Fast delivery
Get in as fast as 1 hour
It’s all local
Shop your favorites
Direct chat
Connect with shoppers
Poultry Products
The Instacart guide to poultry products
Poultry is one of the most commonly prepared proteins since it's lean and has a neutral flavor. It's also easy to marinate and can be prepared in numerous ways. The most popular type of poultry is chicken, with more than 80lbs consumed by the average American annually. Turkeys, guineas, geese, ducks, and pigeons are other available varieties. The basic definition includes any bird raised for their eggs or meat.
About poultry
Compared to red meat, poultry offers lower levels of saturated fat. This depends upon how the poultry is cut and cooked, but on average, chicken and turkey have almost half as much saturated fat compared to beef and about one-third less compared to pork. The lean protein found in poultry is also high in amino acids, building muscle tissue and maintaining high bone density.
Poultry cooking tips
When cooking poultry, it's important to avoid using its color to determine if it is cooked. Use a food thermometer to make sure the poultry has an internal temperature of at least 165°F. For whole-roasting poultry, check the temperature where the leg joint connects to the body. A fully cooked bird will have loose joints, making it easier for you to check the temperature.
Since poultry has such a neutral flavor, it's easy to marinate as it absorbs flavors quickly. It's oftentimes marinated with a mixture of lemon juice, white wine, herbs, oil, and spices. Depending on the size of its pieces, poultry should marinate for about 2 hours.
Keep in mind that, contrary to popular belief, you don't need to wash or rinse raw poultry, and doing so could put you and others at risk of illness since the juices could contaminate other foods. Always make sure you're washing your hands, work surfaces, cutting boards, knives, and other utensils in hot water and soap before they come into contact with other fresh or frozen food products.
When it comes to preparing poultry, you have several options to cook it.
- Frying: When pan-frying, cover the poultry for the first 5 minutes and uncover it for the rest of the cooking time. Doing so will help the poultry cook evenly and thoroughly. If you're preparing several pieces, remove those that are finished cooking as soon as possible to prevent burning. You can place the cooked pieces in a baking pan covered with paper towels and place them in an oven set to a low temperature.
- Grilling: To prevent drying out the poultry, leave the skin on to retain its natural moisture. Avoid using a fork to turn the poultry as it cooks since puncturing it can cause the juices to escape.
- Poaching: Place lemon juice or white vinegar in the poaching water to keep the flesh white when cooking. If you're eating the poached poultry cold or in another dish, let the meat cool in the liquid to retain some moisture.
- Steaming: Marinate the poultry before steaming it to give it a distinct flavor. Adding ingredients, such as onions, celery, and carrots, to the water can impart flavor. Make a few cuts into the top and bottom of the poultry to allow the heat to penetrate more evenly throughout the cooking process.
- Stir-frying: It's best to cut the poultry when it's frozen or before it's completely thawed. Cut the poultry into small, even-sized pieces to allow for a more even cooking time.
When you're working with a recipe and it calls for a measured amount of poultry, remember that a standard pound of boneless poultry equates to about 3 cups of cubed meat.
To make your day a little easier, select the type of poultry you want on the Instacart app. You can receive your poultry in a little as 2 hours when you order via Instacart!