So, what is it?

Andchicken breastboasts great flavor with minimal internal fat, making it low in calories and still high in protein.

And you may wonder if you should remove it or if it is safe to eat.

Raw chicken on a designed background

Getty Images / ukrainec

What Is That White String in the Chicken Breast and Is It OK to Eat?

The white string you see in your chicken is just a tendon.

What Part of the Chicken Is the Tender?

Some people think that chicken tenders are just strips cut from the breast of the chicken.

But in fact, the tender or tenderloin is an independent secondary muscle that lies directly under the breast.

Sometimes, the whole breast is removed, which includes the tender; sometimes they are removed separately.

The tender contains the visible portion of the tendon that looks like a string.

Do I Have to Remove the Tendon from Chicken?

You do not need to remove the tendon from the chicken.

The tendon is perfectly edible and not at all dangerous.

What Happens to a Tendon When the Chicken Cooks?

Tendons are essentially like straps that attach muscle to the bones of the chicken.

This connective tissue is very strong.