Chicken vs Cornish Hen - What's the difference?

If you’ve been to a restaurant lately, you may have seen Cornish hen on the menu.

In fact, these little delicacies are becoming more common in butcher shops and grocery stores, so they may have caught your eye there, too.

But what is a Cornish hen and how is it different from a chicken? Chicken is somewhat stronger in flavor and more versatile, but the Cornish hen is so small that it can be served as an individual bird per person. For this reason, the Cornish hen is becoming increasingly popular in gourmet restaurants and for dinner parties.

Are you interested in learning more about this tiny version of the chicken? Let’s look at the differences between chicken and Cornish hen.

What is a Cornish hen?

The Cornish hen is a hybrid breed of chicken, created by crossing two breeds of chicken. Also known as Cornish game hen or Rock Cornish hen, these birds are normally served as one individual bird per person.

So does this mean they are unusually small chickens? And how do they make them so small?

This very special breed of chickens comes from Cornwall, England.

If you ever visit England, Cornwall should definitely be on your ‘must see’ list - with rocky cliffs, sandy beaches and green fields, it’s a perfect slice of the English countryside!

But, anyway, back to the chickens! A Cornish chicken is a cross between two different breeds of chicken, the White Plymouth Rock and the Cornish chicken.

If you have never heard of these two breeds, don’t worry: the world of chicken farming is very complicated!

The Cornish hen was formerly known as the Indian game hen, and for this reason our Cornish hens are sometimes called Cornish game hens.

A game hen is a chicken that was bred to fight, but it turned out that the Indian game hen was a terrible fighter, so it became a popular bird to eat.

The Cornish hen is heavy and muscular, with a large breast, perfect for a roast chicken dinner.

The Plymouth Rock White Hen is a much more traditional type of hen, much like the ones you would see in a barnyard scene.

This breed of chicken is a good all-rounder, popular for both egg and meat production. Like the Cornish hen, the White Plymouth Rock is a standard size hen.

So what happens when these two breeds are crossed? Since they are both normal size chickens, you get a hybrid that will grow to the size of a normal chicken.

So is. Contrary to popular belief, the mature Cornish hen is actually a normal-sized hen. To achieve the desirable small bird, the Cornish hen is eaten at a much younger age than other types of chicken.

The difference between the Cornish hen and other chicken breeds is the rate at which they grow and how they develop.

This is a fast growing chicken that grows a large breast in a short time. This is covered by a fatty layer of skin, which helps keep the meat moist during cooking.

To get the perfect size Cornish hen, they are eaten at four to five weeks of age, when they weigh between 1 and 2 pounds. In contrast, a normal roast chicken would be eaten at twice this age and weigh twice as much.

Oh, and one last thing to clarify! The word “hen” usually refers to a female chicken. But, although it is called a Cornish hen, both the males and the females are usually eaten.

What is the difference between chicken and Cornish hen?

The obvious difference between the chicken and the Cornish hen is the size of the bird.  Most chickens weigh about twice as much as a Cornish hen and have been allowed to mature and grow twice as long.

Weighing less than 2 pounds, the Cornish hen can be served as a single serving. They have a large amount of meat for their size, with small bones, making them perfect for a fancy dinner.

When it comes to chickens, you would be a bit intimidated if someone put a whole one in front of you!  A broiler chicken can weigh up to 2.5 kilos and is usually portioned before serving or carving at the table.

A big difference between Cornish chickens and hens is the way they are sold. Chicken meat is very versatile, and can be sold whole or divided into portions.

At your local butcher or grocery store, you will typically find chicken thighs, wings, and breasts. You will also have the option of getting the chicken boneless, skinless or both.

Due to their small size, you don’t have these options with a Cornish hen. They are too small to bone or slice, so they are always sold as a whole bird.

Pound for pound, Cornish hen is also often more expensive than a traditional roast chicken.

Cornish hen vs. Chicken: Taste Comparison

Most people think that there is very little difference in taste between chicken and Cornish hen. Both have a delicate, almost sweet flavor that melts in your mouth.

Sometimes the chicken can have a slightly stronger flavor, but it depends on the type of bird you buy.

Since Cornish hen is eaten at a younger age, it is usually more tender in texture than chicken.

It also has a different body shape thanks to its parentage to the Indian game hen and will have a large amount of breast meat in proportion to its body.

Oh, and although they are sometimes called Cornish game hens, they don’t taste like game at all!

The main difference between Cornish hen and chicken is the way they are cooked and served. The chicken can be roasted as a whole bird, in the same way as Cornish hens.

However, chicken is much more versatile as it can be divided in many ways to make a wide variety of different dishes.

Cornish Hens are generally cooked in only one way: roasted as a whole bird. This bird is the perfect size to serve one person as a main meal.

It is also relatively easy to split the bird in two after roasting if a smaller serving is desired.

So if you’re looking for a fancy dinner dish, Cornish hen is sure to impress your guests! This little bird will be soft, tender, juicy, and full of flavor.

If prepared correctly, the meat will easily fall off the bone, making it a delight to eat.

But if you want an easy weeknight dinner for the family, stick with a regular roast chicken. Cornish Hens are almost always more expensive than chickens and can also be difficult to find in the supermarket.

