ate my first raised chicken, odd

[deerchooper]

hello,

well I ate my first raised chicken today, rir 7 months old. I was shocked how tough it was. when they get to that age are they stew style only?

what do you do for a chicken that age?

 

[Granny Hatchet]

fresh chicken is a whole different story. it wasnt too old. it was fresh!!! there are a couple things you can do. one is a salt something. haha the other is freezing it before you cook. the ice crystals break the meat down and make it more tender.

 

[micah O]

As it is a rir it it will never taste like a store chicken siince it is a layer hen not a meat hen but if u should ever eat one that is rir you should eat it at 4 months old but it will never be tender like a store chinken unless you buy broilers.

 

[wyoDreamer]

Make sure you let it rest to get rid of the rigor mortis and if you roast it, go low and slow. Low temp and longer cooking time.

 

[sourland]

Wyodreamer is right on the money - age the bird perhaps even in a brine and then cook it 'low and slow'.

 

[JerseyHen]

look up a recipe for this: coq au vin. Rooster in wine, cooked low and slow. My favorite way to cook an older bird. 7 months is older in eating chicken terms, unless you are used to it. The birds you get in the grocery store are only about 8 weeks old (tops). Even some of the heritage "ranger" type birds or slow growing broilers are processed before 20 weeks.

 

[Beekissed]

A real chicken will always be a tad chewier than the baby chickens sold in the stores, so you'll not get away from chewy but tough can be managed. I can all my old birds into the jar to use for soups, stews, etc.

Six month and younger I marinate in lemon juice, ACV, garlic, and BBQ sauce and grill that bird! The best grilled chicken ever!

 

[deerchooper]

thank you

after reading some more I found out the time lines (age) for cooking older birds.