How to Butterfly a Cornish Game Hen

Cornish game hens are quite versatile. They provide enough meat for a small dinner for two, or you can make each person in your dinner party their own individual hen. Butterflying, or removing the backbone, helps the poultry cook faster because it is laid flat. Cornish hens can be seasoned simply with salt and pepper and basted with butter, or you can add garlic, thyme and lemon juice for extra flavor.

Things You'll Need

• Cutting board
• Poultry shears

Instructions

1. Remove the giblets and any string that was included on the Cornish hens.

2. Place the hen breast-side (skin side) up on the cutting board and cut along one side of the backbone with your poultry shears.

3. Flip chicken over and cut along the other side of the backbone. Remove backbone and discard.

4. Turn the hen breast-side up again. Open it so the drumsticks point out and then press the bird down so it flattens.

Tips & Warnings

• Wash your hands, poultry shears, cutting board and any surfaces the raw hens came in contact with to avoid contamination.

References

• Better Homes and Gardens: Food and Recipes, Butterflying a Cornish Hen