If you’ve ever cooked a chicken and noticed that it’s purging a white jelly-like substance, don’t worry! The gross goo may look unappetizing, but it’s actually a natural phenomenon caused by protein escaping the bird as it cooks.

You pull your perfectly seasoned chicken breast out of the oven, and there it is – a strange, oozing white goo. You wanted a juicy, golden-brown masterpiece, but now your chicken looks like it’s melting.

But don’t worry, this poultry predicament happens to chicken lovers everywhere, from casual home cooks to professional chefs, according to personal chef, Drew Curlett.

“It might not be pretty, but it’s pretty normal to see white stuff come out of chicken, especially when baked or roasted,” the culinary instructor tellsReader’s Digest.

What is the goop?

Despite its strange appearance, the white stuff oozing from chicken isn’t anything to panic about. It’s a combination of protein and water that coagulates when the chicken is cooked at high temperatures.