So every now and again I like to pick up an item that seemingly no one is talking about. This is a product I had to do a bit more research into to see if there is a bit of a difference. From everything I've put together, most commercial chickens are raised quite quickly. Heirloom on the other hand supposedly tastes more like the way chicken did a long time ago (before even I was born in the 1980s). They are smaller and have spent their lives in a pasture.
Taste
For $2.99 per pound, this is much cheaper than other heirloom chicken I've seen referenced. The bummer here is that it doesn't reference what type of breed it might be. If you are interested in learning more about breeds, you can check out this article by Modern Farmer.
To be fair, I consider myself to be a decent enough home cook. So I opted to keep this simple to see if there was a detectable difference.
When I say simple, I also have to warn you, because this is slow growth chicken, there is a bit more muscle here, so you'll have to cook this slower.
I kept things pretty standard at 350F. This chicken weighed just about 3 lbs so that was about an hour in the oven with be stopping at 45 minutes to brush the fat that had rendered onto the skin. At the end of the hour and a quick temperature check, there was a very necessary 10-minute rest.
Prepping this was pretty standard: I dried it with a paper towel and generously salted and peppered the skin. I also used a whole lemon, halved, and put that in the cavity to put the bird more upright and will lend a mild citrus flavor, and ensure more even heat distribution.
Otherwise, what came out of the oven was moist and had more chicken flavor than regular chicken. Yes, it still tastes like chicken. The breast meat had a much more pronounced flavor than regular chicken cutlets which I oftentimes feel are pretty close to flavorless.
So if you've been curious about one of these birds, don't be afraid of it. But if you are more culinarily adventurous, there are no giblets to neck to speak of in this package.
Frequently asked questions
Below are common reader questions about this product
Yes, they do. They are sold right next to the regular and organic whole birds in the refrigerated case.
Heirloom chicken refers to breeds of chicken that live outdoors, are slow growing, and are often smaller than conventionally sold chicken
Overall
Overall, worth a try. In terms of availability, I would check with your local store. Prior to Father's Day, there was a Cowboy Ribeye only in certain locations. So whether or not this is available across all stores is a bit unclear.
Would I buy this again? Yes, I would buy Trader Joe's All Natural Heirloom Whole Chicken again. Even though there was a slight premium it was worth it. Just don't expect those huge chicken breasts, this is a more evenly proportioned bird.
Did you try it? Let me know what you think in the comments section!
Product Photos
The package of Trader Joe's All Natural Heirloom Whole Chicken:
The nutritional information and the ingredients
And what it looked like fully cooked:
Want to see more items I've reviewed from Trader Joe's? Click on Thoughts & Reviews of Trader Joe's for a searchable list.
The Bottom Line
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Trader Joe's All Natural Heirloom Whole Chicken
Product Name: Trader Joe's All Natural Heirloom Whole Chicken
Product Description: Trader Joe's All Natural Heirloom Whole Chicken is a different option available if you love whole chicken. Priced per pound.
Price: $2.99
Currency: USD
Availability: LimitedAvailability
Summary
Trader Joe's All Natural Heirloom Whole Chicken is an extra meat option in the refrigerated case.
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Taste
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Value
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Worthy of Repurchasing
Pros
- A more flavorful bird
- When prepared right, there is a decent enough difference to justify the extra price.
- Well priced compared to most references on price I've seen online.
Cons
- A slight premium over conventional chicken
- If you are into making gravy you might be disappointed that the neck and giblets aren't here.
- Availability might vary by store
PattiAnn says
So are these chx on the smaller size? Which would be good IMO. Chx is so large now. Finding one under 5 lbs is difficult.
becomebetty says
Hey Pattison! Yes these seemed smaller on average.
Dagmar says
Cool Beans Brenda.... thank you so much for doing the review on this. I had not seen it before and quite frankly I didn't necessarily know what heirloom chicken was. Great review. I'll definitely be buying it. I actually have some Indian butter chicken paste the I think would be great rubbed all over it as a baste
TW Stack says
Superior to other grocery store whole chickens. More and better flavor, cooks evenly, crisps and stays moist. We’ve been spatchcocking and grilling. I always buy this chicken when in stock at TJs. Hard to go back to the bland overfed birds after this option. Healthier too!
Janee says
Just cooked low and slow on the BGE. Husband said it cooked so easily, one of his best ever. Delicious. Dryer than other chicken so you aren’t battling all that extra liquid from the way it is frozen. Thanks TJ, please keep stocking!
Sophie says
A TJ worker suggested I try this when I told them I was looking for a whole chicken weighing 4 pounds or less (to be able to rotisserie in my air fryer). I brined it, then roasted it with herbs and lemon and it was great.
becomebetty says
Hey Sophie! Thanks so much for sharing this tip! What temperature did you put the air fryer on?
Aglea says
How long will this keep in fridge before cooking? The label freeze by date is a couple weeks out but wondering how long I can wait before roasting?
becomebetty says
I always go by the date listed on the package. I hope that helps!
Paulette Casale says
Bought for the 1st time the other day. Great flavor. Does not taste like any other chicken. My favorite!
becomebetty says
Hey Paulette! Thanks so much for sharing!
Gail says
What are these chickens fed? What they eat affects their nutritional value. Conventional chicken is very high in Omega-6 which can be detrimental to our health.
becomebetty says
Hi Gail! I don't have the answer to that. I frequently get my meat from Walden Local. They actually have the name of the farm the products come from on the package. So the best place to ask your questions is with Trader Joe's themselves. Here is the link to reach out to them.
Tom Test says
I used to buy heirloom chicken at the Green City Mkt in Chicago for several years, buyt the vendor stopped selling them. They are DELICIOUS!! It's like the difference between heirloom tomatoes vs those from a greenhouse.
IMPORTANT POINT: these birds are much leaner, and so you must not cook them according to the usual roasted chicken instructions!! For regular chicken, I normally start at high heat - 425 or 450 - for 10-15 minutes, then reduce heat to 350 the rest of the way. You cannot do that with this chicken, it will burn and dry out!!!
"Low and slow" is the mantra for heirloom chicken. Roast at 325 or even 300 degrees. Most people do not know this, and if you read negative reviews of heirloom chicken, it's because they were roasted at too high a temp.
becomebetty says
Thanks for sharing!
Kurt says
This chicken was a revelation. The huge “Frankenstein” chickens, which dominate the market these days, are flavorless. This little bird is a powerhouse of flavor. I roast one up every other week.