Where to buy good chicken breast?

[hguertin]

We are used to shopping at Wegmans grocery store up north and they had a phenomenal meat sections. The boneless skinless chicken breast specifically!

We have bought chicken at Publix and it was awful! The texture was rubbery and very grainy. Couldn’t even eat it.

We found some at Winn-Dixie that was a little better, but still nothing like Wegmans.

Does anyone have experience with buying good chicken here in Florida? Even if we travel outside of TV once in a while and stock the freezer up (we used to do that up north).

[Michael 61]

Costco at the new Clermont location - depending on where you live in The Villages, it is a short trip down the turnpike.

[Toymeister]

I've had good luck with Aldi.

[frayedends]

Google “woody chicken breast”. It’s an industry wide issue. This sounds like what you got. It’s hit or miss. I don’t know what brands publix sells but if you find antibiotic free or organic it’s usually better. Look for smaller breasts without white lines and you have a better chance of avoiding woody chicken. I’ve had good luck with Bell and Evan’s brand.

[margaretmattson]

Google “woody chicken breast”. It’s an industry wide issue. This sounds like what you got. It’s hit or miss. I don’t know what brands publix sells but if you find antibiotic free or organic it’s usually better. Look for smaller breasts without white lines and you have a better chance of avoiding woody chicken. I’ve had good luck with Bell and Evan’s brand.A good way to spot woody chicken is to touch it. If it feels firm instead of plump, do not buy it.

[JSR22]

Fresh Market on 466

[Two Bills]

We also have Aldi chicken. Very seldom less than tender.
Where it comes from, and what type of rearing it has had, I haven't a clue, or want to know.
Tastes fine!

[bopat]

We've had good luck with Sam's Club chicken. We marinade it in pickle juice.
But yeah, the chicken isn't nearly as good as Wegmans.
The beef is even worse. No flavor at all compared to up north.

[JRcorvette]

We are used to shopping at Wegmans grocery store up north and they had a phenomenal meat sections. The boneless skinless chicken breast specifically!

We have bought chicken at Publix and it was awful! The texture was rubbery and very grainy. Couldn’t even eat it.

We found some at Winn-Dixie that was a little better, but still nothing like Wegmans.

Does anyone have experience with buying good chicken here in Florida? Even if we travel outside of TV once in a while and stock the freezer up (we used to do that up north).

Sam’s Club has excellent organic chicken breasts. They come in a two pack total of four breasts. We buy a bunch and freeze them. I agree grocery store chicken is horrible. If not Sam’s try Aldi’s there’s is pretty good.

[Goldwingnut]

Best meats and poultry we've found in the area is Fresh Market on 466. The only disappointment ever has been "chicken" sausage, I should have known, sausage is pork, if it's not pork, it's not worth eating.

[JGibson]

Springer frozen chicken breasts at Publix are fantastic. No added anything.

They come wrapped in individual portion size and just beat the chicken a little salt to lock in the juices and you're good to go.

[photo1902]

Springer frozen chicken breasts at Publix are fantastic. No added anything.

They come wrapped in individual portion size and just beat the chicken a little salt to lock in the juices and you're good to go.

Quite a lot added:

“Ingredients
Ingredients: Boneless Skinless Chicken Breast Fillets With Rib Meat, Seasoning (water, Salt, Rice Starch, Maltodextrin, Dextrose, Natural Flavor), Rice Starch. Glazed With Water And Natural Flavor”

[Chi-Town]

Sprouts

[2newyorkers]

Fresh Market on 466. Go on Tuesday.

[Gwright]

We are used to shopping at Wegmans grocery store up north and they had a phenomenal meat sections. The boneless skinless chicken breast specifically!

We have bought chicken at Publix and it was awful! The texture was rubbery and very grainy. Couldn’t even eat it.

We found some at Winn-Dixie that was a little better, but still nothing like Wegmans.

Does anyone have experience with buying good chicken here in Florida? Even if we travel outside of TV once in a while and stock the freezer up (we used to do that up north).

Wegmans chicken, at least in Virginia, is Bell and Evans. The only store in Florida to carry Bell and Evans is Whole Foods. They carry both the organic and conventional options. You can call ahead and order by the case if you are stocking up. Nothing compares to the taste and texture of Bell and Evans chicken!

