whole roasting chicken vs fryer chicken

[MommyCheryl #345095]

Time to show just how much I don't know...
Are whole fryer chickens the same as roasting chicken and aren't they all they a whole chicken anyway???

One store has whole fryers for .59 a pound. I'll have to check the other store to be sure, but I think that is a good price. Anyway, I don't fry chicken, just roast them. Is this chicken okay for that?

Thanks

[CraftScout]

Grab Them!! I just grabbed two chickens because the price was finally under $1 a pound. Roasting, stewing, broiler/fryer - all these are basically descriptions of size/age. I rarely see anything but broiler/fryers at my stores, but I like the 3-5 pound size of these birds. It fits my budget and feeds 6 with a little leftover for lunches. I either roast mine in the oven or in the crockpot, both simply.

[Tish]

I buy them 5-10 at that price! Definitely buy at .59/lb

[JillAZ]

MommyCheryl #345095 wrote:
Time to show just how much I don't know...
Are whole fryer chickens the same as roasting chicken and aren't they all they a whole chicken anyway???

One store has whole fryers for .59 a pound. I'll have to check the other store to be sure, but I think that is a good price. Anyway, I don't fry chicken, just roast them. Is this chicken okay for that?

Thanks

They will work great for roasting. Fryers are just a younger bird and run about 2-3 pounds. Roasters are between 3-5 pounds and a little older.

[MommyCheryl #345095]

JillAZ wrote:

They will work great for roasting. Fryers are just a younger bird and run about 2-3 pounds. Roasters are between 3-5 pounds and a little older.

Thanks for that info. Now I finally know the difference.

I guess I will buy some tomorrow. Thanks guys!

[Chef #1031198]

I like the smaller birds, too. How long do you roast a fryer for? In my cookbook I only see roasting times for big birds, 5 lbs +

[3KillerBs]

Fryers are younger, smaller, and more tender (not that any modern chicken, except stew hens, are tough).

To roast them without drying them out you'll want high heat for less time -- 350 instead of 325. I'd expect a bird that size to be done in about an hour -- but I'd start checking a bit sooner than that (I use a fork, a meat thermometer is more reliable if you're not experienced with roasting chicken).

At that price -- fryers for the price of leg quarters! -- I'd buy as many as my freezer would hold. Maybe even ask the store about case quantities.

[3KillerBs]

Oh, BTW, if you're not used to cutting chickens (or if any of the lurkers found the same deal and need the info),

Here's How to Cut up a Chicken

[JillAZ]

Here are some roasting times for you:

Chicken roasted at 375 degrees:

2½ - 3 pounds - about 1 to 1-1/4 hours
3½ - 4 pounds - about 1-1/4 - 2 hours
4½ - 5 pounds - about 1-1/2 - 2 hours

[IngridH]

JillAZ wrote:
Here are some roasting times for you:

Chicken roasted at 375 degrees:

2½ - 3 pounds - about 1 to 1-1/4 hours
3½ - 4 pounds - about 1-1/4 - 2 hours
4½ - 5 pounds - about 1-1/2 - 2 hours

I find that they get done a bit faster than this (but my oven could be running hot), so I'd start checking the temperature 15 to 30 minutes before the times on this chart. A 31/2-4 pound bird finishes in my oven in no more than 1-1/4 hours. If I left it in for 2 hours I'd have a burned bird, and unhappy guests.

[JillAZ]

Exactly. I should have specified to start checking about 10 minutes before the earliest time listed. Thanks for pointing that out!

[Chef #1031198]

Thanks, guys!