How to Store Raw Dressed Chicken So It Stays Fresh

Chicken carcass meat comes from broiler chickens, which are raised specifically for their meat. Broilers put on weight and grow significantly when they are well cared for. Besides selling the meat as separate cuts, some poultry farmers sell it as a whole carcass. Many people have probably seen a chicken carcass without knowing that is what it is called. Chicken carcasses are sold in traditional markets as well as supermarkets, and they cost less than beef or goat carcasses.

Also read 5 Benefits of Eating Fresh, High-Quality Broiler Chicken

What Is a Chicken Carcass? The Basics You Should Know

Before getting into anything else about carcass meat, it helps to understand what a chicken carcass actually is. A chicken carcass is a chicken that has been plucked and had its head, feet and giblets removed. In other words, it is a whole bird without the head, feet or innards, with the feathers already taken off. Even so, watch out for pin feathers left in the meat, and check the bird again for the pin feathers that usually stay embedded in the skin.

A chicken carcass consists of the back, breast, thighs, drumsticks and wings. At Indonesian weddings and other celebrations, the chicken is cut in half right down the middle of the back and handed out as ater-ater (food gifts sent to relatives and neighbors). A whole carcass, meanwhile, can serve as a wedding gift offering from either the groom's or the bride's family. That is why the broiler chicken business and the chicken carcass business can be so lucrative: plenty of people need them.

How to Store a Chicken Carcass

Now that you know what a chicken carcass is, the next step is learning how to store it properly. Even if you buy a fresh chicken carcass, storing it the wrong way can lower the quality of the meat. Here is how to store a whole chicken carcass correctly:

Also read 5 Things to Watch When Raising Laying Hens

Storing a Whole Chicken Carcass

You can keep a whole chicken carcass in the refrigerator, but first you need to know how to prepare it. Start by separating the fat from the meat, especially around the skin, and put the fat in a separate plastic bag. Wrap the whole carcass in plastic wrap so it does not pick up contaminants from other things in the refrigerator. Then put it in the freezer for long-term storage.

Cutting Up the Chicken Carcass

For convenience, you can cut the carcass into smaller pieces, such as the wings, thighs, drumsticks, back and breast. Divide the pieces into portions and wrap each one in plastic wrap. This makes cooking easier. Try to make each wrapped portion enough for a single meal. That way, when you want to cook chicken, you can take out one pack of cut pieces and let it sit at room temperature for 2 to 3 hours. Do not soak it in water, because that can make the meat tough and expose it to bacteria. Washing the chicken with water before storing it is not recommended either, since that also exposes it to bacteria.

Also read Choosing the Best Healthy Kampung Chicken DOC for Meat

A well-stored chicken carcass stays nutritious, and its texture changes very little. So besides knowing what a chicken carcass is, you now also know how to store one properly.