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Why a WHOLE bird is such a good option!

written by

Maria McIntyre

posted on

February 20, 2021

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To some, a whole bird may seem intimidating or TOO much!  But, I'm going to take a moment to convince you that using a whole bird- chicken, turkey, or duck, is EASY and actually costs you less time and money in the long run.  Whether you are a busy family of 8 or a retired couple of 2, a whole bird works for anyone.  I, personally, sometimes cook 2 birds or 2 roasts because of the size of my family, so ONE bird is doable!  I have included a very simple slow cooker RECIPE right here on our site that will help you facilitate trying this out for your first time (or it's a great one if you're a seasoned whole bird believer). click here ➡️➡️https://mcintyrefamilyfarms.co...

I cook a whole bird (or more) every few weeks when I'm in a hurry.  When I'm on top of things, I grab a chicken just before bed and set it out on my big, farmhouse sink to unthaw.  By morning, it is perfect!  I  get the kids off, get ready for chores and the work day, and quickly put the chicken in the crockpot.  I'll check on it at lunchtime and maybe turn it down later (to warm) in the day-or sometimes, just let it go and let it fall apart, depending on my mood or what fires get thrown at me.  Now, what if I forget to take the chicken out to unthaw the night before?  Never fear!  Leave it in it's packaging and place it in a sink of warm water.  The unthawing process will start right away.  For me, at lunch time, it'll be ready to throw in.  And if worse comes to worse, you can always put it in the instant pot frozen.

Here's why I love a whole bird....

**I throw it in and it's done when I get home! All I have to make is veggies/sides and dinner is ready.

**I can make multiple meals from it (depending on what size of bird I have available for my family) I use the roasted bird immediately and then pick off all the meat for soups, salads, and more.  I even freeze some bags for later meals down the road.

**I keep all the bones and then make bone broth in the instant pot the next day, so simple

**The whole bird is USED!  There is literally no waste.  When I had a big dog (RIP), after the bone broth, he ate what was left.  So, all meat, broth, and bones were consumed!

**Less expensive.  Although I don't buy the bird from myself, I do know the cost of raising it and the cost of taking it to our small USDA processor.  It is more money, more packaging, and more time to have the bird cut up.  By using a whole bird, I am spending less money and less resources.

**I get to be creative.  There are a number of ways to season a whole bird!  Sometimes, I will cook one in the dutch oven outside on briquettes, sometimes in the oven.  All the leftovers can be used in so many dishes.  I do not even think twice when I see a recipe that uses 'breast meat' - I use all the shredded or cubed meat I have taken off the whole bird, and sub it immediately.  

**The kids love the wishbone.  It is tradition to set it in the kitchen window for a couple of days and let it dry out, then two of them pull on it to snap it.  The one who ends up with the larger end of the bone, gets their wish.

Don't hesitate to add your reasons for using whole birds or any recipes or links to recipes you love for them in the comments below!

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