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General Tso vs Orange Chicken - Nutrition & Health impact comparison

Article author photo Jack  Yacoubian by Jack Yacoubian | Last updated on May 19, 2023
Medically reviewed by Ani Harutyunyan Article author photo Ani Harutyunyan
General tso's chicken
vs
Orange chicken

Summary

General Tso’s and Chinese orange chicken are popular Chinese American dishes with high amounts of carbs and sodium. However, they are rich in vitamins, minerals, and protein. Consuming these foods in moderation is essential since they increase metabolic and cardiovascular disease mortality risks.  

Introduction

This article is a comparison between 2 American Chinese dishes, General Tso's chicken and Chinese orange chicken.

General Tso’s chicken is a dish that originated in Taiwan and was later brought to the US.  In comparison, Chinese orange chicken is also an American Chinese dish, which is claimed to be a variation of General Tso’s chicken recipe. 

Ingredient differences

It is essential to understand the main ingredients in each dish. The base is chicken. However, there exists a difference in the preparation of the chicken. 
General Tso’s chicken is made from chicken thigh cutsbreaded, and fried. In comparison, orange chicken is chicken breast fried till golden crispy. 

The other main difference is the sauce in that the chicken gets drizzled.

General Tso’s chicken tangy sauce contains rice vinegar, soy sauce, hoisin sauce, chili flakes, pepper, and cornstarch. It is usually served with rice, vegetables, Chinese noodles, and salads. 

In comparison, orange chicken contains orange juice, sugar, orange peel, cornstarch, soy sauce, spices, garlic, and ginger.  It is best served with rice, egg, egg noodles, and steamed broccoli. 

From the ingredients of the sauce, we can differentiate the taste also. The orange chicken will have a sweet and savory flavor, whereas General Tso’s chicken will give a milder, spicier, and more savory flavor. 

Nutritional content comparison 

In this section, we will be considering 100g servings of each. In the infographic below, you can see that both of them contain nearly the same amounts of water. However, General Tso's chicken is slightly higher in carbs and fats. 

Macronutrient Comparison

Macronutrient breakdown side-by-side comparison
13% 16% 24% 45%
Protein: 12.9 g
Fats: 16.36 g
Carbs: 23.99 g
Water: 45.15 g
Other: 1.6 g
14% 13% 22% 48% 2%
Protein: 14.46 g
Fats: 12.68 g
Carbs: 22.46 g
Water: 48.43 g
Other: 1.97 g
Contains more FatsFats +29%
Contains more ProteinProtein +12.1%
Contains more OtherOther +23.1%
~equal in Carbs ~22.46g
~equal in Water ~48.43g

Carbs

They contain high amounts of carbs. Their carb content is nearly similar, 24g for General Tso’s chicken and 23g for orange chicken. Both contain nearly the same amount of dietary fiber. 

General Tso's chicken is higher in starch due to additional cornstarch used in its preparation. Orange chicken is richer in sucrose. 

Carbohydrate type comparison

Carbohydrate type breakdown side-by-side comparison
51% 45% 3% 2%
Starch: 11.83 g
Sucrose: 10.46 g
Glucose: 0.62 g
Fructose: 0.51 g
Lactose: 0 g
Maltose: 0 g
Galactose: 0 g
44% 51% 3% 3%
Starch: 10.5 g
Sucrose: 12.3 g
Glucose: 0.63 g
Fructose: 0.67 g
Lactose: 0 g
Maltose: 0 g
Galactose: 0 g
Contains more StarchStarch +12.7%
Contains more SucroseSucrose +17.6%
Contains more FructoseFructose +31.4%
~equal in Glucose ~0.63g
~equal in Lactose ~0g
~equal in Maltose ~0g
~equal in Galactose ~0g

Calories

General Tso's chicken and Orange chicken are high in calories. General Tso’s chicken contains nearly 300 calories. In comparison, orange chicken is lower in calories: it contains about 260 calories. 

