Backless chicken thighs (natural Antibiotic Free)

Back-off chicken thighs, from chicken raised without antibiotics, in packs of 2 thighs at roughly 540 to 660 g. At $16.98/kg that is about $10.19 a pack. This is the cut of chicken that forgives everything: more flavour than breast, half the price, and close to impossible to dry out.

Thigh or breast?

Thigh is dark meat: more fat, more flavour, and a tolerance for cooking that breast simply does not have. Five minutes too long and a breast is dry; a thigh is not. "Back off" means the carcass has been removed — thigh and drumstick only, so nothing to trim and no dead weight to pay for.

Natural Québec chicken

Our chickens are raised without antibiotics an hour from Montréal, and are cut and packed here in Huntingdon.

Taste and nutrition

High in protein, iron and zinc — more than breast — with a forthright flavour that stands up to spice, marinades and long cooking. It is the cut for stews, curries and the Sunday roast chicken.

How to cook chicken thighs

Crisp skin, juicy meat: the oven does both on its own.

• Dry the skin and salt it ahead of time. Wet skin will not crisp.
• 200 °C, skin up, 35 to 45 minutes, uncovered, to 74 °C (165 °F) at the thickest part, against the bone.
• In a pan: start skin-down in a cold pan, let the fat render for 10 minutes over medium heat, then turn and finish in the oven.
• Braised, they take 45 minutes in sauce without toughening — their advantage over breast.

Thaw in the fridge and cook within 24 hours.

Serving and pairing

Smoked paprika, lemon and garlic; or soy, honey and ginger; or just salt, pepper and thyme. Underneath, potato wedges cooking in the rendered fat: the whole dinner fits on one tray, and there is one dish to wash.

Roast chicken thighs with lemon and garlic

Dry 4 thighs and salt the skin. Put them on a tray with 600 g of potato wedges, 1 sliced lemon and 6 unpeeled garlic cloves. Drizzle with olive oil, add pepper and thyme. Roast at 200 °C for 40 to 45 minutes, to 74 °C throughout and a well-browned skin. Spoon over the tray juices before serving.

Chicken thigh price and ordering

• Regular price: $16.98/kg — about $10.19 per pack (estimate on 600 g)
• Format: 2 thighs per pack, roughly 540 to 660 g
• Sold by weight: the final price at checkout reflects the pack's actual weight
• Product number: 1144245
• Sold frozen, back off
• Chicken raised without antibiotics in Huntingdon, Québec
• Rated ★★★★★ by our customers
• Where to buy: delivery across Québec and Montréal by refrigerated truck, free from $225. Farm pickup at 62 York Street, Huntingdon.