The Best Places to Buy Juicy, Flavorful Chicken Drumettes

Chicken drumettes, also known as chicken wings or wingettes, are a delicious and versatile poultry option perfect for appetizers, snacks, meals or as an ingredient. Their small size makes them easy to cook quickly and enjoy immediately. If you’re looking to pick up some drumettes for your next recipe or to toss in your favorite sauce, here’s where you can find high-quality, fresh drumettes at affordable prices.

Grocery Stores Offer Convenience

One of the easiest places to find chicken drumettes is your local grocery store. Most major supermarket chains will have drumettes available either in the fresh poultry section or frozen foods aisle.

Target is a great option for picking up fresh or frozen drumettes. They carry their own Market Pantry brand along with other major brands like Tyson and Perdue. You can buy them in different counts like 4 lbs or just grab a small 1 lb bag if you only need a few. Target also regularly runs sales and deals on chicken drumettes, so keep an eye out for promotions. You can shop for them in-store or order online for curbside pickup or delivery through services like Shipt.

Kroger, Publix, Safeway and other national and regional supermarket chains also stock fresh and frozen drumettes. Check the weekly circulars for any discounts. The nice thing about getting them at the grocery store is you can pick up sauce, sides and anything else you need in one stop.

Warehouse Clubs Offer Bulk Savings

If you want to buy drumettes in larger quantities or multipacks, warehouse clubs like Costco, Sam’s Club and BJ’s Wholesale are great options. These stores carry big packages with anywhere from 5-10 lbs of drumettes, so you can stock up. The per-pound price is usually very competitive at warehouse clubs, making it more budget-friendly to buy in bulk.

Warehouse clubs primarily sell frozen drumettes rather than fresh since they keep longer. Make sure to check the use-by date. The major brands like Tyson and Perdue are available, along with the clubs’ own private label Kirkland Member’s Mark and Wellsley Farms. The chickens are raised without antibiotics and other standards for quality.

Buying a value pack of drumettes and freezing what you don’t use right away is a smart way to always have them ready when a craving strikes, Just defrost a few at a time as needed

Butcher Shops Offer Premium Freshness

For the highest quality, most tender and juicy drumettes, visit a local butcher shop or meat market. These specialty stores work directly with farms and distributors to hand select fresh cuts of meat. The chicken is usually locally-raised rather than mass-produced.

A good butcher will have fresh chicken drumettes in the refrigerated case ready to take home and cook, You can also ask them to cut whole chickens into drumettes for you This ensures you get the freshest drumettes possible as opposed to pre-packaged frozen ones

Keep in mind butcher shops are more expensive per pound than grocery stores or warehouse clubs. However, the premium taste and texture is worth it for many shoppers. You know exactly where your chicken is coming from at a butcher shop. Developing a relationship with a local butcher can connect you to the best local sources of chicken.

Online Stores Deliver Fresh or Frozen

Ordering chicken drumettes online through services like Instacart, FreshDirect and others is very convenient. They partner with grocers and warehouses to deliver all kinds of products. You can easily order fresh or frozen drumettes along with anything else you need.

Make sure to select a use-by date as far out as possible when choosing delivery day. The chicken will be securely packaged with cold packs to keep it at proper temperature. One advantage of ordering online is you can compare prices and availability across multiple stores in one place.

There are also online specialty meat delivery services like Porter Road and Crowd Cow. These companies work with farms to deliver premium quality beef, pork and chicken directly to your door. The chickens are pasture-raised and free of antibiotics. However, the cost per pound is higher with these gourmet online meat purveyors.

Farmers Markets Offer Local Free-Range Chicken

Shopping at local farmers markets is a great way to connect directly with small poultry farms in your area. Many will sell fresh chicken drumettes from pasture-raised, free-range chickens. You can ask questions and learn all about how the chickens were raised and handled.

Farmers markets are seasonal, so availability will depend on time of year. Make sure to arrive early in the day for the best selection. The drumettes will be more expensive than a grocery store but you are paying for supreme freshness and knowing how the chickens were treated and processed.

Building a relationship with a farmer by being a regular customer can have advantages. You may be able to pre-order chicken or request special cuts like all drumettes. Supporting local agriculture feels good too.

What to Look for When Buying Drumettes

There are a few things to keep in mind when purchasing chicken drumettes to ensure you pick quality:

• Sell-by or Use-By Date – Pick packages with furthest out dates for freshness. For frozen, look at months not days.

• Color – Fresh drumettes should be pale pink to white color. Avoid discolored spots or yellow skin.

• Packaging – Leaks or tears could indicate improper handling. Go for well-sealed packaging.

• Size – Uniformly sized drumettes will cook evenly. Avoid variety packs with mixed pieces.

• Quantity – Buy amount you will use within 3-5 days for fresh, longer for frozen. Don’t overbuy.

• Price – Compare cost per pound between brands and stores. Consider deals and bulk pricing.

• Label Claims – Look for labels like organic, antibiotic-free, free-range, etc if that matters to you.

Following basic food safety rules like refrigerating chicken right away at 40°F or below will also help prevent any problems.

Delicious Ways to Cook Juicy Drumettes

Chicken drumettes are extremely versatile for recipes. Here are some of the most popular ways to cook them:

• Buffalo Wings – The classic! Deep fry and coat in spicy buffalo sauce. Serve with blue cheese dressing and celery.

• Honey BBQ – Toss sauced wings in sweet honey barbecue sauce. Bake or grill until sticky.

• Teriyaki Chicken – For an Asian twist, bake wings with a teriyaki glaze. Sprinkle with sesame seeds.

• Jerk Chicken Wings – Season drumettes with a spicy jerk marinade then bake or grill.

• Garlic Parmesan – Toss fried or baked wings in a garlicky parmesan mixture. Addictive flavor.

• Nashville Hot Chicken – Dry rub with cayenne and paprika then coat in spicy oil. The heat level is up to you!

• Chicken Tacos/Burritos – Chop drumettes into pieces and add to tacos or burrito bowls with all the toppings.

• Chicken Salad/Sandwiches – Use chopped drumettes in lieu of whole breasts or tenders for tasty chicken salad.

• Soup – Simmer wings in broth with veggies for hearty chicken soup or stew. Pull meat off bones.

Chicken drumettes are budget-friendly and easy to find year-round. With so many cooking methods, they make for delicious meals, appetizers and snacks. Next time you need an infusion of chicken in your cooking, grab some fresh or frozen drumettes from the grocery store, warehouse club, butcher shop or farmers market for juicy, flavorful results. Just don’t forget the wet naps!