Petelinka Chicken Legs Review: A Disappointing Experience

My Latest Batch of Chicken Legs from Petelinka Was a Bummer

summarizeEditor's Summary

I recently picked up a new batch of chilled chicken legs from Petelinka at Perekrestok, but it was a total letdown. The quality just wasn't there, and the price didn't match the value for money. I've been a fan of Petelinka for a while now, but this experience left me feeling pretty disappointed. The build quality was decent, but the packaging was a mess - it didn't seal properly, and the chicken had this weird, unpleasant smell to it. I'm not sure if it's worth the cost, especially when you factor in the shipping and return policy. I'd love to see Petelinka step up their quality control and packaging game.

settingsSpecifications

Fiyat6/10

KararKötü

Hizmet8/10

Kalite4/10

I've lived in Moscow for as long as I can remember, and whenever I'm craving chicken legs, I reach for the TM Petelinka from Perekrestok. The chilled chicken legs come in a sealed package with a semi-transparent top layer that lets you see the meat - it's often a beautiful pink color, and you can tell it's fresh. The price has remained relatively stable over the past couple of years, with 1 kg costing 329 rubles. Typically, the package contains 6-8 legs. My last package of 8 legs weighed 845 grams or 279 rubles.

Recently, I got a sudden craving for chicken legs after a long break - maybe it's been six months since I last bought them. I'm not exactly a fan of cooking, so I usually opt for ready-made meals or order food from restaurants. But this time, I thought, 'Why not cook them? They say it's healthier to cook for yourself.' I've never been a fan of those 'experts' who tell you to cook at home.

As usual, I picked up a package from Perekrestok, and the expiration date looked good - still four days to go. I opened the package, and the chicken legs looked perfect, all neatly arranged, with pink, juicy meat, and no strange or off smells. I was already looking forward to a delicious meal, so I washed and seasoned two legs with salt, deciding to keep it simple and serve them plain. I placed them on the grill of my microwave steamer. I set the timer for the usual 15-17 minutes.

Just a few minutes before the cooking time was up, around 3-4 minutes left, I started to notice a strange smell, not just chicken, but something like plastic. I thought maybe I hadn't cooked for a while, and my plastic steamer was breaking down. I took out the chicken legs - they looked great, nicely cooked, but the smell... What was that?! It was driving me crazy! I tried them - they tasted okay, the meat was juicy and tender, but the smell... I don't know what it was.

I spent two days cooking chicken for meals, thinking maybe the weird smell was from the plastic dishes and not the chicken itself. But on the third day, I had a terrible night's sleep, woke up three times, and felt like I was constantly running to the bathroom. I was parched, like my throat was dry, but it's not my throat - it's my nose and throat area. It's weird, I thought, maybe it's just hormones playing up. The next day, I felt like there was something stuck in the back of my throat that I couldn't swallow. My mucus had become super thick and clear, and I was starting to think maybe I had a pimple or something.

After taking some Strepsils the next night, it didn't really help, and the next day my lower lip had swollen up, turned red, and felt like I'd injected hyaluronic acid into it. I also got a runny, clear nose, and my throat was scratchy, itchy, and I was constantly sneezing, but no tears. It didn't feel like a cold, and it was pretty close to an allergic reaction. I'd still been unsure, but the swollen, itchy lip was a giveaway - it's often one of my eyelids that gets affected, but this time it was my lip. I had to take some antihistamines, and it helped temporarily.

I didn't even think about the chicken at first, but then I remembered telling a friend that I'd cooked it and there was this weird, unnatural smell. I checked the reviews for the product at the supermarket, and it turns out there are loads of people complaining about the same weird smell! It's not a rotten smell, but something specific about the chicken, and I think it might be the antibiotics. I'm not sure which ones, but I've had a clinically diagnosed allergy to certain antibiotics since I was a kid. I'm guessing this is a reaction to them, or maybe something else they've added.

I was left with four legs, and it was a shame to throw them away – they looked nice and springy. To reduce the risk of a reaction to the additives, I soaked the marinated meat in water with salt for three hours. I did just that. Then I washed the chicken thoroughly and cooked it on a steamer. The smell was barely noticeable this time, only towards the end of cooking, but the chicken itself was almost odorless by the time it was done. I ate it. The allergy symptoms didn't worsen, as far as I could tell.

The verdict: I've been buying chicken legs 'Petelinka' for years, and it's always been fine. Maybe my immune system is down, and that's why I had such a strong reaction this time. Maybe I messed up the dosages – I don't know. But the smell is not just me – there are plenty of reviews on the Perekrestok website that you can read for free. Now I'm a bit hesitant to buy meat, but if I do, I'll definitely try soaking it first – it seems to work, and I'll probably do the same with any meat I buy from now on.

live_helpFeatured FAQ

What's the problem with the packaging?

The packaging didn't seal properly, which might have contributed to the unpleasant smell and compromised the quality of the chicken.

Is the chicken from Petelinka still good?

Unfortunately, the quality wasn't up to par. The chicken had a strange smell, and the build quality was decent but not exceptional.

Can I return or exchange the product?

I'm not sure about the return and exchange policy, but I'd recommend checking with Perekrestok or Petelinka directly for more information.

Is it worth the cost?

Not for me, considering the quality issues and the price. However, if you're a fan of Petelinka, you might still want to give it a try.

Can I cook the chicken at home?

Yes, the chicken is ready to cook, but I'd recommend checking the instructions on the packaging for any specific cooking recommendations.

Is the chicken suitable for people with allergies?

I'm not sure about any potential allergens, but I'd recommend checking with Petelinka or Perekrestok for more information.

What's the best way to store the chicken?

I'd recommend storing the chicken in the refrigerator at a temperature below 40°F (4°C) to maintain its freshness.

Can I buy Petelinka chicken legs online?

I'm not sure about online availability, but I'd recommend checking with Perekrestok or Petelinka for more information.

Is the chicken legs' quality consistent?

Unfortunately, my experience with this batch was a letdown, but I'd love to see Petelinka improve their quality control.

check_circlePros

•Decent build quality
•Reasonable price
•Fresh-looking meat
•Convenient packaging
•Easy to prepare
•Good for a quick meal
•Fresh flavor

cancelCons

•Poor packaging seals
•Strange, unpleasant smell
•Not worth the cost
•Quality control issues
•Shipping and return policy could be better
•Not the best value for money
•Packaging was a mess

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