The Absurd World Record For The Most Chicken Wings Eaten In 30 Minutes

Some foods are designed for speedy consumption. Chicken wings are not one of them. With pointy bones, awkward tendons, and an assortment of oddly shaped obstacles, they don't make for quick eating. In fact, chicken wings have been known to pose a danger to anyone who attempts to eat them too hurriedly. 

Super Bowls fans have been explicitly warned not to shovel down chicken wings while watching the game, as their "favorite team isn't the only one who might choke," says MedicineNet. Why chicken wings? Because their bones can be lethal. In 2016, a man died after choking on a chicken wing during a KFC wing eating contest in Indonesia. In 2019, a 20 year old died of septic shock after doctors failed to notice the chicken bone lodged in his throat for two weeks. And these are just a couple of examples. Chicken bones are one of the most common deadly choking hazards, per CE Safety — making wings a food item that no one should be scarfing down willy-nilly. And yet, competitors continue to line up for a chance to take the top prize in chicken wing eating contests around the globe. 

Enter the very petite Molly Schuyler, a competitive eater of the highest caliber. Schuyler has won a myriad of contests across the country, practically inhaling burgers, tater tots, cottage cheese, pizza, and more. She has broken a world record by eating a 72-ounce steak in a mere 2 minutes and 45 seconds. It seems that no food is too tough for her to tackle. Not even the dreaded chicken wing.

At the infamous Philadelphia Wing Bowl in 2018, Schuyler downed 501 chicken wings in 30 minutes (at a rate of 16.7 wings per minute), Sports Illustrated reported, setting yet another world record and securing her third win in the competition. It's hard to envision what a mound of over 500 wings would look like — let alone eat it — but the tiny Schuyler made it look easy. How does someone so small ingest so much food? 

Contrary to society's ideal of the perfect food contest competitor — big and burly with a sizable paunch — Schuyler's diminutive build actually works in her favor, Inverse explains. Due to her low amount of abdominal fat, her stomach is better able to swell to fit in more food. And that's not the only trick she has up her sauce-smeared sleeve. She always has a drink by her side and has mastered the art of holding her head high to make her throat a direct line to her awaiting stomach. Her techniques seem to work, as Schuyler is the number-one female independent competitive eater in the world. Just remember, folks. Don't try any of this at home.