Chicken is one of the most commonly consumed meats worldwide. However not all chicken is created equal when it comes to taste nutrition and ethics. With confusing labels like “natural”, “cage-free” and “organic”, it can be hard for consumers to know where to find truly high-quality chicken. This article will walk you through what to look for when buying chicken, where you can find good chicken both in stores and online, and provide tips for getting the best bird for your buck.
What Makes Chicken “Good”? 3 Key Factors
There are three main attributes that set apart good, premium chicken from average, mass-produced chicken
1. Breed and Diet
Heritage chicken breeds that are allowed to roam and forage have more flavor than factory farmed chickens fed only grain. Look for pasture-raised chickens that eat grubs, grass and bugs in addition to grain. Organic feed is also preferable to avoid GMOs, pesticides and animal byproducts.
2. Raising Practices
Chickens raised in overcrowded factories will be much lower quality than those allowed to roam freely. Opt for free-range and pasture-raised options over cage-confined chickens whenever possible.
3. Processing Methods
Chickens pumped full of saltwater brine will be less flavorful. Look for chicken that is air-chilled rather than cooled in water baths. Meat from slow-grown chickens will also typically be better tasting.
Where to Buy Good Chicken In-Store
When shopping for chicken in grocery stores and supermarkets, be prepared to pay a bit more for quality. Here are some of the best options:
Whole Foods Market
Whole Foods has stringent standards for all meat products. Chickens will be pasture-raised, organically fed and never administered antibiotics. The organic chicken here is worth the price.
Sprouts Farmers Market
Similar to Whole Foods, Sprouts has high quality standards for animal products. Their organic and free-range chickens are fed a vegetarian diet with no antibiotics.
Kroger Simple Truth Organic
Kroger’s premium organic line offers excellent chicken sourced from chickens fed organic, vegetarian feed with no antibiotics ever administered.
Trader Joe’s Organic & Bell & Evans
While Trader Joe’s doesn’t have the most transparent sourcing, their organic chicken line adheres to USDA certified standards. Bell & Evans chicken is also a good antibiotic-free option.
Local Butchers & Farmers Markets
Don’t overlook local meat purveyors at butcher shops and farmer’s markets. These vendors often sell pasture-raised poultry from small regional farms.
Best Places to Order Chicken Online
Buying chicken online provides access to small family farms and premium vendors not found at the supermarket. Here are some of the best online sources:
Porter Road
Pasture-raised, organic fed chickens from Kentucky & Tennessee farms. Great flavor and texture.
ButcherBox
Offers 100% certified organic, free-range chicken humanely raised on vegetarian diets without antibiotics.
Crowd Cow
Premium chickens sourced from independent farms. Organic and pasture-raised options available.
Rastelli’s
Free-range, hormone and antibiotic-free chicken options sourced from US family farms.
Thrive Market
Carries organic, pasture-raised chicken as well as USDA certified organic chicken.
Tips for Getting the Best Chicken
Follow these tips to make sure you get the highest quality chicken, whether shopping online or in-store:
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Read labels carefully: Look for specific claims like “pasture-raised, “organic” and “no antibiotics ever”
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Know what terms mean: Don’t rely on vague labels like “natural” or “cage-free” which don’t ensure quality
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Check for air-chilled: Chickens chilled in water absorb more liquid, diluting flavor
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Buy direct from farms: Visit farmers markets and butcher shops to buy chicken sourced locally
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Learn about sourcing: Reputable companies will provide info on breed, diet and raising practices
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Look for certification: USDA Organic, American Humane Certified, Animal Welfare Approved, etc.
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Expect to pay more: Higher quality chicken costs more than factory farmed, but provides a superior tasting bird
The Bottom Line
With some diligence reading labels and understanding sourcing, you can find very high quality, humanely raised chickens both online and locally. Opt for pasture-raised chickens fed organic diets without routine antibiotics to get the best flavor and quality. Though premium chicken costs a bit more, the taste and ethics make it worthwhile for many consumers.