Proteins

Orange chicken contains higher amounts of proteins than General Tso’s chicken, at 15g for orange chicken and 13g for General Tso’s chicken. Orange chicken has a leaner cut which is chicken breast. 

Fats

General Tso’s chicken contains higher amounts of fats compared to orange chicken. General Tso’s chicken contains 16g of fat, whereas orange chicken has 12g. 

General Tso's chicken is comparably richer in unsaturated fats. Orange chicken contains 8mg more cholesterol. 

Fat Type Comparison

Fat type breakdown side-by-side comparison
20% 27% 53%
Saturated Fat: Sat. Fat 2.76 g
Monounsaturated Fat: Mono. Fat 3.879 g
Polyunsaturated fat: Poly. Fat 7.501 g
20% 29% 51%
Saturated Fat: Sat. Fat 2.422 g
Monounsaturated Fat: Mono. Fat 3.474 g
Polyunsaturated fat: Poly. Fat 6.086 g
Contains more Mono. FatMonounsaturated Fat +11.7%
Contains more Poly. FatPolyunsaturated fat +23.3%
Contains less Sat. FatSaturated Fat -12.2%

Minerals

Both these dishes are very high in sodium. In comparison, orange chicken contains higher amounts of sodium than general Tso’s chicken. 

General Tso’s chicken is richer in iron. In contrast, Chinese orange chicken is richer in selenium and phosphorus. 

Below we can visualize their mineral profiles. 

Mineral Comparison

Mineral comparison score is based on the number of minerals by which one or the other food is richer. The "coverage" charts below show how much of the daily needs can be covered by 300 grams of the food.
Magnesium Magnesium Calcium Calcium Potassium Potassium Iron Iron Copper Copper Zinc Zinc Phosphorus Phosphorus Sodium Sodium Manganese Manganese Selenium Selenium 13% 3.6% 18% 44% 15% 35% 54% 57% 9.8% 79%
Magnesium Magnesium Calcium Calcium Potassium Potassium Iron Iron Copper Copper Zinc Zinc Phosphorus Phosphorus Sodium Sodium Manganese Manganese Selenium Selenium 14% 4.2% 18% 35% 14% 31% 56% 72% 11% 93%
Contains more IronIron +23.4%
Contains more ZincZinc +15%
Contains less SodiumSodium -21.3%
Contains more MagnesiumMagnesium +11.1%
Contains more CalciumCalcium +16.7%
Contains more ManganeseManganese +16%
Contains more SeleniumSelenium +18.8%
~equal in Potassium ~209mg
~equal in Copper ~0.042mg
~equal in Phosphorus ~130mg

Vitamins

General Tso’s chicken is richer in vitamins K and E. Chinese orange chicken is richer in vitamins B2, B3, B5, and B6. 

Below we can visualize their vitamin profiles. 

Vitamin Comparison

Vitamin comparison score is based on the number of vitamins by which one or the other food is richer. The "coverage" charts below show how much of the daily needs can be covered by 300 grams of the food.
Vitamin C Vit. C Vitamin A Vit. A Vitamin E Vit. E Vitamin D Vit. D Vitamin B1 Vit. B1 Vitamin B2 Vit. B2 Vitamin B3 Vit. B3 Vitamin B5 Vit. B5 Vitamin B6 Vit. B6 Vitamin B12 Vit. B12 Vitamin K Vit. K Folate Folate Choline Choline 5.3% 5.6% 24% 6% 6.8% 27% 53% 37% 47% 28% 96% 8.3% 23%
Vitamin C Vit. C Vitamin A Vit. A Vitamin E Vit. E Vitamin D Vit. D Vitamin B1 Vit. B1 Vitamin B2 Vit. B2 Vitamin B3 Vit. B3 Vitamin B5 Vit. B5 Vitamin B6 Vit. B6 Vitamin B12 Vit. B12 Vitamin K Vit. K Folate Folate Choline Choline 3% 16% 21% 3% 11% 51% 67% 60% 53% 25% 61% 7.5% 36%
Contains more Vitamin CVitamin C +77.8%
Contains more Vitamin EVitamin E +13.1%
Contains more Vitamin DVitamin D +100%
Contains more Vitamin KVitamin K +56.6%
Contains more Vitamin AVitamin A +180.9%
Contains more Vitamin B1Vitamin B1 +59.3%
Contains more Vitamin B2Vitamin B2 +86.4%
Contains more Vitamin B3Vitamin B3 +25.8%
Contains more Vitamin B5Vitamin B5 +62.1%
Contains more Vitamin B6Vitamin B6 +13.9%
Contains more CholineCholine +59.3%
~equal in Vitamin B12 ~0.2µg
~equal in Folate ~10µg

