Let’s step into the little world of chicken to better understand its subtleties:

Cornish game hen
weighs 390-400 g (14 oz.)

Cockerel
a young male between 4-6 weeks, weighing up to 500 g (1 lb.) When roasted it provides tender juicy meat.

Broiling chicken
from 900 g to 2.3 kg (2-5 lb.)

Roasting chicken
about 3 kg (6 1/2 lb.)

Mature chicken
over 3 kg (6 1/2 lb.)

Stewing chicken
has less tender meat, which is why it is perfectly suited to simmered dishes. Ideal for making delicious broths.

Utility chicken
an excellent chicken… but with something missing: a wing, a bit of skin, etc. It’s less expensive, but just as tasty.

Capon
a castrated rooster fattened for the market. They’re more difficult to obtain, but make an effort to find one. Very tender, larger and plumper.