[Gerrys]

Fresh market has great chicken breasts. Every Tuesday on sale for $3.99 lb.

[Gobragh]

I buy the Springer Mountain Chicken at Publix ... It's in the meat section but goes fast. I like it because there are no antibiotics, no hormones, no added anything!
Once in a while it goes on sale for buy one get one. I have also signed up on Springer Mountain web site and they send you coupons.

I also like to go to Billy's Meat Market in Groveland (a little ride). It's a small place, looks like a hole in the wall, but chicken has no hormones etc. Tastes great!!
Hope this helps

[RichR.]

We've had good luck with Sam's Club chicken. We marinade it in pickle juice.
But yeah, the chicken isn't nearly as good as Wegmans.
The beef is even worse. No flavor at all compared to up north.


Chicken, beef, bread, pizza, it's all sub-par down here compared to up north. Makes me wonder how I have gained so much weight in the 4 months I've been here! :shrug:

[Rande]

We are used to shopping at Wegmans grocery store up north and they had a phenomenal meat sections. The boneless skinless chicken breast specifically!

We have bought chicken at Publix and it was awful! The texture was rubbery and very grainy. Couldn’t even eat it.

We found some at Winn-Dixie that was a little better, but still nothing like Wegmans.

Does anyone have experience with buying good chicken here in Florida? Even if we travel outside of TV once in a while and stock the freezer up (we used to do that up north).

I used to buy all my chicken at Wegmans and Whole Foods. Wegmans brand in the hard plastic was Bell & Evan’s which is air chilled. Unfortunately you won’t find it in the villages.

What I have found is Springer brand and Fresh Market (at the meat counter) are very good. Sometimes Publix will sometimes run a sale on Springer brand.

[eeroger]

We are used to shopping at Wegmans grocery store up north and they had a phenomenal meat sections. The boneless skinless chicken breast specifically!

We have bought chicken at Publix and it was awful! The texture was rubbery and very grainy. Couldn’t even eat it.

We found some at Winn-Dixie that was a little better, but still nothing like Wegmans.

Does anyone have experience with buying good chicken here in Florida? Even if we travel outside of TV once in a while and stock the freezer up (we used to do that up north).

I only buy ours at The Fresh Market on 466. On Tues they have boneless/skinless breasts on sale for $3.99/lb. No hormones or antibiotics.

[bowlingal]

Fresh Market on Tuesdays chicken is $3.99/pound. Also, chop meat is $3.99/pound. Only on Tuesdays. Good stuff!!

[MidWestIA]

fresh market old style meat counter

[Snookie100]

Fresh Market

[Carolynp4]

I’ve had this concern for the last few years. Yes everyone told us ALDIs and fresh market. We took that advise and it was a huge disappointment. We like Costcos frozen individual chicken breast. We also like sams organic chicken breast . They come in a two pack for a total of four breasts.

[DiandJay]

Wegmans is such a terrific grocery store. Here in TV, I get excellent chicken at Fresh Market. It regularly is on offer one day of the week and I stock up. Perhaps get on their member list. Good luck.

[Newvilla]

We are used to shopping at Wegmans grocery store up north and they had a phenomenal meat sections. The boneless skinless chicken breast specifically!

We have bought chicken at Publix and it was awful! The texture was rubbery and very grainy. Couldn’t even eat it.

We found some at Winn-Dixie that was a little better, but still nothing like Wegmans.

Does anyone have experience with buying good chicken here in Florida? Even if we travel outside of TV once in a while and stock the freezer up (we used to do that up north).

Go to Fresh Market on Tuesdays. Chicken breasts and ground beef are on sale.

[dolphin]

We are used to shopping at Wegmans grocery store up north and they had a phenomenal meat sections. The boneless skinless chicken breast specifically!

We have bought chicken at Publix and it was awful! The texture was rubbery and very grainy. Couldn’t even eat it.

We found some at Winn-Dixie that was a little better, but still nothing like Wegmans.

Does anyone have experience with buying good chicken here in Florida? Even if we travel outside of TV once in a while and stock the freezer up (we used to do that up north).

