Chicken, whole
About the ingredient whole chicken. Including 227 recipes with whole chicken, nutrition data, and where to find it.
Contents
What is whole chicken?
Broiler and fryer chickens range from 6 to 8 weeks old and weight about 3 to 4 pounds (1 1/4 to 1 3/4 kg) according to the National Chicken Council.
However you may find that the chickens in your local supermarket tend to be closer to 2 1/2 pounds (1 kg) as factory farms rush the birds to market at an ever faster pace.
These chickens may also be referred to as "spring chicken".
Broilers and fryer chickens can typically be used interchangeably. They are generally best cooked with high heat which make it an ideal choice to butterfly and broil, grill, or sauté in a skillet or frying pan.
The meat is young, tender and quite mild tasting which can make them a less than ideal choice for braises and stews where an older bird would deliver significantly more flavour while the younger broiler or fryer will tend to dry out.
The following chart from the National Chicken Council in the US shows the U.S. broiler chicken performance from 1925 to 2011.
| Year | Days (age) | Weight | Feed to Meat | Mortality % |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1925 | 112 | 2.50 | 4.70 | 18 |
| 1935 | 98 | 2.86 | 4.40 | 14 |
| 1940 | 85 | 2.89 | 4.00 | 12 |
| 1945 | 84 | 3.03 | 4.00 | 10 |
| 1950 | 70 | 3.08 | 3.00 | 8 |
| 1955 | 70 | 3.07 | 3.00 | 7 |
| 1960 | 63 | 3.35 | 2.50 | 6 |
| 1965 | 63 | 3.48 | 2.40 | 6 |
| 1970 | 56 | 3.62 | 2.25 | 5 |
| 1975 | 56 | 3.76 | 2.10 | 5 |
| 1980 | 53 | 3.93 | 2.05 | 5 |
| 1985 | 49 | 4.19 | 2.00 | 5 |
| 1990 | 48 | 4.37 | 2.00 | 5 |
| 1995 | 47 | 4.67 | 1.95 | 5 |
| 2000 | 47 | 5.03 | 1.95 | 5 |
| 2005 | 48 | 5.37 | 1.95 | 4 |
| 2006 | 48 | 5.47 | 1.96 | 5 |
| 2007 | 48 | 5.51 | 1.95 | 4.5 |
| 2008 | 48 | 5.58 | 1.93 | 4.3 |
| 2009 | 47 | 5.59 | 1.92 | 4.1 |
| 2010 | 47 | 5.70 | 1.92 | 4.0 |
| 2011 | 47 | 5.80 | 1.91 | 3.8 |
| 2012 | 47 | 5.95 | 1.9 | 3.7 |
| 2013 | 47 | 6.01 | 1.88 | 3.7 |
| 2014 | 47 | 6.12 | 1.89 | 4.3 |
| 2015 | 48 | 6.24 | 1.88 | 4.8 |
Nutrition
Nutrition Facts
Serving Size 1 unit (yield from 1 lb ready-to-cook chicken) (32g)Where found
Whole chicken is usually found in the poultry section or aisle of the grocery store or supermarket.
Food group
Chicken, whole is a member of the Poultry Products US Department of Agriculture nutritional food group.
How much does whole chicken weigh?
| Amount | Weight |
|---|---|
| 1 unit (yield from 1 lb ready-to-cook chicken) | 32 grams |
| ½ back, bone removed | 53 grams |
Related
Poultry Products
| In Chinese: | 整鸡 | |
| British (UK) term: | ||
| en français: | poulet entier | |
| en español: | pollo entero |
Recipes using whole chicken
There are 227 recipes that contain this ingredient.
Chicken Pesto Vegetable Stir-Fry with Fettuccine
Quick, easy and delicious! An ideal supper on a busy week day.
P.F. Chang's Roasted Chicken Cantonese Style
A copycat recipe of a popular chinese chain in the US. The method used creates a super crispy skin for this roast chicken.
Favorite Chicken Noodle Soup
Nothing is like a bowl of warm and delicious chicken noodle soup on a cold winter day.
Chicken & Dumplings Cracker Barrel Copykat
Chicken and Dumplings that is just like Cracker Barrel restaurant.
Roasted Sticky Chicken
Spicy slow roasted chicken. It is reminiscent of those rotisserie-style chickens that are so popular now, and it is very easy to make.