Chicken vs Cornish Hen: Nutritional Comparison

All types of poultry are high in protein, which is an essential part of our daily diet. However, when it comes to chicken vs. Cornish hen, which is better for us?

The main difference comes from the age at which the two types of chicken are eaten.  Cornish Hens are eaten at 4-5 weeks of age, before they are fully grown.

Cornish Hens have a lower fat content than chickens and are very lean. This means that Cornish hen meat has fewer calories than chicken.

Cornish Hens also have a higher proportion of white meat than chickens and less dark meat. White meat is rich in niacin, which can help boost brain function and lower cholesterol.

But this does not mean that dark meat is bad for you. Dark chicken meat is high in riboflavin. This is essential for cell reproduction, helping the body to produce red blood cells and to maintain healthy skin, hair and nails.

Both Cornish hens and chickens are great sources of vitamins. They contain vitamin D, which can help keep bones strong and healthy, and vitamin A, which is said to be good for your eyesight.

So which one wins the nutritional challenge? Well, they are both quite similar in nutritional content, with the main difference being the lower fat content of the Cornish hen compared to chicken.

If you want to reduce your calorie intake, go for the Cornish hen, but otherwise, you can enjoy either bird with the assurance that they are packed with health benefits.

Where to buy Cornish hen

Look in any grocery store or butcher shop and you will see many different options for buying chicken meat. They can be sold whole, portioned, diced, skinless, boneless, or even chopped! But where would you go to buy a Cornish hen?

You may find it difficult to find Cornish chickens in your supermarket. These little birds are a luxury item, and many stores don’t carry them. However, if you ask your butcher, they can order them for you.

As they are not that popular, it can be difficult to find fresh Cornish hens in any store. They are most often sold as frozen birds, to extend their shelf life.

You will almost certainly pay more, pound for pound, for a Cornish hen than for a chicken.

With the increasing demand for high quality meat products, it is possible to get free range or even organic Cornish hens.

This means that they have enjoyed a better quality of life and higher quality feed than conventionally raised hens.

What is the best way to cook a Cornish hen?

If you’re used to roasting a whole chicken, the little Cornish hen might seem a bit daunting.

However, if you prepare and cook it correctly, you will be rewarded with a delicious dinner that you will be proud to serve to your friends and family.

Let’s get one thing straight: there’s only one way to cook a Cornish hen, and that’s by cooking it whole. These little birds are nearly impossible to bone or portion, so they are always cooked as a whole bird.

However, you can butterfly your Cornish hen for some cooking methods. This means splitting the chicken in half along the spine, so you can flatten the bird.

This will give you a finer piece of meat that will cook much faster than a whole chicken.

Due to their small size, Cornish hens are easier to prepare and cook than a normal-sized chicken.

They cook much faster, and just about any chicken recipe can be accommodated for the smallest Cornish hen. A normal size Cornish hen would roast in about 25 minutes in a 450°F oven.

Cornish hen’s shorter cooking time will give you fully cooked succulent meat with that sublime crispy skin we all crave. The layer of fat on the skin serves to baste the meat during cooking, keeping it tender and moist.

Here are the different methods of cooking Cornish hen:

Roast

Roast a whole Cornish hen for 20-25 minutes in a 450°F oven. It is very common to roast a Cornish hen in the same pan as the vegetables and potatoes.

If you want a crispier skin, add a glaze and roast the bird at a lower temperature for an additional 15 minutes. A good ally to Cornish hen is maple glaze, which will give it a sweet, crunchy skin.

Remove from the oven and leave covered with aluminum foil for at least 10 minutes before serving.

Grill

A buttered Cornish hen can be grilled and will only need 8 minutes per side to cook. It is advisable to marinate Cornish hen before roasting, as this method can dry out the meat.

stir fry

Butterfly the Cornish hen and add it, skin side down, to a large hot skillet, along with a little oil.

Season well and, after 10 minutes, turn the bird over. Cook for 10 more minutes, basting the bird regularly with oil.

stewing

Both of these methods work with a whole Cornish hen or arm of butter and will give you a moist and succulent chicken.

First brown the chicken skin in a hot pan with olive oil. Place the bird in your slow cooker or slow cooker and add chicken broth to cover the bottom half of the bird. Cook in the oven on low for 90 minutes, or in the slow cooker for 4 hours.

Related questions

Now that we’ve gone over the difference between Cornish Hens and chickens, let’s take a look at some related questions!

Can you stuff a Cornish hen?

These birds may be tiny, but it’s absolutely possible to stuff them . You just have to be very careful when doing this, as it is very easy to break the delicate skin of the Cornish hen.

You will need about 1 cup of stuffing per bird. Any roast chicken stuffing recipe will work well with a Cornish hen and help keep the meat succulent and full of flavour.

What is the best marinade for Cornish hen?

Your little Cornish hens deserve the best treatment, and a marinade can be a great way to get the most out of your bird.

Basically, almost any marinade recipe for roast chicken will work well with a Cornish hen, but here are some of our favorites:

• lemon and butter
• garlic and herbs
• rosemary and olive oil
• Orange, coriander and cumin