The Perdue Chicken Cookbook

people visit museums or monuments. He notices the following kinds of things

himself and would recommend that you do also when selecting chicken.

Give the package a little squeeze. Are there signs of ice along wings,

backs or edges? Frank explained to me that some chicken producers blast

their birds with air as cold as -40o F, but he never does. Freezing causes

a breakdown in protein, loss of natural juices, and reduced tenderness.

Also, when you cook a frozen bird, the bones and nearby meat may turn an

unappetizing dark color.

Look at the thickness of the meat in proportion to the bone. If, for example,

the breast looks scrawny, you're paying a lot for bone rather than meat.

Read the labels so you know what you are getting. Many different parts

and combinations are available, and some look surprisingly alike even to

Frank's trained eye. The label tells exactly what is inside.

Ask questions. If any meat or poultry product doesn't look, feel,

or smell just right, check with the professionals behind the counter.

Notice the pull date. Most stores are scrupulous about removing chicken

before the pull date expires-but sometimes there's a slip-up.

Was the chicken well-cleaned? Or are there little traces of feathers

or hairs? These can look really unattractive when the bird is cooked.

Is the chicken stored correctly on the chilling shelf, or are the trays

of chicken stacked so high that the top ones aren't kept cold? When that

happens, the shelf life of the top ones is seriously shortened.

Is the meat case kept so cold that the fresh chicken is frozen and ends up

with ice crystals on the tray? If so, complain to the manager.

Look at the ends of the bones. Are they pink or are they turning gray?

Generally, the more pink the bone ends are, the fresher the chicken.

How should I store chicken at home?

Chicken, like all meat, is perishable. It should be stored in the coldest

part of the refrigerator (40F or below), sealed as it comes from the market,

and used within two or three days of purchase.

Should I freeze chickens?

Frank doesn't recommend freezing poultry. However, if a bird must be held

beyond three days, freezing will keep it wholesome.

How do I freeze poultry?

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