Cuts of Chicken

Chicken is such a versatile, lean meat that can be cooked in so many different ways. Most of the chicken can be eaten, except for the head and tail. Chicken feet can also be eaten but are typically not found at most grocery stores in Canada (other than some ethnic grocery stores). 

Nevertheless, you will see many different parts of the chicken at most stores. Here's a list of the 6 main parts you can find:

 

Neck 

Summary: most people usually throw this part out but it does have its uses. It is relatively cheap. 

What it tastes like: it's quite tender and flavourful 

How to cook it: They are good to fry, to make soups and stews out of, or to simply use as chicken stock. A rilette recipe is also a good option

 

Breast 

Summary: The chicken breast is of course one of the most well-known parts of the chicken. It’s the leanest and most tender part of the chicken. 

What it tastes like: it's very lean and tender and has quite a bit of flavour. 

How to cook it: the breast is extrenely versatile and can cookrd in so many ways. It can be roasted, simmered, stuffed, skewered...there's no limit to the recipes that can be cooked with chicken breasts. 
 

Back 

Summary: You will rarely find a chicken back all by itself in stores. Most of the time, you will have to eat it with a whole chicken. 

How it tastes: they don't have a lot of meat on them but they do have quite a bit of flavour. 

How to cook it: they are most commpnly fried or barbecued but you can also eat it boiled, roasted or even grilled. 
 

Wing 

Summary: another extremely popular part of the chicken. Can usually find these at restaurants, pubs and taverns. It consists of three parts. the drumette, the wingette, and the tip of the wing. 

How it tastes: they don't carry ad much meat as other parts of the chicken but they still have a decent amount. They are bony and very tender. 

How to cook it: They are usually fried and/or seasoned with dry or wet seasoning. There are so many flavours and sauces to use on chicken wings it'd be impossible to list them. Chicken wings with hot sauces are very popular.

 

Thigh 

Summary: Chicken thighs are between the animal's leg and its tail. They are not as expensive as the chicken breast or wings and just as delicious. 

How it tastes: Slightly fatter than the breast, this chicken cut is smooth, juicy and thanks to the fat, extremely tasty. 

How to cook it: like the breast it can be cooked in a lot of ways. Most commonly it is grilled or roasted. 

 

Leg 

Summary: also called drumsticks the chicken leg is another favorite. Udually includes the bird's whole leg. 

How it tastes: It is fatter and juicy which gives it a great flavour. Thwy are usually white tender as well! 

How to cook it: it is just as versatile as the chicken thigh and almost as versatile as the breast. They can be roasted, fried, and seasoned in so many ways.