Chicken: An American Favorite
Chicken is one of America's most popular foods and tops beef and pork in
consumption per capita. Wholesome, tasty chicken is economical, easy to
prepare, and a great enjoyment to serve. Chicken is also versatile, and can be
cooked in many different ways, either by itself or paired with other foods such
as grains, vegetables or fruits. It can be used in appetizers, soups, salads,
sandwiches and main dishes. Some cuts of chicken take only minutes to cook and
new ready-to-serve chicken can make meal preparation a snap. Additionally,
white-meat chicken is one of the lowest-fat protein sources, and leg meat,
while a bit higher in fat, provides a rich flavor to any meal. Either type of
chicken fits easily into today's recommendations for healthful living.
Chicken Choices
Your market probably carries several different types of chicken:
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Broiler
- fryer-a young, tender chicken weighing 3 to 5 pounds when sold whole. Most
popular cuts are packaged from these chickens.
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Roaster
- a 6 to 8 pound chicken; best roasted whole and carved into servings.
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Cornish Game Hen
- about 2 pounds; usually sold whole. Best roasted or grilled.
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Stewing Hen
- an older hen weighing 5 to 6 pounds; best suited for moist cooking methods
like braising and stewing.
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Capon - a neutered male chicken weighing 8 to 10 pounds; very
meaty and tender.
Chicken is packaged in many ways to save you time. You can purchase it whole,
cut into parts, or in packs of similar individual parts, such as breasts,
drumsticks, leg quarters, wings or thighs. Boneless, skinless breasts or thighs
have no waste, save preparation time, and are great for creating low-fat
dishes. And convenience products such as uncooked, recipe-ready marinated
chicken are growing in popularity and availability. Examples include:
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Seasoned or marinated fresh chicken parts, ready to go on the grill, or to use
in fajitas or stir-fry recipes
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Frozen fried chicken pieces, breasts and breast tenders
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Barbecued or hot and spicy wings
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Chicken nuggets
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Prepackaged chicken slices for sandwiches
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Rotisserie or roasted whole chicken
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Ground chicken
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Precooked breasts, strips or diced cubes
Chicken To Go
For those looking for great taste and the ultimate in convenience, newer
products such as precooked boneless chicken strips, breasts and chunks, whole
roasted chicken, and sliced prepackaged chicken are lifesavers for the home
cook. These are delicious added to pastas, salads, casseroles, sandwiches and
other dishes.
Show a Little Leg
Many people prefer the white meat of the chicken, but the leg meat offers as
much versatility and rich flavor. Chicken leg meat-the legs, thighs and
drumsticks-has a wonderful flavor, works great in all types of cooking. Leg
meat is also a great value and is packaged in a variety of offerings.
Look at the Label
The labels on packages of chicken are filled with important information:
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The nutrition facts panel displays the amount of calories, fat, saturated fat,
cholesterol, protein and other important nutrients such as vitamins and
minerals in a serving of chicken. Many retailers will also have this
information available on posters and in brochures where chicken products are
sold. For more complete nutrition information, visit the USDA website at
www.nalusda.gov/fnic/databases.html.
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The package weight helps determine how much chicken to buy-a pound of raw
bone-in, skin-on chicken serves 2 to 3 people, while a pound of raw, boneless,
skinless breasts or thighs serves up to four.
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A "sell by" date means that the package should not be sold after that date; be
sure to cook the chicken within 2 to 3 days of purchase unless the chicken is
frozen. A package of raw chicken with a "use by" date should be cooked or
frozen by that date, and a package of cooked chicken should be eaten by the
"use by" date. Safe handling and cooking tips also appear on the package.
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