How to Cut Out the Backbone of a Whole Chicken

Cutting out a chicken's backbone is necessary to flatten it.

If you want to flatten a chicken for grilling or stuff it without the bones, it is crucial that you remove the chicken's backbone. You can later use the backbone to make stock or to make soup. Use a sharp knife or kitchen shears to cut the bone out.

Things You'll Need

• Fabric glove
• Kitchen shear or sharp knife

Instructions

1. Place the chicken down on its breast side with its backbone upward and its tail facing you.

2. Put on a fabric glove to avoid slipping. Grab the chicken's tail.

3. Stick the knife or kitchen shears inside the chicken under the chicken's tail. Cut all the way down the length, 1/2 inch away from the backbone, until you reach the chicken's neck.

4. Cut all the way to the chicken's neck on the other side of the backbone to remove it from the body completely.

Tips & Warnings

• Cut close to the backbone to avoid losing a lot of meat.

References

• The Virtual Weber Bullet: How to Butterfly a Chicken
• Grilling Companion: How to Flatten a Whole Chicken for Cooking