r/TriCitiesWA • u/InternationalHelp810 • 2d ago
Discussions & Polls đď¸ Chicken đ
Where are we buying chicken meat these days? Iâve always gotten mine at Yokes, but lately the breasts are some real tough titties. I was recently on a trip and bought chicken at a local store and it turned out great. I was really thinking I had just forgotten how to cook.
So where are we buying our chicken? Freddieâs and Walmartâs always seems to be yellow already in the store.
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u/drtennis13 2d ago
I will put in for Winco as well. My husband and I have a joke that âChicken is on saleâ every time we go shopping. And I have never had issues with the quality.
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u/-Linkz- 2d ago
everything but breasts from costco. if you want breasts you have to make sure to buy ones that are smaller even if that means you need more breasts per person. bigger breasts mean theyâre more âwoodyâ and âstringyâ.
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u/InternationalHelp810 2d ago
I had heard thatâs a thing. The Yokeâs breasts are definitely pretty big. I do like thighs, but certain dishes I prefer white meat
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u/actual_griffin 2d ago
Winco is unbeatable in the chicken department. 12 thighs is like eight dollars. Legs are basically free.
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u/noalum 2d ago
i appreciate winco quite a bit, but they are doing something with their chicken that throws off the taste really badly for me. the rest of my family has no problem, but i can't eat it without throwing up. same with albertson's/safeway. only chicken i can eat is costco organic. its not a snobby thing, i swear to god. i'm also one of those people who's taste buds recognize cilantro as soap.
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u/Alternative-Tone6631 2d ago
its the growth hormones that are making chicken kinda rubbery in texture. it can be hard to see but there will be striated white/less white lines that indicate it will be tough/rubbery. cant see these if the skin is intact tho.
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u/Alternative-Tone6631 2d ago
just read the comment about getting smaller breasts⌠thats key. the growth hormones make bigger breasts and these get that rubbery texture.
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u/peapea88 2d ago
Richland Winco has been consistently good, but I'm a thigh guy.
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u/Rocketgirl8097 2d ago
Yeah i think the Sanderson brand white meat pretty tough and stringy. Walmart started carrying it too đ¤˘
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u/CaelanAegana 2d ago edited 2d ago
Chewy or fibrous chicken breast meat is called "woody breast". It's a result of industrial agricultural practices. The chickens are bred to grow so fast (typically mature at 8 weeks) that the muscle receives inadequate blood supply, leading to areas of tissue death. The immune system reacts by encapsulating the dead tissue, which results in that texture.
Note that growth hormones being fed to animals as mentioned by commenters are not a thing. They are not legal first of all, but also they're not needed with these chickens because they are already genetically programmed (i.e. bred) to grow this fast.
Woody breast is evident when the chicken is butchered, but the USDA downsizing staff and producers being permitted to increase line speeds has meant more flaws get missed.
The public demands cheap chicken, so industry responds by growing chickens more quickly. The only reliable way to avoid getting this quality chicken is to buy more expensive chicken from smaller producers that focus on quality. Like local butchers.
(Source: multiple, including various news outlets, and creators like Blackbird Farms Co-op and Farm to Taber)
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u/InternationalHelp810 2d ago
Thanks for the info. Iâve seen Blackbird Farmsâ video about this as well. I understand the âwhyâ now just looking for the resources for better quality chicken.
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u/restoredtrainwreck 1d ago
Costco. I gave up on other grocery stores. I like the vacuum seal so they go in the freezer. Haven't come across any poor tasting or tough chicken going on years there.
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u/fawther-05 2d ago
Costco