What is the difference between fryer, broiler and roaster? I THINK roaster is biggest but fryer and broiler confuse me. Which is an all purpose size? And bigger than those is old and only for soup/stew, I guess? And smaller than that is... what?
If those terms are breed specific, what do you call an older-than-ideal bird for eating or a too-young bird? Do people eat those?
Broiler and roaster are interchangeable; both are cornish crosses. Fryers in some instances can be extraneous male cockrels for laying breeds (typically Leghorns). However, the industry seemingly now simply slaughters the cornish crosses at 2.5-3.0 lbs live weight and calls them "fryers". Same with a "Cornish Game Hen". If allowed to grow, it would become a broiler or roaster.