How to Save Money on Chickenby Mary Ann Romans | More from this Blogger 21 Sep 2009 07:55 AM Chicken can be a good low cost source of protein for your family. It's versatility makes it easy to use for main meals or even side salads. Chicken freezes well, too, either raw or cooked. Still, even though chicken can be inexpensive compared to other meat sources, the prices have been steadily increasing in the last few years. Getting your food budget to stretch as far as it can go is important for a family. With that in mind, here are some ways that you can make the most of your resources and save money when you buy chicken. The easiest way, I find, to save money on chicken is to watch the sales and then stock up. It helps to have a freezer. You can either freeze the raw chicken, cook it first, or do a combination. Find out what the lowest price is in your area (for us, it is 79 cents a pound for a whole roaster, 99 cents a pound for boneless breasts, and 69 cents a pound for thighs and drumsticks). When chicken reaches that magic price, then stock up right away. For me, a whole roaster is the most economical way of getting chicken. This is because I make sure to use up the entire bird, with the exception of the giblets (although using the giblets would be even smarter!). I roast the chicken and use both the white and dark meat. I use the pan juices to make gravy. Then I pick the chicken clean and simmer the bones and skin to make chicken stock. Pretty much nothing is wasted. I can get many "free" meals this way. If you want organic or locally grown chicken, you have to be prepared to pay a little bit more. Still, you can save here as well. As far as retail stores go, I have found that our local Trader Joe's grocery store has the best prices on organic free-range chicken. Packages are small, though, so this makes it a little difficult to feed a larger family. Another option for organic is to join a local co-op or buy directly from a local poultry farmer. They still exist and will even dress the birds for you, sometimes for free. You can read more blog posts by Mary Ann Romans here! Related Articles: Rubber Chicken: Stretch that Bird! Learn more about Mary Ann Romans  Mary Ann Romans is a freelance writer, wife and mother of three children. She lives in Pennsylvania with her husband, the kids and a 16-pound cat. Relevantfrugal tags User Comments No comments on this article yet. Be the first to comment! Community Tags budget meals, chicken, Food, frugal living Discuss this article
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