The Best Way To Carve A Whole Chicken | Epicurious 101, by Epicurious on YouTube. 5 min 49 s.
- Video length
- 5 min 49 s
- Time to do it
- 10 minutes
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Steps
- 8
What you need
Steps
Let the cooked chicken rest on the board for 10 to 15 minutes before you cut into it, so the juices settle and stay in the meat.
Cut away any trussing string and set the bird breast side up on a stable cutting board with a little room to work.
Use a sharp slicing knife or chef's knife and a carving fork. A dull blade tears the skin and crushes the meat instead of cutting it.
Pull one leg away from the body and cut through the skin between the leg and the breast. Bend the leg out until you feel the hip joint give.
Cut through the hip joint to take off the whole leg, then find the seam between thigh and drumstick and cut through that joint. Repeat on the other leg.
Slice down along one side of the breastbone to free the whole breast, then cut it across into slices about 1 cm thick. Repeat on the other side.
Cut off the wings at the shoulder joint if you want separate pieces, or leave them attached to the breast.
Pick the small pieces of meat off the carcass and keep the bones in the fridge or freezer for stock.
Tips and common mistakes
Curve the fingertips of your holding hand away from the blade and never cut towards your palm.
Cut through the joints rather than straight through bone; the knife should slide through with little force.
Carve on a board with a juice groove so the juices do not run across the counter.
Hone the knife a few times before carving; a sharp edge makes cleaner cuts and is safer.
Questions
Can I carve the chicken straight from the oven?
No. Rest it for 10 to 15 minutes first, or the juices will run out and the meat will taste dry.
Do I need a carving fork?
A fork helps hold the bird steady, but tongs or a clean folded cloth work if you do not have one.
What can I do with the carcass?
Simmer the bones with water, onion, carrot and herbs for about an hour to make a simple chicken stock.
This guide was drafted from the video's details and general task knowledge. It has not been checked against the full video. Check the video and relevant product instructions before following a procedure. Report a correction.