Health impacts

Cardiovascular diseases

High-sodium foods increase the risk of hypertension and mortality rates from cardiovascular diseases. One of these foods' major significant health impacts is their high sodium intake. In this case, Chinese orange chicken poses a higher risk since it contains higher amounts of sodium. 
Consume these foods in moderation and at lower frequencies. (1)

Metabolic diseases

Since these foods are high in carbs, consuming high-carb foods increases the risks of several metabolic diseases, including obesity and diabetes. It is also important to remember that these foods are primarily associated with white rice, which increases carbohydrate intake. (2)  

Article author photo Jack  Yacoubian
Education: Haigazian Medical University
Last updated: May 19, 2023
Medically reviewed by Ani Harutyunyan

Infographic

General tso's chicken vs Orange chicken infographic
Infographic link

Comparison summary table

Pay attention to the rightmost column. It displays the amounts side by side, giving a clearer understanding of the difference.
General tso's chicken Orange chicken
Rich in minerals ok
Lower in Saturated Fat ok
Lower in Cholesterol ok
Lower in Sugar ok
Lower in Sodium ok
Lower in Glycemic Index Equal
Lower in price Equal
Rich in vitamins Equal

All nutrients comparison - raw data values

Nutrient General tso's chicken Orange chicken Opinion
Calories 295kcal 262kcal General tso's chicken
Protein 12.9g 14.46g Orange chicken
Fats 16.36g 12.68g General tso's chicken
Vitamin C 1.6mg 0.9mg General tso's chicken
Net carbs 23.09g 21.66g General tso's chicken
Carbs 23.99g 22.46g General tso's chicken
Cholesterol 53mg 61mg General tso's chicken
Vitamin D 6IU 5IU General tso's chicken
Magnesium 18mg 20mg Orange chicken
Calcium 12mg 14mg Orange chicken
Potassium 201mg 209mg Orange chicken
Iron 1.16mg 0.94mg General tso's chicken
Sugar 11.6g 13.6g General tso's chicken
Fiber 0.9g 0.8g General tso's chicken
Copper 0.046mg 0.042mg General tso's chicken
Zinc 1.3mg 1.13mg General tso's chicken
Starch 11.83g 10.5g General tso's chicken
Phosphorus 127mg 130mg Orange chicken
Sodium 435mg 553mg General tso's chicken
Vitamin A 94IU 264IU Orange chicken
Vitamin A 11µg 75µg Orange chicken
Vitamin E 1.21mg 1.07mg General tso's chicken
Vitamin D 0.2µg 0.1µg General tso's chicken
Manganese 0.075mg 0.087mg Orange chicken
Selenium 14.4µg 17.1µg Orange chicken
Vitamin B1 0.027mg 0.043mg Orange chicken
Vitamin B2 0.118mg 0.22mg Orange chicken
Vitamin B3 2.853mg 3.59mg Orange chicken
Vitamin B5 0.617mg 1mg Orange chicken
Vitamin B6 0.202mg 0.23mg Orange chicken
Vitamin B12 0.22µg 0.2µg General tso's chicken
Vitamin K 38.2µg 24.4µg General tso's chicken
Folate 11µg 10µg General tso's chicken
Trans Fat 0.09g 0.053g Orange chicken
Choline 41.5mg 66.1mg Orange chicken
Saturated Fat 2.76g 2.422g Orange chicken
Monounsaturated Fat 3.879g 3.474g General tso's chicken
Polyunsaturated fat 7.501g 6.086g General tso's chicken
Tryptophan 0.142mg 0.113mg General tso's chicken
Threonine 0.552mg 0.576mg Orange chicken
