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Fried chicken is quite popular here in the United States. When buying it for groups of different sizes, you will discover that you need more or less depending on how many people you invite. You’ll also have to take into account the type of party, since people will eat different amounts at tailgates or picnics than they will if there are multiple other types of meats, like at a backyard barbeque.
The average person will eat around 3-4 pieces of fried chicken, but the type of fried chicken you buy will change how much you need. It is important to keep this in mind when you are buying fried chicken for a large group because you want to have at least enough for each person to have 3-4 pieces.
While not everyone will eat the same amount of fried chicken, it is good to know the average amount so you can know how much you should buy for an average group of Americans.
Different Places to Buy Fried Chicken From
There are many places to buy fried chicken all across America. Some very well known examples include KFC, Raising Cane’s, Zaxby’s, and Popeye’s. These are all good options for places to buy fried chicken whether you are buying for a large or small group of people.
Fast-food restaurants are definitely the most expensive options for ordering large quantities of fried chicken.
Many fast-food restaurants offer family-sized options for ordering fried chicken. These options are generally considerably economical for ordering for large groups.
Even though these options are available, they are still considerably more expensive. Fast-food restaurants are specifically designed for feeding individual people, not groups. This is why fast-food will always be the most expensive option
It may be best to talk to your guests ahead of time and ask for a preference if you do not have a personal preference. It is important to know where you want to buy your fried chicken from so you can crunch numbers and see how much it will cost to feed people for your gathering.
Buying Fried Chicken from the Store
Aside from byuing fired chicken at fast food restaurants, you can also buy fired chicken from local stores. Places like Walmart sell fried chicken for relatively cheap in comparison to the fast foodoption. As an example, the 50 piece chicken serves between 20 and 25 people and costs around $28.
Just as a comparison, buying the same amount of chicken from KFC is around $130.
Most grocery stores have a deli by the produce aisle, and in nearly every deli they serve fried chicken. Delis normally serve large quantities of fried chicken for groups, whereas fast-food restaurants are more designed to sell smaller quantities of chicken for individuals. The pieces also tend to be larger at the grocery store.
When buying large amounts of chicken for a big group, it is good to price check when that option is available to you to save the most amount of money you can.
It is often a good idea to purchase side dishes to accompany your fried chicken from the deli. Delis most always offer tubs of potato salad, macaroni salad, and crab salad. Whenever you have side dishes to accompany the fried chicken you will not need to purchase so much chicken.
I personally always purchase fried chicken from grocery store delis. This option is a good balance between quick and inexpensive.
From my experience the best fried chicken comes from smaller and locally owned grocery stores. The fried chicken always seems to be great quality and it is normally just as cheap as buying fried chicken from a larger grocery store.
If there are no locally owned grocery stores in your area, my family also enjoys the fried chicken from WinCo, Albertsons, and Fred Myer.
No matter where you go, the fried chicken offered at grocery stores is, in my opinion, always the best tasting option.
Making your own Fried Chicken
Making your own fried chicken can also be a money saver for you. In order to fry chicken, you will need ingredient such as flour, salt, pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, cayenne pepper, buttermilk, and of course chicken.
When you make the fried chicken yourself, it will be cheaper than buying any possible option. It will be more time consuming, though, especially if you are making close to 50 pieces of fried chicken. The main reason it will be cheaper is because you probably have the majority of the ingredients in your kitchen already.
When making the fried chicken, begin by putting oil in a deep set pan on top of the stove and set it to 325 degrees farenheit. You can also use a deep frier, setting it to 325 degrees.
The fried chicken was traditionally cooked in lard, but one can use vegetable oil, canola oil, soybean oil, or peanut oil. The key is to cook the chicken in some type of oil-based substance so the chicken will cook properly.
Chicken is not fried whole, rather it is divided into its different parts, which is why we have chicken thighs, chicken wings, and chicken breasts.
The most enjoyed parts of a fried chicken are usually the thighs and the breasts. Both of these parts of the bird have the most meat on them. Some might prefer to have wings, drumsticks, or legs. These parts do not have nearly as much meat on them, though.
My personal favorite part of fried chicken is the breast because they have so much meat on them. I am always concerned about how much meat seems to be on the chicken I am getting. It almost feels like a rip off to have less meat on the chicken.
Next, grab a large bowl and combine flour, salt, black pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, and cayenne pepper in it. Use another large bowl to pour buttermilk in. The chicken is prepared for frying by being coated in a flour-based batter.
Take one piece of chicken, dust it in the dry mix, then dip it into the buttermilk so it is lightly coated and lightly dip the chicken in the flour mix again. Be aggressive with rubbing the flour mix into the chicken this time because you want to ensure the flour mixture will stay on the chicken as it is cooking.
Once you have covered all the chicken and put it in the pan or the deep frier. Be careful to follow this order: breast, thigh, leg, and wing. Set a timer for 15 minutes after the last wing hs been added. After 15 minutes, chek one of the breast pieces with a probe thermometer. If it reads 180 degrees farenheit, it is complete.
Remove the chicken from the oil, let it drain for 5 minutes, and allow it to cool 10 more minutes before you begin to serve the fried chicken.
Large Gatherings
For large gatherings of people, you will need to have much more fried chicken available than you would need for a smaller group of people. If you were buying fried chicken for a group of 20 people, you would want somewhere between 60-80 pieces of chicken.
This calculation can be done by simply multiplying the number of people by the average amount of fried chicken eaten by a person, which is between 3 and 4 pieces.
Having different types of fried chicken is essential. Not everyone enjoys fried chicken legs or fried chicken wings. Having multiple types of fried chicken available will please those in attendance because they have a greater chance of having their favorite type of fried chicken.
When you order the chicken, it is always a good idea to ask the worker what they would suggest in regard to buying fried chicken for a large group. You can call the restaurant ahead of time, or you can ask them when you arrive.
Small Gatherings
A small gathering of people can be anywhere from a couple of people to 10 people. To calculate the amount of fried chicken you will need, it is good to just multiply the number of people you will be hosted by 3 or 4 since that is the average amount of chicken each person will eat.
You can also ask the group ahead of time how much-fried chicken they will want to eat. It is easier to do so in a group of this size since you can more easily count the amount of fried chicken you will need and quickly ask people how much they would like.
Either way, it is still a good idea to ask the group what type of chicken is their favorite. You can also get an assortment of the place you are buying fried chicken from has on their menu.
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If you are wanting to know what their suggestions are for a group, it will be a good idea to call ahead of time so they can provide you with the adequate information needed.
Having Leftovers
Fried chicken can work well as leftovers. I often keep mine refrigerated, and I prefer eating it cold after it has been refrigerated. Oftentimes, putting it in the microwave will dry out the chicken and it will no longer be as pleasing to the taste buds.
The best way to reheat the fried chicken, though, is to remove it from the refrigerator 20-30 minutes before putting it in the oven. Reheating it in the oven will help the chicken retain its crispiness. Place the chicken on a wire rack and heat it at 400° for 12-20 minutes. This will ensure your chicken is still juicy.
Whenever I reheat fried chicken in the microwave it always becomes more leathery, so reheating the chicken in the oven definitely yields the best results. This also allows for the chicken to be reheated multiple times if you accidentally reheat too much chicken.