Using whole raw chicken can save money, maximize nutritional benefits & make delicious meals from scratch with minimal waste. This post will show you how to process a whole raw chicken at home!
If you’re anything like me and want to have a self-sustaining homestead one day, then learning how to utilize the whole animal in the kitchen is a great start.
How to source whole chickens
You can usually find whole raw chickens at the grocery store in the meat market with all the pre-cut meats.
Most importantly is meat quality and freshness. Organic, grass-fed & pasture-raised chickens will be the best choice.
With any food, I always say the closer to home, the better.
Ideally, I would love to be able to raise & process my chickens one day. For now, the grocery store chickens will have to do.
Bonus points: find whole raw chickens locally at the farmer’s market or pick them up directly from the nearest farm!
Don’t let sourcing or quality stop you from buying a whole raw chicken. Homesteading, Homemaking, Eating Traditionally, & optimizing nutrition is a process & journey.
Start with what you have the most accessible access to and upgrade from there when it’s available.
Using whole raw chicken in the kitchen is very easy to do! You will save money, minimize waste, maximize nutrients & provide yourself with fresh, high-quality ingredients for your meals!
How to use every part of the chicken
Whether you buy a chicken from the store or raise it yourself, you want to get the most bang for your buck! Do this by using every part of the animal. This skill is suitable for using all the chicken’s nutrients and saves you money on ingredients!
Many of us are familiar with the cuts of meat a chicken provides, such as breasts, legs, wings, thighs & tenders. Each cut of meat can make an infinite number of meals and dishes! Having more options will add more variety to your weekly menu.
In addition to the meat, we can also process the bones, organs, fat, skin & feet into nutrient-rich ingredients! Some examples are bone broth, chicken stock, gravy & pure fat for cooking (aka schmaltz).
You can make dishes by preparing the organ meats independently instead of processing them.
If you haven’t tried chicken organs on their own, I recommend trying them at least once! You can always sneak them into other parts of the meal if it’s not your cup of tea. You’ll get the nutritional benefits without eating them directly.
How to Process a Whole Raw Chicken Step by Step
10 Easy Steps to Process a Whole Raw Chicken Overview
- Step 1: Rinse and Remove Organs
- Step 2: Dry & lay on back
- Step 3: Remove Legs
- Step 4: Cut thighs & debone
- Step 5: Remove wings
- Step 6: Cut wings
- Step 7: Split in half by separating the front and back
- Step 8: remove breasts & tenders
- Step 9: Remove extra fat & skin
- Step 10: Separate each section for storage
How To Store Whole Raw Chickens
As I cut up the chicken, I separated it into each category and put it in a labeled freezer bag.
Meanwhile, I keep my stockpiles in the freezer until I’m ready to process or cook with them. The main pieces of meat go pretty quickly with all my chicken recipes you will find on the blog!
Here are some quick recommendations for how long you can freeze chicken.
In summary, I process the fat & bones into schmaltz & broth about once a month. I buy one chicken a week, so I end up with 3-4 chickens worth of parts to render. I like to process in bulk to save time and always have extra on hand.
Be sure to follow me on Instagram & Youtube for detailed tutorials.