When shopping for chicken, you might be tempted to scrutinize every word on the package, but do you know what all the lingo really means? From hormone-free to “traceable,” here’s a cheat sheet for the next time you shop for chicken.

Organic

Organic chickens are fed an organic diet free of pesticides. The label also means the chickens have access to the outdoors and are free from antibiotics. In order to maintain organic certification, chicken farms are inspected annually to make sure a strict set of USDA organic guidelines are followed. Some producers, including Just BARE, offer both organic and natural options.

All-natural

By USDA definition, a product cannot say all-natural if it contains artificial ingredients or added color. All-natural also means there has been minimal processing. In other words, it hasn’t been fundamentally altered from the raw product.

Hormones

Federal regulations prevent the use of hormones or steroids for all poultry—organic or not. So if you see hormone-free on a package of chicken, remember that all chicken is hormone-free.

Antibiotics

If the label says “raised without antibiotics,” it means just that. For farms that use antibiotics, there are measures in place to prevent any traces of antibiotics in processed and packaged poultry. However, some consumers prefer that they are never used in the first place.

Vegetable-and grain-fed

This means chickens are not fed animal byproducts like bone meal or animal fat blends. However, it’s worth noting that chickens are omnivores in the wild, eating insects and worms along with grasses and seeds. That said, chickens can be raised on a vegetarian diet as long as the appropriate protein balance is achieved.

Free-range

It might sound like the chickens are frolicking through the fields, but free-range simply means the chickens have access to the outdoors.

Cage-free

This is only a consideration for eggs, since chickens raised for meat are not raised in cages. Yet, you might still see this claim on the label.

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Sage Butter-Roasted Chicken Breasts

• Prep time: 15 minutes
• Total time: 45 minutes
• Serves 4

All you need

• 3 tbsp softened butter
• 1 tbsp finely chopped fresh sage
• 4 (2 pounds) Just BARE bone-in split chicken breasts
• Coarse salt and freshly ground pepper, to taste
• Fresh lemon wedges
• Sprigs of fresh sage (for garnish)

All you do

1. Preheat oven to 425°F. Mash the butter and 1 tablespoon sage together with a fork in a small bowl. Loosen the skin over the chicken breasts with your fingers; gently spread sage butter over chicken under the skin. Smooth the skin back over the meat; season with salt and pepper. Place chicken skin-side up on foil-lined rimmed baking sheet.
2. Place chicken in oven. Roast, uncovered, 20 to 25 minutes or until no longer pink near bone. Serve chicken with a squeeze of lemon, garnished with more sage.

Nutrition facts per serving: 390 calories, 26g fat, 10g saturated fat, 165mg cholesterol, 180mg sodium, 0g carbohydrate, 0g fiber, 0g sugar, 40g protein