Brahma Chicken Meat Uses

Brahma chickens are a heritage breed known for their large size and docile temperament. Before the advent of the modern Cornish Rock hybrid, they were very popular as a meat chicken. Today, they are considered a good choice for small farms wanting a dual-purpose breed to produce meat and eggs for home consumption.

  1. Roast Chicken

    • Compared to modern hybrid meat chickens that are generally butchered at six to eight weeks of age, Brahmas do not reach full size until eight months or even longer. Unlike many other heritage breeds, their meat stays relatively tender until they are at least 12- or 13-months-old, but they still have a different texture than most modern consumers are used to when roasted. For extremely tender roast chicken, butcher Brahmas when they are younger and smaller.

    Fried Chicken

    • The same caveats apply to frying Brahma chicken meat as roasting it. However, it's possible to produce tender, succulent fried Brahma meat by precooking it with moist heat or using a pressure cooker, then applying breading or batter and finishing it in the deep fryer. The prolonged, moist-heat cooking method breaks down connective tissue in the meat, tenderizing it much more effectively than deep frying.

    Stewed Chicken

    • Stewed chicken also takes advantage of the moist-heat cooking method's tenderizing effect. Here, the Brahma's greater age at butchering time becomes a huge asset. While age toughens chicken meat, it also increases flavor. Stew allows you to capture that flavor in the juices and vegetables, while still producing meat so tender you can cut it with a fork. Chicken stew made with mature Brahma meat tastes very different than that made with grocery store chicken.

    Chicken Soup

    • Chicken soup benefits from the more intense flavor of mature Brahma chicken meat. Cooking the entire carcass for an hour or two with a selection of vegetables will yield a rich broth. At that point, remove the meat from the bones and return it to the soup, along with whatever other ingredients you desire. Finish the soup with either rice or noodles and cook just until they are done. Crusty bread makes an ideal accompaniment.