Chicken cuts

1) Whole chicken

Perfect for roasts, whole chickens are a great budget-friendly option to feed the whole family. Flatten and cook on the barbie, poach and use to make stock for soups and stews, or joint the bird for individual pieces.

How to joint a chicken: Place chicken, breast-side up, on a clean chopping board or work surface. Using poultry shears or a sharp chef's knife, cut the breast in half along the breast bone. Open out chicken slightly and turn breast-side down. Cut along one side of backbone. Repeat on the other side and discard backbone or reserve to make stock.

To remove the legs, cut around both legs, between the thigh and breast. To separate the drumstick from the thigh, position the legs, skin-side down. Using the small line of fat that runs between the leg and the thigh as a guide, cut the drumsticks from the thighs.

Cut each breast in half diagonally. Cut through joint on each side to remove wings. Wrap chicken pieces in plastic wrap, then pop in an airtight bag and freeze for up to three months, or cover and keep in the fridge for up to two days.

2) Chicken thighs

With a higher fat content, thigh meat is darker than breast meat, and doesn't dry out when cooked, staying moist and tender.

Best for: Ideal in casseroles, curries and stews, they're delicious when marinated and cooked on the barbie.

3) Chicken wings

Finger-lickin' wings are just that... tasty little morsels! A favourite of both adults and kids, you can't go wrong serving up this budget-friendly cut.

Best for: Marinate, marinate, marinate! From sticky honey soy, chilli and garlic or lemon and ginger, the possibilities are endless. Cook on the barbie or in the oven, or deep-fry, then leave to drain on paper towel before serving.

4) Chicken breast fillets

Lean and extremely versatile, breast fillets can become dry, so try not to overcook them.

Best for: Perfect for poaching, as they retain their moisture, chicken breasts are also great simply pan-fried, flattened and made into schnitzels, or sliced into strips and used in stir-fries.

5) Chicken drumsticks

Any meat on the bone is full of flavour, and because they're economical, fast to cook and kid friendly, drumsticks are an easy weeknight option.

Best for: Great marinated, then roasted or barbecued, drumsticks can also be shallow-fried, used in curries and stews, or try a traditional Italian chicken cacciatore or Thai green chicken curry.

Source

Super Food Ideas — April 2015 , Page 35

Author

Cara Zaetta-Thomas