How to Cut a Whole Chicken in Half – Learn how to cut a whole chicken in half with this simple and easy to follow guide.
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Supplies Needed
A whole chicken can be cut in half with a few simple supplies. All you need is a cutting board, a sharp knife, and some patience. With a little practice, you can be cutting whole chickens like a pro in no time. Let’s get started.
A whole chicken
You will need a sharp knife and a cutting board. Place the chicken on the cutting board, breast side up. You may wish to tie the legs together with butcher’s string to keep them out of the way.
Insert the tip of your knife into the cavity of the chicken, just below where the thigh meets the body. Slice down through the chicken until you reach the cutting board. Now, turn the chicken so that it is lying on its side, with the leg that you just cut facing up.
Find the joint that connects the thigh to the body and insert your knife into that joint. Slice through until you hit bone. You may need to wiggle your knife back and forth a bit to get through all of the connective tissue. Now, do the same thing with the other leg.
Turn the chicken so that it is breast side down, with its backbone facing up. Insert your knife into one end of the backbone and slice through until you reach thc other end . You should now be able to lift up one half ofthe chicken’s spine . Cut through any connective tissue or ribs that are still attached to make sure that your halves are completely separated .
A sharp knife
A sharp knife is the most important tool you’ll need to cut a whole chicken in half. A dull knife will not only make the job more difficult, but it can also be dangerous. A sharp knife is less likely to slip and cut you while you’re working.
In addition to a sharp knife, you’ll also need a cutting board. It’s best to use a cutting board that is large enough to accommodate the whole chicken. This will give you plenty of space to work and will help to keep your workspace clean.
You may also want to have a pair of kitchen shears on hand. Kitchen shears can be very helpful for snipping through tough pieces of meat and bone.
Steps
Place the chicken breast side up on the cutting board. Using a sharp knife, cut through the skin and flesh along one side of the breastbone. Cut until you feel the knife hit the bone. Slowly saw the knife back and forth until you have cut the breastbone in half. Have a bowl or plate ready to catch the chicken juices as you cut. Cut through the meat and skin on the other side of the breastbone to separate the two halves of the chicken. You should now have two chicken halves.
Place chicken on a cutting board
Place the chicken breast side down on a cutting board. You may want to put a damp paper towel under the chicken to keep it from slipping while you cut it. Using a sharp knife, cut through the center of the chicken breast, starting at the neck and going all the way to the tail.
Insert knife into chicken breast, cutting down the center
This is the most difficult part of the process. You will need to use a very sharp knife and make sure that you insert it into the chicken breast, cutting down the center. You may need to make several cuts in order to get the chicken cut in half.
Once you have made the initial cuts, you will then need to use a sawing motion in order to cut through the bone. This can be difficult, so make sure that you have a very sharp knife. You may also want to enlist the help of someone else in order to hold the chicken while you are sawing through the bone.
Continue cutting until chicken is halved
Start by cutting through the skin and flesh that connects the two breasts. Once you’ve made a deep cut, hold the chicken firmly in one hand and use the other hand to saw back and forth through the meat until you’ve halved the chicken. If you hit any bone, just keep sawing—the chicken will eventually give way. Be extra careful with the knife—halving a chicken can be slippery business.
Tips
Cutting a whole chicken in half may seem like a daunting task, but it’s actually quite easy! With a few simple tips and tricks, you’ll be able to cut a whole chicken in half like a pro. Here’s what you need to know.
Use a clean cutting board
poultry shears make cutting a chicken in half much easier than using a knife, but if you don’t have any on hand, a sharp chef’s knife will do the trick. Just make sure your cutting board is clean and dry to prevent the chicken from slipping.
Wash hands thoroughly after handling chicken
After cutting the chicken, it is important to wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water.
