Kaboose chicken tips
It's no surprise that Americans (and their kids!) love chicken, whether baked, fried or simmering in a savory chicken-noodle soup. Chicken is quick and easy to prepare, and healthy, too: nutrition information reveals that a 100-gram roasted, boneless and skinless chicken breast delivers a mere 165 calories and about 31 grams of protein. Knowing how to prepare, how to store and how to cook chicken—using delicious Kaboose chicken recipes—can help you make the most of this lean protein source.

How to shop for chicken
Many adults underestimate the risk of foodborne illness, according to the Partnership for Food Safety Education. Knowing how to properly prepare and cook chicken can reduce your exposure to harmful bacteria such as Salmonella and Listeria. At the grocery store, for example, select fresh, cold-to-the-touch chicken before its expiry date, and place it in a plastic bag so it doesn't contaminate your other grocery items. Skinless, white chicken-meat, such as chicken breasts, are typically lowest in fat. Cooked chicken, meanwhile, should be hot and eaten within two hours of purchase. Once home, put raw chicken into the fridge or freezer immediately.

How to prepare chicken
Cook refrigerated chicken within one to two days, and frozen chicken within about nine months. For maximum safety, defrost the latter in the refrigerator, in cold water or in the microwave. Dishes or cutting boards used to marinate, chop or prepare raw chicken should be kept separate and not used for any other foods. (There's no need to wash raw chicken, by the way, because cooking to 165 °F will destroy any bacteria.) Marinated chicken can be refrigerated for up to 48 hours, with the uncooked marinade thrown out immediately afterwards.

How to cook and store chicken
Many people check the pinkness or lack thereof to determine whether chicken is fully cooked, but the only real way to protect your family from food poisoning is to use a meat thermometer and ensure that chicken reaches at least 165 °F. (Only six per cent of consumers use a meat thermometer when cooking chicken, according to one national poll.) Note that stuffed chicken products can take longer to cook. Got leftovers? Coated chicken pieces such as nuggets will keep in the fridge for one to two days and in the freezer for one to three months. Fried or cooked chicken, on the other hand, stays fresh in the fridge for three to four days and up to four months in the freezer.

Now that you know how to shop for, prepare and cook chicken, it's time to choose a recipe that's right for your family. You'll find baked chicken recipes, chicken-breast recipes, chicken-salad recipes, Mexican chicken recipes, casserole chicken recipes, chicken pizza recipes, stir fry recipes, kid-friendly chicken recipes, easy chicken recipes and BBQ Grilling chicken recipes on Kaboose. For easy cooking with kids ideas, visit our Food section. Look for Mexican, Chinese, Meatloaf, Chili and Crock pot recipes, too.

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