How to Cut Up a Chicken

Question: How to Cut Up a Chicken

Answer: Just the idea of cutting up a whole chicken can be too much for those wanting to try it. It seems it would be complicated, not to mention messy, but it is actually easy to do! Plus, whole chickens are less expensive than specific parts, so you’ll end up getting a lot more for your money by cutting a chicken yourself. Here are some easy steps you can do by yourself at home.

1. First you will need a sharp knife, at least six inches long. Beginners may also want a sharp pair of kitchen shears to cut through joints. Place chicken breast side up on a flat surface or cutting board. Take one leg and pull away from the body of the chicken and cut through the skin that connect the thigh to the body.
   1. Pull the leg firmly away from the body to dislocate the thigh joint. This separates the thigh from the hip. Cut between the hip socket and thigh to remove. Repeat steps for removing second leg of chicken.
      
      1. To separate thigh from leg, locate the joint between the leg and thigh and cut firmly through it.
         
         1. Take wing and locate the joint. Cut through skin over joint and pull wing back. If possible, pull firmly to dislocate joint. Cut through skin and joint. Kitchen shears may be needed for this step. Repeat with other wing.
            
            1. From the tail end of the bird, cut through the body and up to the shoulder joint. Keep knife parallel to the backbone and cut through the bones of the ribs. Repeat on opposite side.
               
               1. Pull apart the breast from the back and cut through the shoulder joints. You will now have the breast whole. To separate into two halves, firmly cut along the length of the breastbone and through it.