Loved wegmans can’t beat! ABSOLUTELE the best chicken breasts are at FRESH MARKET. Every Tuesday. They have a special with 4-5 in pack for 3.99. Get there in am. Never had a bad one. Also ground beef sale at same time

[kjagia]

We are also used to shopping at Wegman's and Giant Eagle, etc. We purchase our chicken breast at Sam's Club - clean them, individually wrap them and freeze....very good and great price! Easy to stock up!

[JerseyGurl]

Love Wegmans! Fresh market is where I go.

[Rodneysblue]

We are used to shopping at Wegmans grocery store up north and they had a phenomenal meat sections. The boneless skinless chicken breast specifically!

We have bought chicken at Publix and it was awful! The texture was rubbery and very grainy. Couldn’t even eat it.

We found some at Winn-Dixie that was a little better, but still nothing like Wegmans.

Does anyone have experience with buying good chicken here in Florida? Even if we travel outside of TV once in a while and stock the freezer up (we used to do that up north).

BJ’s

[waterflower]

Organic Chicken farmers..

[Wondering]

First of all, you won't find anything around here like Wegman's. Try Aldi's.

[Regorp]

We are used to shopping at Wegmans grocery store up north and they had a phenomenal meat sections. The boneless skinless chicken breast specifically!

We have bought chicken at Publix and it was awful! The texture was rubbery and very grainy. Couldn’t even eat it.

We found some at Winn-Dixie that was a little better, but still nothing like Wegmans.

Does anyone have experience with buying good chicken here in Florida? Even if we travel outside of TV once in a while and stock the freezer up (we used to do that up north).

Sprouts!

[mikeycereal]

Totally get you OP on that woody rubbery chicken breast. Growing up I don't ever remember dealing with this. But for me it started around 2018. Rubbery and gross. And it wasn't from overcooking. And there are some packages that will have one good breast and another bad like that, but you don't know until they're cooked. I can tell when either cutting the cooked breast or with the first bite. Yuck!!! Spit it out and into the garbage. Back then when I first experienced this a few times I searched the interwebz for an answer for that and read many theories. From too much muscle to additives, maybe both. I have since stopped buying chicken breasts because I end up wasting money. After the 3rd time I was done playing Chicken Breast Roulette. I ended up getting the tenders for a while with no rubbery issues. Now I just eat out for Chicken. Weird that I have never experienced this with chicken breasts when eating out. Only store bought and it was mostly Walmart. I even got a bad rubber breast rotisserie one from Costco back then. It was totally weird tasting.

[JGibson]

Quite a lot added:

“Ingredients
Ingredients: Boneless Skinless Chicken Breast Fillets With Rib Meat, Seasoning (water, Salt, Rice Starch, Maltodextrin, Dextrose, Natural Flavor), Rice Starch. Glazed With Water And Natural Flavor”

I was talking about steroids, antibiotics, and bio lab-engineered food ingredients.

For the price, I think it's a safe healthy alternative to buying expensive un frozen uncooked chicken.

It's surely healthier than precooked chicken with a laundry list of ingredients.

[frayedends]

Totally get you OP on that woody rubbery chicken breast. Growing up I don't ever remember dealing with this. But for me it started around 2018. Rubbery and gross. And it wasn't from overcooking. And there are some packages that will have one good breast and another bad like that, but you don't know until they're cooked. I can tell when either cutting the cooked breast or with the first bite. Yuck!!! Spit it out and into the garbage. Back then when I first experienced this a few times I searched the interwebz for an answer for that and read many theories. From too much muscle to additives, maybe both. I have since stopped buying chicken breasts because I end up wasting money. After the 3rd time I was done playing Chicken Breast Roulette. I ended up getting the tenders for a while with no rubbery issues. Now I just eat out for Chicken. Weird that I have never experienced this with chicken breasts when eating out. Only store bought and it was mostly Walmart. I even got a bad rubber breast rotisserie one from Costco back then. It was totally weird tasting.

This was exactly my experience, right down to switching to tenders. Same internet search for answers. It does seem the larger breasts are more affected, and darn the breasts that you see for $2/lb are gigantic. They were never like that when I was a kid. I have had better luck these days. I buy better chicken and the industry seems to have figured out how to identify and remove a lot of the woody stuff.

But man, when you get one it is disgusting. It almost seems like it's not cooked, no matter how much you cook it. Completely inedible. I also haven't had the issue at restaurants.

