What Should I Look for When Buying Meat? A Simple Guide to Buying Quality Chicken

Standing in front of the meat section can feel like a test you never studied for. Every package makes a promise, every label uses a different phrase, and the price differences can be hard to make sense of.

The good news is that you don't need to be an expert to buy good meat. Once you know what to look for when buying meat, the label, the color of the chicken, and a few smart questions will tell you most of what you need to know.

Here's how to shop with confidence the next time you're buying chicken for your family.

How to Read a Meat Label Before You Buy

The label is the first place to start, and it tells you more than most people realize. Some parts of it are required by law, while others are claims the producer chooses to make about how the animal was raised.

The USDA Inspection Mark and EST. Number on Meat

For meat and poultry sold across state lines in the U.S., the USDA inspection mark is a required part of the label. It indicates that the product was inspected under USDA requirements, which covers basic safety and wholesomeness.

Near that mark, you'll usually find an establishment number, written as something like "EST. 12345." On poultry, it may appear as a "P-" followed by a number. That number identifies the plant where the product was processed, which means you can trace your chicken back to the facility that handled it.

Keep in mind that the inspection mark speaks to safety, not to how the animal was raised. For that, you need to read the rest of the label.

What Does Pasture-Raised Chicken Mean?

"Pasture-raised" is an animal-raising claim, and the USDA requires producers to keep documentation supporting it. However, there isn't one detailed federal standard that spells out exactly how much time outdoors or how much space each bird must have, so the meaning can vary from one producer to the next.

That's why the words alone aren't enough. A true pasture-raised system usually means birds live outdoors on grass and are moved to fresh pasture regularly, and farms like Get Real Chicken explain why frequent rotation is one of the clearest signs that a farm is doing it right.

Raised Without Antibiotics Chicken and Other Common Claims

Phrases such as "Raised Without Antibiotics" or "No Antibiotics Ever" mean the producer has provided documentation showing the animals never received antibiotics. These claims have to be substantiated before they can appear on a USDA-regulated label.

You may also see "No Hormones Added" on chicken. Federal regulations already prohibit the use of hormones in poultry, so any chicken package making that claim must also state that fact. It's accurate, but it isn't a point of difference between brands.

Is Organic the Same as Pasture-Raised?

"Organic" and "pasture-raised" are different claims, even though they are often confused. For a product labeled "Organic," at least 95% of the ingredients must be organic, excluding salt and water, and the producer must be certified under USDA organic standards. Organic rules focus heavily on feed and farming inputs, while pasture-raised speaks to where and how the animal lived.

Some farms meet both standards, and some meet one but not the other. Fed by the Farm offers a helpful breakdown of how pasture-raised, organic, and free-range compare if you want to go deeper.

How to Tell If Raw Chicken Is Fresh and High Quality

Once you've read the label, take a close look at the meat itself. Your eyes and nose can tell you a lot about freshness and quality.

Check the Color, Texture, and Smell

Fresh raw chicken should be pink with no gray or greenish patches. The flesh should feel firm and spring back when pressed, rather than feeling slimy or sticky. A fresh bird should have little to no smell, so a sour or unpleasant odor is a clear sign to pass.

Many shoppers also notice that pasture-raised chicken looks different from conventional chicken, often with a richer color and a plumper appearance. Grass Roots Farmers' Cooperative walks through these visual differences side by side, which is useful if you're trying to spot quality at a glance.

Look at the Packaging and Dates

The package should be cold, sealed, and free of tears or leaks. A small amount of liquid is normal, but a large pool of cloudy liquid can mean the chicken has been sitting for a while. Always check the sell-by or use-by date and plan to cook or freeze the chicken within a day or two of bringing it home.

Questions to Ask a Farmer Before Buying Chicken

When you buy chicken directly from a farm, you get something a grocery store label can't give you, which is the chance to ask questions. A farmer who raises birds with care will be happy to answer them.

A few questions go a long way:

• How often are the birds moved to fresh pasture?

• What do you feed your chickens alongside what they forage?

• Were the birds ever given antibiotics?

• Can I see photos of your birds or visit the farm?

  
  

Clear, confident answers are a good sign. If a price seems far below what other pasture-raised farms charge, it's worth asking a few more questions, since quality pasture-raised chicken takes more space, time, and labor to produce. Clean & Honest also shares practical ways to make pasture-raised chicken more affordable, such as buying whole birds and using every part.

Why Buying Chicken Directly From a Local Farm Makes a Difference

Buying from a local farm shortens the distance between the pasture and your plate. You know who raised the chicken, how the birds lived, and how the meat was handled, which takes the guesswork out of reading a label.

It also means you are supporting a farmer in your own region rather than a distant supply chain. For many families, that connection is part of what makes the meal feel worth it.

Bringing Farm-Fresh Chicken Home From Solomon Farms

At Solomon Farms, our story started in medicine. As doctors, we saw how much nutrition shapes long-term health, which led us to raise pasture-raised chicken we could trust to feed our own community. You can read more about that journey on our About the Farm page.

Our farm is in Walnut, Mississippi, where our birds are raised on pasture without antibiotics. You can pick up your order directly from the farm or have it shipped to your door, and our Shipping & Delivery page explains both options.

When you're ready to put what you've learned to use, we'd love to be the farm behind your family's next meal.

Frequently Asked Questions

What should I look for when buying chicken at the grocery store?

Start with the label, including the USDA inspection mark, the establishment number, and any raising claims like "pasture-raised" or "raised without antibiotics." Then check that the chicken is pink, firm, cold, and well sealed, with a sell-by date that gives you time to use it.

Is pasture-raised chicken worth the higher price?

Many families feel it is, because pasture-raised birds live outdoors on grass and are raised with more space and care. The higher price reflects the land, labor, and time that this kind of farming requires.

What does the EST number on meat mean?

The EST number identifies the USDA-inspected establishment where the meat or poultry was processed. On chicken, it may appear as a "P-" followed by a number.

Does "no hormones added" mean the chicken is better?

Not on its own. Federal rules already prohibit hormones in all poultry, so every chicken sold in the U.S. is raised without added hormones. It's more useful to look at how the birds were raised and fed.

Where can I buy pasture-raised chicken near Memphis?

Solomon Farms raises pasture-raised chicken in Walnut, Mississippi, a short drive east of Memphis. Memphis-area customers can order online and pick up directly from the farm, or choose delivery if the drive isn't convenient.

How can I tell if a farm is truly pasture-raised?

AAsk how often the birds are moved to fresh pasture, what they eat, and whether you can see photos of the farm. A farm that rotates its birds regularly and answers openly is usually one you can trust.