Can you taste the difference between an industrial chicken and a free-range chicken?

[RWebb]

apparently the English can't tell the difference...

https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/00071660801938833?scroll=top&needAccess=true&journalCode=cbps20

[cabmandone]

The industrial chickens are tougher from having worked all day and they have a bit of an iron taste to them. The free range are just out enjoying life so they aren't as tough.

[fastfredracing]

[masraum]

I think most folks wouldn't be able to tell the difference, and it would probably really depend upon how they were cooked.

I would be surprised if I could tell the difference or pick the bird that was raised better. How they are cooked would probably have more to do with it than anything else.

But, I'd be game to have someone get some of 2 or 3 different kinds and grill some birds with a little salt and pepper and then do a back to back to back taste test.

[RWebb]

I've always wanted to find a guy who imports Bresse chickens....

[Otter74]

The first time I had a really good turkey for Thanksgiving (bought from a nearby farm and organic, free range, etc.) the difference between that and an "industrial" turkey was like night and day.

[LWJ]

My FIL grew up on a farm. He absolutely can.

Not sure I ever had one of them free range chickens...

[asphaltgambler]

Industrial chickens = mehh…. Free-range = Yard-birds = mmmmm

[rcooled]

Originally Posted by cabmando

The free range are just out enjoying life so they aren't as tough.

[vash]

for me it sizing. an industrial bird has mutant sized legs, wings and breast.

a farm bird is much smaller..the drums are realistic looking. not giants.

and texture. farm birds have more "tooth". if that makes any sense.

flavor, my t-buds are not that sophisticated.

[john70t]

Once upon a time on a trip to an obscure very in-land Greek restaurant I asked for the local bird.
"Chef's choice".
Waiter looked at me funny. "Are you sure?" I said Yes.

A half hour or probably more later I received the most unique dish I'd every eaten.
That was probably a very 'fresh' and the most grizzly old bird they had in the lot.
The term gamey is not an understatement.
Earthy. Meaty. Complex.
It was cooked to perfection. A most memorable meal.

[RWebb]

no one has gone for any English jokes yet...

[Arizona_928]

Watch some of the factory farming vids. "cage free", or caged birds. The schit is all sad considering how smart, and affectionate chickens really are.

[flatbutt]

If they were that smart they wouldn't be so easy to catch.

[Arizona_928]

Originally Posted by flatbutt

If they were that smart they wouldn't be so easy to catch.

Ever watch cops?

[Bob Kontak]

Originally Posted by cabmando

The industrial chickens are tougher from having worked all day and they have a bit of an iron taste to them.

Once in a while I pick up a hint of Red Man chew flavor.

Seriously, I don't know what type of chicken I buy. However, chicken breast from Aldi are absurdly huge (steroids?). Chicken breasts from the top butcher in town are more normal sized and I like the mouth feel better. I cook them on a Foreman grill.

[javadog]

Originally Posted by RWebb

I've always wanted to find a guy who imports Bresse chickens....

You cannot afford a Bresse chicken.
You do not deserve a Bresse chicken.

Originally Posted by vash

for me it sizing. an industrial bird has mutant sized legs, wings and breast.

a farm bird is much smaller..the drums are realistic looking. not giants.

and texture. farm birds have more "tooth". if that makes any sense.

flavor, my t-buds are not that sophisticated.

Yeah, the industrial birds are easy to spot. When you read how young they are when they get to that size, it almost makes you want to stop eating chicken.

[Shaun @ Tru6]

of course you can taste the difference, Perdue and other such birds are somewhat sour compared with a quality free range bird which is sweet and succulent when cooked correctly. I aim for the tiniest bit of blood at the thigh joint with the body, legs tied together. Makes the breast as juicy and tender as you can imagine.

Mind you, free range as defined by the U.S. Gov. doesn't mean chickens are running around in open fields fulfilling their little chicken dreams, it means this. Great movie. Wish he had continued with his restaurant chain.

[mjohnson]

Originally Posted by vash

for me it sizing. an industrial bird has mutant sized legs, wings and breast.
a farm bird is much smaller..the drums are realistic looking. not giants.
and texture. farm birds have more "tooth". if that makes any sense.
flavor, my t-buds are not that sophisticated.

The factory birds are hatched, inflated and processed so quickly that they apparently don't really develop. That's why you get fragile bones and sometimes very pink juice long after they should be done.

It seems like the factory chx is the same price as it was 20 years ago. That kind of freaks me out. We buy the Kroger-hippie chicken (70% more/lb) and it seems better but I can't stomach paying $35 for a 5# whole proper-hippie bird from the co-op. That's even more than D'Artagnan!

[javadog]

A Bresse bird can go for $50/kilo and weigh 2.5 kilos...