Types and size of chickens

On the topic of what kinds of chicken we can get, a 1.3kg (just under 3lb) bird is labeled as a ‘big’ chicken here if you can believe it. That will be most likely a battery hen from Malaysia and they cost about USD $11-12.

Then there are smaller ones of course. One I like is called a ‘Kampong’ chicken (usually around 900g) which are free range and much tastier but obviously a bit more expensive.

If I want a fancy corn-fed or more specialist bird from say, France, then those are available frozen from upwards of $20 all the way up to over $50 (for something like a Bresse).

Here’s an unusual one (Malaysia) I occasionally get for soup:

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On the topic of what kinds of chicken we can get, a 1.3kg (just under 3lb) bird is labeled as a ‘big’ chicken here if you can believe it. That will be most likely a battery hen from Malaysia and they cost about USD $11-12.

Then there are smaller ones of course. One I like is called a ‘Kampong’ chicken (usually around 900g) which are free range and much tastier but obviously a bit more expensive.

If I want a fancy corn-fed or more specialist bird from say, France, then those are available frozen from upwards of $20 all the way up to over $50 (for something like a Bresse).

Here’s an unusual one (Malaysia) I occasionally get for soup:

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And I buy chicken since it's the affordable protein!!!

(Not counting the trotters and such some of those Northerners don't appreciate. 😁)
 
And I buy chicken since it's the affordable protein!!!

(Not counting the trotters and such some of those Northerners don't appreciate. 😁)

Pork is cheaper than chicken here.

Fresh chicken especially has become really expensive since Covid, but frozen is still very affordable. That stuff usually comes from Brazil and we use a lot of it.
 
Pork and (especially) beef has to be velveted for a stir fry if you want it tender. If you don’t mind chewy that’s OK but it’s virtually impossible to get those meats tender (i’m talking about stir fries again) without some kind of pre-treatment.
I think it also depends on the quality of the meat.
I use steak for my stir fry (our beef is very very good quality, and relatively cheap. Chicken is cheapest, then beef, then pork)
 
Here are examples of the four whole chicken brands my local Kroger offers:

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Bargain chicken


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Big national brand chicken


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Higher-quality chicken (this is the one I buy)


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Most expensive chicken
 
Pork and (especially) beef has to be velveted for a stir fry if you want it tender. If you don’t mind chewy that’s OK but it’s virtually impossible to get those meats tender (i’m talking about stir fries again) without some kind of pre-treatment.
Definitely, especially for beef. I tried it a few years ago for a beef stir fry and loved it. I make a pork tenderloin fried rice but never felt the need to velvet. Cheaper cuts, yes, I could see that.
 
Pork is cheaper than chicken here.

Fresh chicken especially has become really expensive since Covid, but frozen is still very affordable. That stuff usually comes from Brazil and we use a lot of it.
Pork is cheaper here, too, except chicken legs and thighs (my favorite are thighs). Skinless-boneless chicken breasts and s/b thighs and bone-in wings are the most expensive pieces.
 
I can have a difficult time finding one under 4 pounds some days.
Yeah, when I bought that Emeril 9-1, I found the photo of the chicken in it on the rotisserie intriguing. Then I bought it and discovered it had to be less than 4 lbs and I'm skeptical that woud fit. I've never used the appliance for rotisserie.
 
Yeah, when I was a kid my mom and grandmas used them in soups and stock. I think they were about .20 cents per pound. Nowadays $2.99 a pound is a good price.
I just remember when MrsT and I were dating, wings at any of the bars/clubs in town were 10 cents a wing. Adjusted for inflation, that’s 26 cents a wing in today’s money.

Nowadays, in town, 5 wings will cost you $8. Crazy.
 
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