General Tso vs Orange Chicken - Nutrition & Health impact comparison

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

General tso's chicken

1

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

Orange chicken

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. 

Protein

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. 

Fat

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

General tso's chicken

2

Saturated fat: Sat. Fat 2.76 g

Monounsaturated fat: Mono. Fat 3.879 g

Polyunsaturated fat: Poly. Fat 7.501 g

Orange chicken

1

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.

General tso's chicken

3

Orange chicken

4

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.

General tso's chicken

4

Orange chicken

7

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	+581.8%
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

Cardiovascular Health

Section reviewed by cardiologist Astghik Grigoryan

General Tso's Chicken and Orange Chicken are fried dishes that are high in calories and may have negative effects on cardiovascular health. 

Both dishes typically contain high levels of saturated fats and sodium, which can raise blood pressure and LDL (bad cholesterol) levels, increasing the risk of cardiovascular disease (1). 

To promote heart health, it is advisable to consume these dishes in moderation. Healthier alternatives, such as grilled or baked versions, along with low-sodium and low-sugar sauces, are recommended to help reduce cardiovascular risk.

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)