How to Trim Chicken for Gourmet Chicken Recipes

Chicken is one of the most versatile meats in the world. It can be baked, barbecued, smoked, roasted, grilled, and even cooked in a can. But before you start cooking your favorite gourmet chicken recipe, you need to learn how to prep and trim it. Here are some tips on how to trim a chicken for your next gourmet chicken recipe.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

Things You’ll Need:

• Water
• Cutting board
• Kitchen shears
• Chicken

1. Rinse your chicken in warm water under your faucet. Pat dry with a paper towel. Rinse the inside of the chicken and remove the innards. You can use these in a soup or cook them separately.
2. Trim any extraneous fat from the chicken. If you are buying a bird from a grocery store, there usually isn't much they miss. However, a place to look is the opening of the chicken where deposits of fat can be overlooked.
3. Decide whether you want to clip the wings. Some people like to clip the wings and use them as a base for a chicken soup. Other tuck the wings in so that they are protected during baking. To tuck, put the end of the wing into the shoulder socket.
4. Place your herbs and spices under the skin to flavor the meat. Slide your index finger under the skin and gently run it over the meat to lift the skin without ripping it. Season your chicken in accordance with your recipe.

Tips & Warnings

• Wash your cutting board thoroughly after putting poultry on it. The bacteria from uncooked meats, especially chicken, are easily spread. Don't use a wood cutting board as the bacteria can seep into the fibers and resist washing.