 19.6 grams of protein. Chicken has 18.6 grams of protein in 100 grams of meat. This makes quail 5% more protein-rich than chicken.
If you are someone who wants to increase the protein in their diet, you should pick up quail instead of chicken the next time.
4. Fat Content
Quail meat has 12.1 grams of fat, whereas chicken meat has 15.1 grams of fat per 100 grams of meat. This makes quail a leaner choice.
However, fat content is a complex issue to discuss in a simple way. There are a few types of fat, some of which are good for you and some are bad. So, we will break this discussion down a bit.
• Saturated Fat
Saturated fats are one of the unhealthy types of fats. Quail meat features 3.4 grams of saturated fat over 4.3 grams of saturated fat in chicken meat.
• Monounsaturated Fat
Monounsaturated fat is a healthy dietary fat that you should increase in your diet. Quail meat has 4.2 grams of monounsaturated fats, while chicken meat has 6.2 grams.
• Polyunsaturated Fat
This is another healthy fat. There are 3 grams of polyunsaturated fats in quail meat and 3.2 grams in chicken meat.
From the breakdown, we can see that while quail meat is clearly low in total fats and unhealthy saturated fats, it also lacks the nutritional benefits of the high amount of healthy fats found in chicken meat.
5. Fatty Acids
Fatty acids are essential elements in your biology. They make up cellular membranes and vital hormones. These acids are found in very little quantity and are measured in milligrams (mg).
• Omega 3 Fatty Acid
Omega 3 has been popularized for its role in reducing cardiovascular diseases in humans, reducing blood clots, and lowering liver inflammation. Hence, edible oils rich in omega 3 are very expensive.
Quail meat has 460 mg of omega 3 compared to only 190 mg found in chicken.
• Omega 6 fatty acid
Omega 6 fatty acid can be good for you, but too high amounts of it have been correlated with arthritis, cancer, and inflammation. There is a ratio of omega 3 and 6 that you should maintain.
Quail meat has 2300 mg of omega 6 fatty acids. Chicken meat has 2880 mg of fatty acids per 100 grams of meat.
You should consult your nutritionist to choose which one is good for you if you have special fatty acid needs or problems.
6. Cholesterol
While cholesterol has been demonized for causing heart diseases, it is only bad in excessive amounts. Your body needs cholesterol for creating hormones. It is also a source of energy for humans when your body is in need of high amounts of calories.
Quail meat and chicken meat have similar cholesterol levels. Quail meat has 76 mg compared to 75 mg in chicken meat.
7. Vitamins
There’s a long list of vitamins that can be found in both quail and chicken meat. For your convenience, we have created a chart showing the most vital vitamins and folic acids that can be found in quail meat vs. chicken meat.
| Description | Unit | Quail Meat | Chicken Meat |
| Vitamin A | UI | 243 | 140 |
| Vitamin C | mg | 6.1 | 1.6 |
| Vitamin E | mg | – | 0.3 |
| Vitamin B1 (Thiamine) | mcg | 0.2 | 0.1 |
| Vitamin B2 (Riboflavin) | mg | 0.3 | 0.1 |
| Vitamin B3 (Niacin) | mg | 7.5 | 6.8 |
| Vitamin B4 (Choline) | mg | – | 59.7 |
| Vitamin B5 (Pantothenic Acid) | mg | 0.8 | 0.9 |
| Vitamin B6 | mg | 0.6 | 0.4 |
| Vitamin B12 | mg | 0.4 | 0.3 |
| Vitamin K | mcg | – | 1.5 |
| Folic Acid | mcg | 8 | 6 |
From this chart, we can see that quail meat is more vitamin and folic acid rich in most categories; however, quail meat completely lacks any vitamin E, vitamin K, or vitamin B4. So, based on your dietary needs, either can be a good choice for you.
8. Minerals
Similar to vitamins, there are myriad minerals to be found in both types of meat. So, it is better and clearer to show a comparison chart of the differences.
| Description | Unit | Quail Meat | Chicken Meat |
| Calcium | mg | 13 | 11 |
| Iron | mg | 4 | 0.9 |
| Magnesium | mg | 23 | 20 |
| Phosphorus | mg | 275 | 174 |
| Potassium | mg | 216 | 189 |
| Sodium | mg | 53 | 70 |
| Zinc | mg | 2.4 | – |
| Copper | mg | 0.5 | – |
| Manganese | mg | – | – |
| Selenium | mcg | 16.6 | 14.4 |
From this, it is again quite clear that quail meat is richer in various minerals than chicken meat. While chicken has more sodium, it also lacks any zinc or manganese for the dietary necessities.
Quail vs. Chicken Farming
While it is necessary to evaluate the nutritional side of the argument more thoroughly, it is also a good idea to look at the farming and production side of things to see which one is more beneficial and sustainable.
• Weight, carcass yield, and feed
Quail meat vs. chicken meat, weight, carcass yield and feed. The average weight of quails ranges from 220-250 grams. Quails have an average dressed carcass yield of 65-70%. It takes a total feed amount of 2700-2900 Kcal per kilogram of weight.
Chickens have a wider range of breeds, so it is harder to pin down a live weight, but the average ranges around 1.5-2 kilograms. They generally have a dressed carcass yield that is higher than 70%. The range is from 65-75% for broiler chickens. Chickens require around 900 grams of feed per kilogram of weight.
• Farming Difficulty
Quail meat vs. chicken meat, farming difficulty. The farming process for quails is much simpler than chicken. Quail farming requires a lot less space as quails are much smaller than chickens. Small cages that house 1 chicken can have up to 4 quails.
Quails make much less of a mess than chickens while eating. This makes them easier to farm in residential buildings and small shacks where it is allowed. They require less feed than chickens and reach maturity at an earlier time.
Quail meat vs. chicken meat, conclusion on keeping. I think it is clear from this discussion that quail has the potential to be much more sustainable than farming chickens because of the lower space and feed requirements.
Quail vs. Chicken Meat Taste
The taste of chicken and quail has been a subject of debate among food lovers for a long time. While taste is a completely subjective thing, you can find out more about how quail tastes compared to chicken if you haven’t tasted quail before you experiment with tasting it.
Quail meat is similar to chicken in terms of taste in more ways than it is different. However, there are some noticeable differences. Quail meat has a slightly more gamey aroma, which is preferred by many. The mineral in quail lends to an earthy note to the aftertaste.
Quail has slightly more protein content and slightly higher protein. This makes quail retain more moisture after cooking, but the muscles are a bit leaner than chicken. Chicken has a higher total fat quantity. This allows the chicken to have more flavor after cooking.
Conclusion
Quail meat vs. chicken meat. While the many benefits of quail might want to make you believe that it is better than chicken, there is no concrete answer for this. It is true that in many situations, the nutritional benefits of quail will outweigh those of chicken meat. However, chicken can be the better option for you in certain situations as well.
But hopefully, you have been informed well enough about chicken meat and quail meat nutrition that you can make your choice consciously and finally put the quail meat vs. chicken meat debate to rest.