Isoleucine 0.564mg 0.576mg Orange chicken
Leucine 1.026mg 1.001mg General tso's chicken
Lysine 1.089mg 1.058mg General tso's chicken
Methionine 0.332mg 0.34mg Orange chicken
Phenylalanine 0.563mg 0.51mg General tso's chicken
Valine 0.607mg 0.614mg Orange chicken
Histidine 0.333mg 0.359mg Orange chicken
Fructose 0.51g 0.67g Orange chicken
Omega-3 - EPA 0.005g 0.001g General tso's chicken
Omega-3 - DHA 0.005g 0.005g
Omega-3 - ALA 0.84g 0.619g General tso's chicken
Omega-3 - DPA 0.006g 0.003g General tso's chicken
Omega-3 - Eicosatrienoic acid 0.001g 0g General tso's chicken
Omega-6 - Gamma-linoleic acid 0.005g 0.028g Orange chicken
Omega-6 - Dihomo-gamma-linoleic acid 0.01g 0.01g
Omega-6 - Eicosadienoic acid 0.011g 0.008g General tso's chicken
Omega-6 - Linoleic acid 6.47g 5.284g General tso's chicken

Which food is preferable for your diet?

ok
ok
is better in case of low diet
General tso's chicken Orange chicken
Low Calories diet ok
Low Fats diet ok
Low Carbs diet ok
Low Glycemic Index diet Equal

People also compare

Vitamins & Minerals Daily Need Coverage Score

The summary scores indicate the extent to which this food can fulfill your daily vitamin and mineral requirements if you consume 3 servings, consisting of 100 grams of each (an approximation of 3 serving sizes).
Vitamins Daily Need Coverage Score
28%
General tso's chicken
32%
Orange chicken
Minerals Daily Need Coverage Score
33%
General tso's chicken
35%
Orange chicken

Comparison summary

Which food is richer in minerals?
Orange chicken
Orange chicken is relatively richer in minerals
Which food is lower in Saturated Fat?
Orange chicken
Orange chicken is lower in Saturated Fat (difference - 0.338g)
Which food is lower in Cholesterol?
General tso's chicken
General tso's chicken is lower in Cholesterol (difference - 8mg)
Which food is lower in Sugar?
General tso's chicken
General tso's chicken is lower in Sugar (difference - 2g)
Which food contains less Sodium?
General tso's chicken
General tso's chicken contains less Sodium (difference - 118mg)
Which food is lower in glycemic index?
?
The foods have equal glycemic indexes ()
Which food is cheaper?
?
The foods are relatively equal in price ($)
Which food is richer in vitamins?
?
It cannot be stated which food is richer in vitamins. See the charts below for detailed information. See the charts below for detailed information. See the charts below for detailed information.

References

All the values for which the sources are not specified explicitly are taken from FDA’s Food Central. The exact link to the food presented on this page can be found below.

  1. General tso's chicken - https://fdc.nal.usda.gov/fdc-app.html#/food-details/167675/nutrients
  2. Orange chicken - https://fdc.nal.usda.gov/fdc-app.html#/food-details/167679/nutrients

All the Daily Values are presented for males aged 31-50, for 2000-calorie diets.

Data provided by FoodStruct.com should be considered and used as information only. Please consult your physician before beginning any diet.