What Class Is Your Chicken In?

When buying chicken did you ever wonder why one chicken might be called a fryer, a roaster or have another classification altogether? There are several classes of domestic poultry. Age and maturity determines the different classifications as well as the cooking technique you need to use. Rock Cornish game hens, broilers and fryers are young tender chickens with smooth skin that are suitable for frying, broiling or sautéing. Roasters and capons are larger chickens that can be roasted. Hens and roosters are older chickens with tough flesh that need to be simmered or braised to make them tender.

The following table describes the different classes and characteristics of domestic poultry.

Class	Description	Age	Weight
Rock Cornish game hen	Special breed of young chicken, very tender	5 weeks or less	¾ - 2 pounds
Broiler or fryer	Young chicken, either sex, tender flesh, smooth skin	6 - 12 weeks	Broiler: - 1 ½ - 2 ½ pounds Fryer – 2 ½ - 3 ½ pounds
Roaster	Young chicken, either sex, tender flesh, smooth skin	3 – 5 months	3 ½ - 5 pounds
Capon	Castrated male, tender flesh and well flavored, large breast	8 months or less	5 – 8 pounds
Hen	Mature female, coarse skin, tough flesh	Over 10 months	3 ½ - 6 pounds
Rooster	Mature male, coarse skin, tough, dark meat	Over 10 months	4 – 6 pounds

Happy cooking!