The One Chicken-Buying Mistake You Need To Avoid At The Grocery Store

Saving money at the grocery store is something tons of people try to do and take advantage of every time they shop. From sales and membership rewards to buying in bulk and making smart choices, there are quite a few ways to save. And with prices rising over time — the price of chicken has increased by more than 2% year after year since 1997, many people are looking to cut costs on their favorite meat (via In 2013 Dollars).

But trying to save on the price of chicken is also one of the biggest mistakes people make at the grocery store too. According to Business Insider, those who buy their favorite cuts of chicken rather than the whole bird are majorly losing out. So long as you don't mind cutting the bird up yourself, you can save a lot of money while getting more for it when you buy whole chickens. Better yet, you'll be getting more flavor thanks to the bones that are still in a whole bird according to Bon Appetit.

But if taking a knife or sturdy shears to a whole chicken just isn't something you can stomach to do, then there is another way you can avoid the biggest mistake of buying individual cuts. According to Life Hacker, Those who buy larger cuts of chicken that still have the bones and skin will get a better value without having to butcher a whole bird themselves. These types of cuts, such as bone-in thighs, have just as much flavor and provide a great value.

So, if you are someone who tends to stick with boneless, skinless breasts or just the wings and drumsticks, it is time to reevaluate how you use and cook chicken. By going for the whole bird or even larger cuts, you can get more chicken for your dollar as well as the flavorful bones and skin too. With the chicken scraps, you can make homemade stock to use in even more dishes and save even more money instead of buying pre-made stock from the store. Give it a try because buying the whole bird just might be a game-changer for your household's kitchen.