Carving Chicken

amy_jay

I've had a search so sorry if I'm asking something that's been asked before.

I've just bought a whole chicken for the first time and as I live alone, I want to chop it up and freeze it in pieces. Can anyone recommend a good tutorial to do this as I've never done it before?

Or would you suggest cooking it completely and then cutting it up and freezing it.

bellaquidsin

Just search 'how to joint a chicken' on youtube and you'll find several helpful clips. You do need a very sharp knife.

Mojisola

I'd cook it whole and cut it into pieces afterwards. It will be much easier to do.

JIL

i do it with really sharp scissors, turn it over so the breast is on the bottom. Cut out the big bone that runs down the centre by cutting either side of it. Then turn it over and squash it slightly and cut it in half. Pull one leg and cut it from the breast. Then separate the thigh from the drumstick.
pull the wing and cut this with some of the breast.
repeat with the other half.

it is not too difficult.

heres a link to help

http://www.deliciousmagazine.co.uk/videos/how-to-joint-a-chicken-into-8-pieces/

NoGoodNamesLeft

I wouldn't cook it first as I find reheated chicken a bit dry unless you freeze it already in its sauce.

There is often quite a bit of meat attached to the main body (ribcage) after jointing so don't just throw it away. You can usually strip off enough for a stir-fry at least. Also, you can use the bones for stock and soup.

[Deleted User]

I slow cook my chicken and the meat just falls off then I can use the stock for soups etc. Never had a problem freezing chickne once cooked and mine never dried out

Farway

Mojisola wrote: »

I'd cook it whole and cut it into pieces afterwards. It will be much easier to do.

Same here, cook it whole, then cut off the legs, probably easier to pull off, with attached breast bits once cooked

Then cut the breast slices in portion sizes

And as NoGoodNamesLeft says, lots of bits left on carcass for stir fry / pie /sandwich

Butterfly_Brain

I have proper chicken shears but a good pair of secateurs will do the job.
There is a step by step tutorial with pictures here by Delia Smith

http://www.deliaonline.com/how-to-cook/chicken-and-other-poultry/how-to-joint-a-raw-chicken.html

or
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o0OzRLUYB0c