How to Debone a Whole Chicken in Minutes!, by BillyBabii Kitchen on YouTube. 4 min 27 s.
- Video length
- 4 min 27 s
- Time to do it
- 20 minutes
- Difficulty
- Medium
- Steps
- 8
What you need
Steps
Pat the chicken dry inside and out with paper towels and lay it breast side down on a large board. Try not to tear the skin, since it holds the meat together later.
Find the backbone running down the centre of the back. Cut along both sides of it with shears or the tip of your knife, then lift the backbone out and keep it for stock.
Turn the chicken breast side up and press down hard on the breastbone with the heel of your hand until it cracks and the bird sits flat.
Feel for the wishbone at the front of the breast. Cut the meat away from it, then work your knife around the breastbone and pull the whole piece out.
Slide your knife under the rib cage on one side, keeping the blade flat against the bone so you do not pierce the meat. Repeat on the other side and lift the frame away.
Find the thigh bone on each leg, cut around the joint where it meets the body, then scrape and cut the meat free all the way down the bone.
Cut around the wing bones at the shoulder joint. Scrape the meat down each wing bone and pull it out, or leave the wing bones in if you prefer.
Run your fingers over the inside of the meat to check for splinters of bone and pull out any you find. The chicken is ready to stuff, roll or grill.
Tips and common mistakes
Chill the chicken in the fridge for 20 minutes first, because firm meat is easier to cut cleanly than warm meat.
Keep your knife sharp and let it do the work, since a dull blade tears the skin and slips toward your fingers.
Save the backbone, rib cage and leg bones in a bag in the freezer for stock.
Wash your hands, knife and board with hot soapy water straight after handling raw chicken.
Questions
Can I debone a chicken with a normal kitchen knife?
Yes. A small sharp paring or fillet knife works well because the short blade gives you control around joints. Kitchen shears make the backbone step quicker if you have them.
How long does deboning a whole chicken take?
A first attempt usually takes 20 to 30 minutes. With practice most people get it down to about 10 minutes.
Can I debone a chicken the day before cooking it?
Yes. Wrap it tightly and keep it in the fridge for up to one day, or freeze it for up to three months. Thaw it in the fridge before cooking.
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.