Where to Buy Chicken
As stated above, if you can afford it, your local farmer’s market has the highest quality chicken.
Whole Foods has several high quality options. Plus, they offer free grocery delivery if you’re an Amazon Prime member.
Another option is getting your chicken delivered directly to your doorstep. Crowd Cow connects consumers to small farms through their online marketplace. They offer high quality pasture raised, free-range, and organic chicken from small farms and co-ops that you can get delivered directly to your home. Order your meat from Crowd Cow here.
On chicken packaging, you’ll sometimes see a specific type of chicken. Honestly, I don’t really pay attention to the type much. I just more look at the size and cost when picking the chicken I am going to buy.
Here is a rundown of each type.
- Broiler or fryer – A young chicken less than 10 weeks old that weighs between 2 1/2 and 4 1/2 pounds. Use any method to cook. This is the most common type that you can find at most grocery stores.
- Cornish Hen – A small broiler/fryer that weighs between 1 and 2 pounds. Typically, roasted whole.
- Roaster – A young chicken between 8 and 12 weeks old and weighs 5 pounds or more. Typically, roasted whole and yields more meat per pound than broiler/fryer.
- Capon – Male chickens that are less than 4 months old and weigh between 4 and 7 pounds. Typically, roasted. They have large amounts of tender, light meat.
- Baking or Stewing Hen – A mature female chicken (hen) 10 months to 1 1/2 years old. They have less tender meat than younger chickens, so they are typically stewed or cooked with liquid.
- Rooster or cock – A mature male chicken with coarse skin and tough, dark meat. Requires long, moist cooking.
Step 2: Determine What A Chicken Was Fed
In conjunction with how the chicken was raised (step 1 above), it is important to also see what the chicken was fed. Chickens are just living creatures after all. Think about it: a human that exercises a lot, but only eats potato chips probably won’t be that healthy. Likewise, a person who eats great, but doesn’t leave their room probably isn’t going to be crushing it either. Chickens are no different.
Naturally, chickens are diverse omnivorous eaters and eat whatever they can find. This includes grass, seeds, bugs, fruits, worms, and even some small animals.
In commercial farming, chickens eat a poultry feed that is made mostly of grain. It is also fortified with protein through the addition of oilseed meal (like soybean oil) or animal by products.
At minimum, certified organic chickens were fed organic feed that does not have pesticides, chemicals, or antibiotics. This is good. If you’re looking for the best chicken, this should be a label you seek out. But it’ll cost you.
Just as it is stated, no antibiotics have ever been given to the chickens. This means you won’t be taking any chicken meds. Probably a good thing.
Considering that the USDA prohibits the use of hormones in poultry, this label doesn’t really mean much. So, if you see it, it’s such marketing. The good news is that no matter what type of chicken you buy, you can be assured there won’t be any hormones in it.
This label is most likely a positive one, but there is some gray area. If you are a vegetarian, then this would obviously be good for you. But, chickens aren’t intended to be naturally vegetarian. They eat things like bugs and worms. This most likely indicates that there are no animal byproducts in the feed (which chickens aren’t supposed to eat).
Everything You Need To Know About Buying Chicken At The Grocery Store
FAQ
What is the best chicken to buy at the grocery store?
At the grocery store, the best chicken you can buy will be organic, free-range or pasture raised, antibiotic free, and air-chilled. This combo is the winner, winner chicken dinner.
Which company is best for chicken?
Suguna Foods Pvt. Ltd, India’s leading poultry conglomerate, has grown to become a INR 9380+ crore turnover company, over a period of 40+ years.
How to tell if chicken is of good quality?
Good quality chicken is pink, plump, smooth and odour-free
High quality, fresh raw chicken should have a pinkish hue and there should be no evidence of bruising or damage to the skin. The chicken flesh should feel plump and springy to the touch with a neutral odour.