Product Review: Foster Farms Gluten Free Frozen Chicken Options

NOTE:  I was sent two large packages of items to try and share (Foster Farms GF Chicken Nuggets, Foster Farms GF Chicken Strips, and Foster Farms GF Corn Dogs) in exchange for this review.  And, being the genius I am (ha!), I forgot to take a picture of the GF nuggets or the baked items.  I’m sorry!

 

 

Forever ago and a day, I came home to discover two GIANT boxes on our kitchen table.  They were not hard to see as they honestly covered our entire kitchen table.  It was late (for our girls) and the world was dark outside, but upon opening the boxes, we quickly knew we had to head back out into the night.  You see, the lovely people at Foster Farms had sent the sampler pack that I agreed to try.  Unbeknowest to me, however, was the fact that the sampler pack was actually made up of 4 packages EACH of three items.  FULL size!   We do not have a freezer in our garage and our refrigerator/freezer had just been stocked thanks to payday shopping for the month.

Admittedly, a little panic entered my mind when I tried to figure out how to store/freeze a gross of corn dogs and a dozen packages of nuggets and strips.  Thank goodness my DH was around.  We quickly organized and left the house on “Gluten Free Corn Dog Fairy” runs.  We shared the packages with as many of our gluten free friends as we could find at home.  I even brought some to school to stick in the freezer there for a couple gluten free buddies.

I have to say, I didn’t expect a lot from these gluten free items despite the inviting packaging images.  I’ve tried frozen chicken nuggets or strips before and I didn’t go back.  My daughters – especially the chicken nugget lover – refused to eat the other brands that we’ve tried.  However, the sight of the gluten free corn dog box convinced her that she needed one RIGHT AWAY the next day.  I think she was hoping for breakfast corn dogs, but I capitalized on the 4 year old memory span and put it off until dinner.  (We don’t have much time in the mornings before we have to get out the door.  Breakfast is QUICK!)

After tasting all of the offerings from Foster Farms, I have to say this:  WOW.  We REALLY like these!  Especially the chicken strips.  Even our non-chicken eater in the house will not only request these but she does a happy dance when she hears they are on the menu.  We like them so much that we’ve purchased them a few times since we got this sample package and shared them.  (Dang that no freezer in the garage status…LOL)

I especially want to say something about the breading.  So many gluten free frozen breaded products are either doughy (they don’t crisp up) or they rely heavily on polenta/coarsely ground corn meal to make up the “crunch”.  This breading does NOT do that.  As a result, it is delicious and crunchy – and natural breading like you would make (and like I have made numerous times) at home.

Overall, here are our thoughts about Foster Farms Gluten Free Chicken Strips and Nuggets:

• delicious, whole chicken.
• moist and well seasoned.
• perfect breading
• super convenient
• just like mom makes (mom being me here…LOL)
• versatile

Here are the drawbacks:

• ummm….my freezer size?

Really – there were no drawbacks for us.  The meat is not chicken paste that has been shaped, etc.  They are great!  So great that I used them for ADULT dinner nights too!  I prepared them as the package required and then have made:

• chicken parmesan (less baking time as the chicken is precooked)
• lemon-glazed chicken
• sweet and sour chicken
• Thai Sweet Chile glazed chicken in lettuce wraps

The corn dogs are yummy too, but a bit on the dry side for me.  My daughter doesn’t think so and I am fairly certain if she could read this, she would be annoyed that I even mentioned it.  (However, she eats everything with a liberal lather of either peanut butter (not these, thank goodness) or ketchup (totally these…LOL).

My friends and colleagues who received sample packages with us have not stopped RAVING about them either.  In fact, a vegetarian friend even commented on how “good and high quality”  the chicken looked.  I had called him to share the product with his daughter who is gluten free.  She and her family – and little person – devoured them as well.

I am certain that a local grocer is now carrying these Foster Farms Gluten Free products because there were so many of us requesting them after this sampling.

If you are a chicken eater, try these if you see them.  I think you won’t be disappointed.

Thank you, Foster Farms, for sharing your delicious product with our friends and family!

-Kate and family