CLICK HERE FOR FREE BLOGGER TEMPLATES, LINK BUTTONS AND MORE! »

Saturday, October 10, 2009

Cheap Chicken

What do you do when you get 40 lbs of chicken breast at 1.19 a pound? 
First you cook it, covered with salted water, in a crockpot, or a large pot on the stove, just until starting to turn white.  (I know this picture looks gross) Then take out each chicken breast, remove any fat or gristle,cut it in chunks and pack tightly in a pint jar.  Pour the water from the chicken pot over the packed chicken. Put on lids and rings, pressure can at 15# (if you're above 1000 feet, if not, then it's 10#) for 65 minutes.


That's what I did Friday night.  I got 36 pints of chicken chunks and to fill up my last batch in the canner, I had 5 pints of chicken broth.


This may look like a strange science project, but it's really good and good to have on hand.  It's so convenient to open up a jar and make chicken enchiladas, chicken soups, chicken salad, chicken quesadillas, barbecued chicken sandwiches, or almost any recipe that uses chicken.  Compare the price of canned chicken in the store to this home canned chicken.  You'll find you've saved lots of money!  You'll also discover that canning season is NEVER over!

15 comments:

Jenny said...

your so amazing at canning. It does look a little disturbing, but I at least have a good idea of what it should look like when your making it.

Kristina P. said...

What an amazing idea!

Ann Marie said...

I wish I had the stomach to do this.. my friends SWEAR by it.. they say it's soo yummy! --But to be honest.. I have a hard enough time working with it..just to cook it. I would have been STARVING back in pioneer days.. ~ And I'm sure if I ever saw any animal killed in front of me.. I probably couldn't ever eat meat again. I have a weak tummy.

Weird that my husband is a hunter..Good thing I guess...

Camille said...

chicken is the fruit of the sea, you can barbecue it, boil it, broil it, bake it, sautee it, they's on chicken-ka-bobs, chicken creole, chicken gumbo, pan-fried, deep-fried, stir-fried, pineapple chicken, lemon chicken, coconut chicken, pepper chicken, chicken stew, chicken salad, chicken & potatoes, chicken burger, and that's about it.

Kazzy said...

Sounds like Camille had a Forrest Gump moment there! :)

As long as all of the chopping happens after cooking it it is so much easier.

Great canning tip. Thanks!

Yvonne said...

Wow that is quite the deal. Great job.

Heffalump said...

Our local United Grocers sometimes puts 40lb boxes of chicken breasts on sale for cheap. I have been thinking about canning chicken sometime, so this is great to know!

CB said...

Ok you can tell I am not a canner. I didn't even know you could do this.
Good job!

Abatevintage said...

Wooh that is a lot of chicken. Great idea to can it though. I love canned homeade pickles from Pop and Grannys cellar. I brought back about ten jars when I visited a month ago :0)

Have a great Sunday.

Blessings,
Heidi

gigi said...

I agree that it is never done. Long as you are still eating you've got to keep canning. Found chicken breats a few weeks ago for 99 cents a pound. Had bone in but can still deal for that price! I've yet to do the soups of your's but when I get home from this little vacay, I'm on it! Thanks for being such a great example.

Kimmie said...

Connie...I just have to let you know what a WONDERFUL inspiration you have been to me!!

My hubby and I have bottled of 14 quarts of your tomato soup (SO much fun being together with your hubby in the kitchen) and thanks to your wonderful post on your veggie stew, we went and purchased our first ever PRESSURE COOKER and we are canning up that tomorrow for FHE as a family!

This is now one more thing I am going to have to try! We canned some chicken breast at the cannery a few years ago and really enjoy it and we are down to the last 12 cans. I'm sure home canned chicken breast is SO much better though.

I can't wait to try canning chicken breasts! It is SO nice to to have meat that you can throw together a quick meal when it's been a hectic day.

Right now, I am boiling up the bones of a Rotisserie chicken that we enjoyed this week and I am making up a batch of chicken broth to freeze to pull out and make yummy soups with.

I LOVE your great tips, recipes and frugal living info you provide. I hope you know how much I enjoy your blog! Happy Sunday!

Natalie said...

You are quite the canner! That is so great. I hope to do some when I get home. I have never canned meat. I will have to get some pointers from you.

Hope all are well at your home now.

I have a military son too. He was in the Air Force which put him through school. It was great for him.

I loved conference and got t attend my 2nd ever priesthood session since hubby and I have to stay together.:)

Sorry the comment are so random, but I don't have time to read every day and had to catch up.

I sure enjoy reading your fun blog.

Sondra said...

I have been watching the sales for a great deal and had planned on doing this... I'm glad to have the instructions!

I purchased Hormel canned chicken, ham and turkey for my food storage. But when I used it - yuck! I can't eat it... or I could eat it if I was starving. However, that is NOT the food storage that I want taking up what little space I have - so it's all getting donated to a food bank and I'll be canning my own.

Thanks for the instructions as always! You are wonderful!

Melissa Miller said...

What a great tip Connie! We just made chicken soup a few nights ago.

Have a wonderfully blessed day.
~Melissa :)

Serene is my name, not my life! said...

Hey! I came over via Valerie's blog and I saw this and just had to say, wow! This is my first year EVER canning! And I am just so excited to have done a few measly tomato quarts.

I had no idea you could do chicken!! How exciting! I really am glad you posted this!

~Serene

P.S. I come from a family of 8 kids! Yea!