Chicken meat is a healthy food with a high content of proteins, minerals and vitamins. Chicken is popular for its taste and the ability to prepare a huge variety of dishes from it. To enjoy the taste of a culinary masterpiece made with chicken meat, you need to choose the right chicken.
When buying a chicken, you need to pay attention to its appearance. The breast should be round and the keel bone should not stand out. As a rule, in young chickens, the brisket is a little springy, while in old chickens it is stiff and hard. Breasts that are too enlarged and appear disproportionate in relation to the limbs may indicate the use of hormones during the rearing of the chicken.
In general, a good quality carcass should be free from defects, bruises, blood clots or bone fractures. The chicken should always be gutted and well-plucked.
The freshness of the meat can be determined by slightly pressing on it - fresh meat quickly regains its shape, and if a cavity remains, then it is better to refuse the carcass.
The color of the chicken should be light pink, the skin is white and tender, and the fat should be pale yellow. This indicates that the carcass of young chicken is being sold, the meat of which is considered the most delicious.
Feel free to sniff the meat - the smell should not be sour or putrid. In general, it should not raise any doubts.
Always pay attention to your skin - it must be clean and dry. If the skin is slippery or sticky, it could indicate staleness or that the chicken was sick and was being treated with antibiotics.
To avoid doubts about the freshness of the chicken, it is best to buy a chilled rather than frozen product. In addition, freezing and thawing makes the meat tough.
