Buying a package of already cut chicken is easy, but it is cheaper to cut a whole chicken into pieces. You can store whatever you don't need in the freezer for future use or use portions to make soup.
Instructions
1. Buy a fresh whole chicken. Make sure that the kitchen and all utensils that will be used are clean.
2. Place the chicken on a cutting board and retrieve a sharp thick bladed knife from the knife block. Remove the wingtips first followed closely by the tailpiece.
3. Divide the chicken in two. To accomplish this place the chicken breast side down. Slice up the spine. Turn the chicken back upright so that the neck is pushed into the cutting board.
4. Cut along the spine and this will open the chicken up. Picture an open book and open the chicken as such. This allows for the central core of the chicken to be removed.
5. Cutting through the center of the chicken creates two halves. Remove the neck out of the first half by pressing down on the back of the blade of the knife.
6. Quartering the chicken comes next. Take the 2 halves and cut on a diagonal line. This will separate the thigh from the breast.
7. Place the chicken on its back and begin cutting the inside of the wing just over the wing. While cutting pull the wing away from the body and cut between the skin and the joint. Be sure to do this with both wings. This will separate the wings from the breast.
8. Create two additional pieces by cutting the breast in two. To accomplish this cut downward along the breastbone. Be sure to apply strong but steady pressure to the knife as you continue cutting.
9. Cutting through the knee joints while bending the legs back-and-forth will create drumsticks and upper thighs.
Tags: accomplish this, chicken back, cutting board, Cutting through, from breast, open chicken
