The term roaster chicken refers to the time at which chickens are slaughtered and sold. Typically roaster chickens are slaughtered when they are about 14 weeks old, which gives them a larger size than those chickens called broilers and fryers, which are usually butchered when they are 7 weeks old. Due to the larger size, a roaster chicken is an excellent size for roasting whole, though they may also be cut up and fried.

Sometimes people identify a roaster chicken by weight rather than age at butchering. The roaster chicken will weigh between 5-7 pounds (2.27-3.18 kg), whereas those termed broilers and fryers are less than 6 pounds (2.72 kg), at least according to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). Some other sources define a roaster chicken as between 6-8 pounds (2.72-3.63 kg). Larger chickens like roasters are noted for having a slightly stronger and richer flavor, which develops well when they are roasted.

You don’t need to simply roast roaster chickens. As mentioned, they can be cut up and cooked in a lot of different ways. A perfect use for them is in dishes like chicken cacciatore where they are allowed to simmer slowly for hours with tomatoes, mushroom, garlic, and spices until the meat literally falls off the bone. Roaster chickens can also make an excellent base for stock, since they do have a little more flavor, which they’ll impart after hours of boiling. Alternately, you can use the carcasses of roasted chickens to create stock.

One of the benefits of having roaster chicken sizes is that these chickens can easily be prepared to serve a larger family. An 8-pound roaster is likely to serve a family of four to six people quite easily. You can also roast these chickens over things like potatoes or mixed vegetables to employ single pot cooking methods that are very easy to prepare.

As with all poultry, it’s important to make sure you are roasting a chicken to full doneness. Be sure to use a meat thermometer and test the thickest part of the chicken breast and the inner part of the thigh/wing to be sure it measures 165 Degrees F (73.89 C). Also, you can often find great sales on roaster chickens, but if you don’t plan to cook the chicken within one to two days of purchase, be sure to freeze it rather than simply let it sit in the refrigerator. When you’re ready to defrost the roaster chicken, allow two days to safely defrost it in the refrigerator.