Most people think the only thing to watch for when buying chicken is a sale. But you can get the best value and quality if you follow a few simple tips.

1. Chicken is usually the best bargain if you purchase it whole. Whole chickens are actually easy to roast, so if you haven't tried it yet, you'll be surprised.
   
   
2. Buy enough chicken so there are leftovers for another meal. Cooked chicken in the fridge means a quick meal later in the week.
   
   
3. Look at the thickness of the meat in proportion to the bone. Pick out the packages with the meatiest pieces so you're paying for chicken, not chicken bones.
   
   
4. Be sure to check the sell-by date on the package, whether you buy fresh or frozen chicken. (And use it or freeze it within 2 days.)
   
   
5. If you're buying a bag of skinless, boneless chicken breasts, avoid bags with lots of ice crystals on the chicken or bags that have pieces frozen together. If you're buying fresh chicken, look out for ice crystals on the tips, backs and edges of the wings and avoid those.