Tuesday, January 25, 2011

Buying Chicken

When Chris and I first got married we always had a bag of frozen chicken breasts in the freezer.  We bought the big bag from Walmart for around eight bucks and it lasted us a while.  They were a staple.  They aren't any more though.

What do we use, then?!
Bone-in, skin-on chicken breasts.
Whole chickens.
Chicken thighs.
Occasionally, chicken tenders.
Always fresh, never frozen.

I always try to stock up when either of these go on sale.  $0.88 per pound is a great price! 

We haven't made the switch over to organic/free-range meat because our budget simply won't allow it.  I stick with Tyson all-natural most of the time.

Each of these make for a little more work than a frozen chicken breast but for me it's worth it.  Sometimes I stick the fresh packages right in the freezer until I'm ready to use.  Other times I take off the skin and cut it off the bone before freezing it.  I throw the bones in a pot of water and boil to make homemade stock instead of just trashing them.

What kind of chicken do you buy?
Are there any items that used to be staples on your grocery list but aren't any more?

4 comments:

  1. I still use frozen bulk chicken breast, I despise 'cleaning' chicken, I don't know why... Maybe next year.

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  2. I use frozen sometimes, but I've also moved to buying the whole (cut up) chicken, thighs, and the like. It has a more authentic chicken taste, to me, and it's a lot easier on our budget. Plus...since getting the PW cookbook, it's a must!

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  3. I have never used frozen chicken breasts--I don't ever even think about it! I use a lot of whole chickens--when they go on sale at Food Lion for about $3 per chicken I STOCK UP! I haven't switched to organic yet either but I am thinking about doing that this Spring/Summer. I typically buy whatever chicken breasts I can find on sale.

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  4. I always thought the frozen chicken breasts tasted off. That's just me. I wait for Piggly Wiggly/Foodlion/Walmart to get a sale. Those are the only options in Williamston!

    If I want to cheat on a recipe I will get a rotisserie chicken! You can get some good broth out of boiling a rotisserie chicken's carcass too.

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