Breaking down a whole chicken into its individual parts can be a bit daunting if you've never done it before, but with a little practice, it can be a useful and money-saving skill. Here are the steps to break down a whole chicken:
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Place the chicken on a cutting board, breast-side up.
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Cut off the wings. Hold the chicken down with one hand and use a sharp knife to cut through the joint that connects the wing to the body. Repeat on the other side.
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Cut off the legs. Pull one leg away from the body until you can see the joint. Use the knife to cut through the joint, separating the leg from the body. Repeat on the other side.
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Cut out the backbone. Flip the chicken over so the backbone is facing up. Use kitchen shears or a sharp knife to cut along both sides of the backbone, from the tail end to the neck end. Remove the backbone and discard (or save for making chicken stock).
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Cut the chicken in half. Use a sharp knife to cut through the breastbone, separating the chicken into two halves.
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Cut the breast meat off the bone. Use the knife to cut along the ribcage on one side of the breast, following the contour of the bone. Repeat on the other side. Once the breast meat is free, you can cut it into smaller pieces as desired.
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Remove the thigh and drumstick from the leg. Bend the leg at the joint to expose the joint between the thigh and drumstick. Cut through the joint with the knife to separate the two pieces. Repeat on the other side.
That's it...Give it a shot!
Until next time,
Knifey Wifey