Chicken
Gallus gallus domesticus · Poultry
Top 10 pairings
Meat from the domestic chicken, the most abundant bird on Earth. Raw, it is pale, mild and faintly metallic; heat browns its surface golden and turns it savoury and juicy. It takes on almost any seasoning.
Picking a good onedrag
Cold, firm, almost odourlessOff: tacky or slimy, smelling wrong
Counter freshEveryday bestCook it any way, but don't rinse it. That splashes bacteria; only cooking kills them.
ColourHolding its colour, nothing faded
Touch the surfaceCold and moist, never tacky
SmellMild and clean, faintly fatty