I posted a few weeks back on Facebook about some whole chickens that I purchased from our local Hutterite colony. For the last couple years I've only boughten whole chicken from them and chicken breasts from Zaycon. Before Zaycon came along though I just purchased whole chickens from the Hutterites. I buy them from them to stay away from any chemicals, preservatives, or hormones in store bought chickens.
When people hear about buying whole chickens they think:
1. Aren't they alot of work to cook?
2. Do they really save you money?
Ok, let's work this out....
1. Aren't they alot of work to cook?
Yes and no. Yes, they are more work then maybe just cooking up some wings or thighs. And no, they aren't really hard to cook even though they do take some extra time!
First of all, I cook my chickens whole in the crockpot. It takes all of 5 minutes for me to put the chicken into the crockpot, cover with water and set on high for 8 hours. I made a more detailed post about it in my Cheap Chicken post. (Note that the post was done when I was still buying from the store!)
But not only do you get all the chicken off when you cook it this way you also get the best broth ever! And usually after you strip the chicken for the first time you can put the carcass back into the crockpot, fill with water and cook for another couple hours to get a whole other crockpot full of soup! Then to store my beautiful broth I make Broth Cubes!
On to the next one...
2. Do they really save you money?
I think buying a whole chicken does save you money. I'll add it up here with what I pay:
Whole Chicken = $6 (From this I generally get 3 meals worth of chicken and at least a gallon of broth.)
Store Chicken = $1 per pound for the cheap stuff when it's on sale, figure $1 per person per meal = $6 for 3 meals. But generally no broth (depending on how it's cooked) and not as healthy.
Now even though these come out to about the same amount, I don't really feel like they are comparable. For my $6 I get a fresh, all natural chicken straight from the farm. Or I could spend the same $6 and get not as healthy chicken that's been shipped and sitting at the grocery store for who knows how long.
I'll take my fresh chicken with a little more work thank you very much. 
What about you? Do you buy whole chickens?
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{ 20 comments… read them below or add one }
I bought my first whole.
Ummm no…. I’m terrified I’ll cook it wrong and either wind up with something gross or that makes my family sick…..
I get whole either whole chickens or leg quarters from a local farmer. If I’m buying at the store I’ll get organic thighs.
I have, and I agree that its a good thing. If I had a local source of chickens, I would do it more now that I’m home-based.
FYI, though, if you do need to cut up a whole chicken (treating oneself with breasts for strips and using the rest for soups, casseroles and broth), I have shot some video on how to do it–its part of a backyard chicken butchering series. http://youtu.be/Rju4UI9zHxo
My family likes roasted chicken so I season it and cook it dry in the crock pot on low–works great and I toss the bones back in, fill with water and cook overnight to get broth the next day to make soup. Two uses of my crock before I have to clean it LOL I also treat my crock with a little olive oil before I put the chicken in so clean up is incredibly easy once my batch of soup is done and out
When I got married 34 years ago buying chicken that was cut up already was considered a luxury and it was expensive. I have always bought whole chickens but now I do buy breasts, too. When I buy whole chickens (on sale) I take them out of all of the packaging and remove everything from the cavity. I repackage in a gallon size ziploc bag, label with the weight and date, and freeze. This way a whole chicken can go from the freezer and straight into the crockpot simply by peeling off the bag. You will need to add to the cooking time but wow, this makes it easier than having to thaw everytime.
That’s a great idea! One of the reason that I hate using whole chickens is because I never allow enough thawing time and then can’t get the stuff out of the cavity. I will have to try this next time. Thanks!
I’ve been buying store broth but would love to make my own. I don’t need to add anything else to it, just use the water that I cooked the chicken in?
You could add carrots, spices, or salt if you’d like, but you don’t have to:)
I am late to the conversation. I found this from Frugally Sustainable. I make broth every week. My son has severe allergies. To add protein to his diet I add homemade broth to recipes that require just water (like rice).
Anyway- I add the washed skin of two onions, the two onions, I sauté garlic and remove it from the oil. If you add celery and carrots, it become more chicken soup like in my opinion. If I feel like he needs more vitamin A I add the carrots and strain them out before freezing the broth.
If you add a little vinegar to it (white or ACV), it will draw out more of the nutrients from the bones to make Bone Broth. Very healthy.
I have avoided cooking a whole chicken because it seems intimidating. Perhaps with your direction I will attempt this… I like the idea of roasting it first. How long would it take on low? Great post!
I’m not sure time wise but if you use a thermometer a chicken is done when the internal temp is 165F.
I do buy whole chickens, but for organic free-range chickens, the price is close to $4 per pound, which ends up being around $17 – $18 for a whole chicken. It still saves money over buying the breasts from the same chicken at $9+ per pound, though, and we get all the good broth! I roast my chicken in the oven so I can eat the crispy skin and use the drippings in making gravies &/or casseroles. After I pull the meat off the bones, I put the carcass in water in the crock pot for 24 hours to make the broth.
I have always cooked whole chickens in the crock pot. The meat falls right off the bone that way. However, I have never thought about making homemade broth from the left over bits and bones. I am so mad at myself for letting all of that homemade broth go to waste. Especially, with how expensive the store bought broth is becoming. Thanks for this post! I can’t wait to buy some whole chickens. I can use that broth in all the soups I will be making this fall/winter!
I started buying whole poultry last year when turkeys were so cheap around thanksgiving. I just threw it in the oven until it was done, bagged all the meat up and then simmered the carcass overnight and froze the broth. I spent eight or nine dollars on the Turkey and had at least 6 or 7 soups worth of broth as well as ~10 two person servings of meat. I’ve been doing the same things to chickens recently, but there’s just no beating the Turkey broth. It was much more hearty than what I get from doing chicken. This year I’m going to buy several Turkeys when they go on sale and then can the broth to save room in the freezer.
I do like to buy whole chickens or turkeys on sale. I roast them in my 20 qt electric roaster (1 turkey or 2 chickens at a time). I debone them, store the meat and crock pot the bones with a little vinegar to make Bone Broth. The vinegar draws out more nutrients from the bones to make a super healthy broth. And it tastes better too (can’t taste the vinegar either)! I have a large family (7 children at home, plus hubby and me), so I have to be frugal, lol. Great blog, I’m loving it!
Would you give a few details as to your method for roasting chickens in your 20 qt electric roaster please?
My family loves fried chicken, so for this I usually just buy thighs, legs and an extra breast for my husband. Then I buy whole chickens on sale, cook them almost done and pressure can the meat and also can the good rich broth it makes.
One of my favorite things to make is whole chicken in the crockpot! I stuff mine (thawed, not frozen) with an onion, season it & cook on low for 8 hours (or more, depending on how my day goes). I have always wondered about making broth from all of the liquid it releases!
Thanks for sharing!