While chicken wings may not be the first food that comes to mind when you think of barbecue or grilling, there’s a reason they are a beloved appetizer. As someone who grew up two hours east of Buffalo, NY, chicken wings hold a special place in my heart (and my stomach.) Seriously, check out any of the local wing joints in Buffalo if you’re ever in the area. Anchor Bar, Duff’s, Bar-Bill Tavern, just do yourself a favor and find a local place and enjoy.
However, one of the eternal debates surrounding chicken wings (and no, it’s not boneless wings vs bone-in wings) is flats vs drums. For the record, boneless wings, while delicious, are simply an adult version of chicken nuggets.
When you get an order of chicken wings, regardless of what sauce or even what form of preparation you get, you’re going to get a mixture of thin, flat wings and wings that appear to be a miniature version of a chicken drumstick. You might have an opportunity to get your order of wings flats or drums only as well, but that typically costs a bit more.
Why would you want to order one or the other? Why is there such a big debate over what is your preference? Why do we sometimes see chicken wings separated in the store and sometimes as a larger single cut of chicken? Let’s dig in!
Description: Drummettes are the meaty, drumstick-like section of the chicken wing. They resemble small chicken drumsticks. Shape: Drummettes have a round and meaty shape, similar to mini drumsticks. Meat Content: They contain more meat compared to flats.
Why Some People Don’t Like Flats
One of the fascinating arguments around chicken wing flats is about how easy they are to eat. Some people say that flats are easier to eat because of the lack of cartilage. Others say that fishing the meat out from between the bones is more annoying. Some people also like fewer bones. Also, flats are less than ideal for dipping into your preferred condiment (once again, blue cheese.) If you like a bigger bite and dipping, you’ll probably prefer drums.
Why People Love Wing Flats
The fairly uniform shape of the chicken flats is easy to handle and gives you plenty of surface area for your favorite sauce. The flat itself also contains very little cartilage so you get nothing but skin and meat when you eat it. Speaking of skin, there’s plenty of skin on a flat that crisps up in the right kind of cooking preparation. So if you’re a fan of crunchy skin and sauce, chances are you’re a lover of chicken wing flats.
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FAQ
Are drumsticks and Drumettes the same?
Are Drumettes or flats better?
Which is better chicken wings or drumsticks?
Which part of chicken wings is the best?
What is the difference between drumette and drumstick?
So, what’s the difference between a drumette and a drumstick? Drumette is the topmost part of a full chicken wing. It resembles a drumstick but is smaller, consists of dark meat, and is juicier than the rest of the wing while a drumstick is simply the bottom part of the chicken leg that is separate from the thigh of the chicken.
What is the difference between a drumette and a chicken?
The drumette looks like a miniature drumstick, and the flats look like a flat piece of chicken. Meanwhile, the drumsticks that we typically think of when it comes to chicken are just the thigh and leg portions. A drumstick has more meat than a drumette. The difference in meat amount is due to where each cut comes from on the chicken.
Are drumsticks and wingettes the same?
The drumstick and drumette are not the same cut from a chicken. Anatomically speaking, the drumstick is the lower joint of the leg, whereas the drumette is the upper arm of the chicken wing. Personally, I find drumsticks to be the best part of the chicken. In terms of wings, I also tend to prefer wingettes as opposed to drumettes.
What does a drumette look like?
The drumette looks like a small drumstick. Though they may look alike, drumettes are entirely different from drumsticks because they come from different parts of the chicken. Drumettes are part of the wing, while drumsticks are part of the leg. Drumettes are a lot smaller than drumsticks, which means they’re less meaty.