How do I debone a chicken?

Discover the secret of skilled chefs with our step-by-step guide on how to perfectly debone a chicken. Impress your guests with boneless wonders!

You'll need

Items needed to answer the question, How do I debone a chicken. Items include: Sharp boning knife Cutting board Towel or paper towels

Sharp boning knife 1
Cutting board 1
Towel or paper towels 1

Take note
Be cautious while handling sharp objects and be sure to wash your hands thoroughly before and after handling raw chicken.

1

Gather your supplies

First things first, make sure you have everything you need. You'll need a sharp boning knife, a cutting board, and a towel or paper towels for a clean work surface.

2

Remove the wing tips

Start by holding the chicken upright and tucking one of the wings under it. Use your sharp knife to remove the wing tip by cutting through the joint. Repeat on the other side.

3

Separate the skin

Pull the skin away from the chicken breast gently, being careful not to tear it. Use your fingers to create a pocket between the skin and the breast meat, running your hand down to the bottom of the breast.

4

Cut along the breastbone

With the chicken breast-side up, make an incision along one side of the breastbone. Start at the top near the neck and continue cutting down towards the bottom of the chicken. Repeat on the other side of the breastbone.

5

Remove the breast meat

Starting at the top of the breastbone, hold the chicken firmly and use your knife to separate the breast meat from the bone. Carefully slide the knife along the ribs, keeping it as close to the bone as possible. Repeat on the other side.

6

Separate the thigh and leg

Bend the thigh away from the body and use your knife to cut through the joint where the thigh meets the body. Repeat on the other side.

7

Remove the backbone

Turn the chicken over so that it is breast-side down. Locate the backbone, which should be exposed after removing the breast meat. Use your knife to cut along both sides of the backbone, separating it from the rest of the chicken.

8

Remove the keel bone

Once the backbone is removed, you will see the keel bone running along the center of the chicken. Use your knife to carefully cut along one side of the keel bone, separating it from the breast meat. Repeat on the other side.

9

Finish up

Inspect the chicken for any remaining bones and trim off any excess fat or skin if desired. Wash your hands and congratulations, you've successfully deboned a chicken!