How to Separate a Whole Chicken

Before you start cutting up a whole chicken, make sure it’s completely thawed and you have a sharp knife and cutting board ready. Follow these steps to separate a whole chicken. Test Kitchen Tip: No need to rinse your chicken. Research shows rinsing poultry actually spreads bacteria by splashing contaminated water on surrounding areas. If the surface seems moist, gently pat the chicken dry with paper towels (and discard those paper towels immediately).

  1. Using a sharp knife ($135, Crate & Barrel), cut through the skin between the thigh and body. Bend thigh back until hip joint breaks. Cut through joint, separating the leg from the body. To separate the thigh and drumstick, slit the skin above the knee joint, break the joint, then cut apart. Repeat on the other side.
  2. To remove a wing, pull it away from the body. Slit the skin between the wing and body. Bend the wing backward until the joint breaks. Cut through the joint. Repeat on the other side.
  3. With a sharp knife or kitchen shears ($20, Bed Bath & Beyond), cut along the breast end of ribs on one side, cutting toward the neck to separate the breast from the back. Repeat on the other side. Bend front and back halves apart. Cut through neck joints that connect halves.
  4. To divide the back in half, hold the piece at each end. Bend the ends toward the skin side until the bones break. Cut the back in half where the bones are broken. Cut off the tail.
  5. To divide the breast in half, cut lengthwise along the breastbone. Or, to divide breast in half crosswise, grasp breast at each end and bend breast toward the skin side to break bones. Cut between the wishbone and the breastbone.

How to Carve a Chicken

Already cooked your chicken? Follow these tips for how to carve a whole chicken to get every last bit of meat. Test Kitchen Tip: Don’t let those bones go to waste! Save the carcass and add some aromatics for homemade chicken broth. Need some recipe ideas for those meaty chicken pieces? I highly recommend making crispy fried chicken, juicy oven-barbecued chicken, or this easy sheet pan chicken dinner.