cutting up chicken - Knowledge Search
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Cutting Up a Whole Chicken
Cutting Method #1 - 10 Pieces | Cutting Method #2 - 10 or 12 Pieces
A whole chicken can be cooked whole but if you want to fry it or use it for a recipe calling for pieces, the whole chicken will have to be cut up first.
Rotisserie Cooking Units | Rotisserie Chicken PreparationRotisserie Cooking the Chicken | Carving Rotisserie Chicken
Rotisserie cooking is a great method to use for preparing chicken.
Grilling Beer Can Chicken | Roasting Beer Can Chicken | Beer Can Chicken Tips
Beer can chicken is a great way to prepare a whole chicken. Although the beer can chicken can be cooked in the oven, it is especially flavorful when done out on a grill where it takes on that smoky grilled flavor.
Rotisserie Chicken Preparation | Grilling Rotisserie ChickenCarving Rotisserie Chicken
For general guidelines on rotisserie grilling, see Rotisserie Grilling Basics.
Rotisserie cooking is a great method to use for preparing chicken.
To see information on some of the many chicken products that are available, select one of the items above.
Miscellaneous Products
Diced Chicken
Skinless and boneless chicken diced up into pieces.
Thawing
There are several methods that can be used for thawing fresh frozen chicken. Chicken should never be thawed out on the kitchen counter. Use one of the methods described below.
Frying chicken is a quick and simple way of cooking chicken where the cooking can be accomplished by the use of two different methods, pan-frying and deep-fat frying. Both methods work on the principle of using hot oil to cook the chicken, producing chicken with a crispy brown outside and juicy, flavorful meat inside.
There are several varieties of chicken available to the consumer, such as regular chicken, Cornish game hens, and poussin, also known as spring chicken. Cornish game hens are very small pump chickens that are a cross between a Cornish and Plymouth Rock chicken.
whole chicken cooking times, baking, temperature
Grilling and broiling are very similar methods of cooking chicken. They both use a dry heat that quickly cooks the surface and then slowly moves to the middle of the meat. Also, grilling infuses the chicken with a smoky flavor from the meat juices that drip during the grilling process. When broiling, this infusion of flavor does not occur.
Contamination Prevention | Cooking Safety | Proper Storage
When working with chicken it is essential that proper handling and storage is used to ensure safety. You cannot see the harmful bacteria on the chicken so you must handle it as if it is present.
Before carving the chicken it should rest for 15 to 20 minutes to allow the juices to be redistributed throughout the meat, which will result in a firmer, juicier and easier to carve chicken.
There are an unlimited number of chicken products available, consisting of fresh, frozen, uncooked, fully cooked, and many heat-n-serve products. Many products are available unbreaded, breaded, seasoned, or marinated.
Poaching is a healthy method of cooking chicken because no fat is added. It retains the chicken's flavor, tenderness and moisture through a gentle simmering process. Poaching is an especially good method to use when cooking chicken that normally has tougher meat, such as stewing hens and chicken that has a tendency to be a little dry, such as skinless breasts.
Grilling is a cooking method that uses dry heat that quickly cooks the surface and then slowly moves to the middle of the meat. Grilling infuses the chicken with a smoky flavor from the meat juices that drip during the grilling process.
Cleaning
If the chicken was frozen, be sure it is completely thawed. Remove the fresh or thawed chicken from its package.
Generally, a whole chicken will contain a giblet package that needs to be removed from its cavity, unless it was previously removed during thawing.
Cutting the Wings | Cutting the Legs | Cutting the Breast | Back Meat
Turkey parts such as wings, legs, and breasts can be purchased at most food stores already cut and packaged, but it is usually more economical to purchase a whole turkey and cut it up at home.
A chicken does not have to be brined but brining will provide juicier and more flavorful meat. Brining solutions vary in the amount of salt that is used according to a person's preference in saltiness.
Tenderness Tips
Avoid freezing whenever possible to eliminate additional moisture loss during thawing, which results in less tender meat.
Keep chicken from drying out in the refrigerator by keeping it tightly wrapped.