[dsiebenberger]

We are used to shopping at Wegmans grocery store up north and they had a phenomenal meat sections. The boneless skinless chicken breast specifically!

We have bought chicken at Publix and it was awful! The texture was rubbery and very grainy. Couldn’t even eat it.

We found some at Winn-Dixie that was a little better, but still nothing like Wegmans.

Does anyone have experience with buying good chicken here in Florida? Even if we travel outside of TV once in a while and stock the freezer up (we used to do that up north).
Buy a meat tenderizer tool from Amazon. Works great. I buy 1/2 cow. Hated round steak. I used the tenderizer tool on it and beat it a lot. Now it’s my favorite part. Works with chicken also

[jmsturm]

Agree. Fresh Market. Every Tuesday boneless, skinless chicken breasts on sale $3.99 / lb.

[asiebel]

I find good chicken breasts at Walmart!

[Randall55]

Buy a meat tenderizer tool from Amazon. Works great. I buy 1/2 cow. Hated round steak. I used the tenderizer tool on it and beat it a lot. Now it’s my favorite part. Works with chicken alsoYou can brine the breasts before cooking. The brine does not have to be elaborate. Place some hot water in a container large enough to fit the chicken, add salt. Stir to dissolve the salt. Add cold water to chill the brine. Add chicken breasts and soak overnight.

[adeintl]

I go to Whole Foods and stock up on Bell and Evans chicken. It is delicious!

[ivanhoe]

We are used to shopping at Wegmans grocery store up north and they had a phenomenal meat sections. The boneless skinless chicken breast specifically!

We have bought chicken at Publix and it was awful! The texture was rubbery and very grainy. Couldn’t even eat it.

We found some at Winn-Dixie that was a little better, but still nothing like Wegmans.

Does anyone have experience with buying good chicken here in Florida? Even if we travel outside of TV once in a while and stock the freezer up (we used to do that up north).

Fresh Market. You will not be disappointed.

[jump4]

Walmart.

[sprech]

We are used to shopping at Wegmans grocery store up north and they had a phenomenal meat sections. The boneless skinless chicken breast specifically!

We have bought chicken at Publix and it was awful! The texture was rubbery and very grainy. Couldn’t even eat it.

We found some at Winn-Dixie that was a little better, but still nothing like Wegmans.

Does anyone have experience with buying good chicken here in Florida? Even if we travel outside of TV once in a while and stock the freezer up (we used to do that up north).

Whole Foods has many options: organic or not. I have always been satisfied. There are stores in Orlando (3 stores in the area), Gainsville, and Tampa.

[Sandancer]

Fresh Market

[Bertram00]

The reason you see a lot of people recommending Aldi is that they source their fresh foods locally (avoids x-country shipping) so you are likely going to get product from a local farm/ranch with better practices than the huge chicken mills the large chains buy in bulk from for their entire business.

[Marmaduke]

I was talking about steroids, antibiotics, and bio lab-engineered food ingredients.

For the price, I think it's a safe healthy alternative to buying expensive un frozen uncooked chicken.

It's surely healthier than precooked chicken with a laundry list of ingredients.
Exactly our experience, right down to not buying it anymore. Only in restaurants.

We quit buying chicken breasts.

I also quit buying whole chickens for chicken noodle soup, which used to be delicious and wholesome.

2018...A Chicken in Every Pot, NOT.

[ddesjardin]

I've had good luck with Aldi.

Me too...and it's only $2.29 per pound

[JWGifford]

The frozen chicken breasts delivered from Yelloh (formerly Schwan’s) are delicious.

[Ptmcbriz]

We order all our chicken from Pasturebird direct from the grower. It’s shipped on dry ice. Never a problem. Grocery store birds are tough.

[Bellavita]

Sam's Club

oh my wouldn't a Wegmans be awesome here


We are used to shopping at Wegmans grocery store up north and they had a phenomenal meat sections. The boneless skinless chicken breast specifically!

We have bought chicken at Publix and it was awful! The texture was rubbery and very grainy. Couldn’t even eat it.

We found some at Winn-Dixie that was a little better, but still nothing like Wegmans.

Does anyone have experience with buying good chicken here in Florida? Even if we travel outside of TV once in a while and stock the freezer up (we used to do that up north).