How to Spatchcock a Chicken

In this blog post, we’re going to walk through the process of spatchcocking a chicken, but first, we’re going to learn a bit more about what it is and the benefits it brings.

What is Spatchcocking?

Spatchcocking is a method of preparing poultry, such as a chicken or turkey, by removing the backbone and flattening the bird out before cooking. This process is also sometimes referred to as butterflying.

The Benefits of Spatchcocking Your Poultry

Spatchcocking your poultry can deliver quite a few benefits to your food production - check it out!

Faster Cooking: Spatchcocking a bird allows it to cook more quickly and evenly. The flattened shape allows heat to distribute more evenly across the meat, reducing cooking time by up to 30%.

Crispy Skin: Flattening the bird also exposes more of the skin to direct heat, which can result in crispy, golden-brown skin that is both flavorful and visually appealing.

Even Doneness: Because the bird is flattened out, the legs and breasts are all at the same level, which helps them cook evenly. This means you'll be less likely to end up with overcooked or undercooked parts.

Easier Carving: Once the bird is cooked, spatchcocking can make carving easier, since the bird is already flattened out and the backbone has been removed. This makes it easier to separate the meat from the bones.

Versatility: Spatchcocking works well for all kinds of poultry, including chicken, turkey, and game birds. So once you learn the technique, you can use it for all your favorite poultry recipes.

How to Spatchcock Your Poultry - Keri’s Way

Check out the steps below from Chef Keri on how to spatchcock poultry:

Take the bird and turn it so the back is up

Hold the bird by the tail and cut down the left side of the backbone with a sharp kitchen knife or kitchen shears

Hold the bird by the tail and cut down the right side of the backbone with a sharp kitchen knife or kitchen shears to completely remove the backbone

Discard the backbone

Place your knife or shears in the center of the wishbone and cut to break the wishbone and breast bone

Lay the bird out flat on the roasting tray for seasoning

@chefkerisway Learn how to spatchcock a chicken with Chef Keri - let's go! . . . #chef #cheflife #cook #cooking #cookathome #howtocook #food #foodie #kerisway #trans #transwoman #transchef #lgbtq #spatchcock #spatchcockchicken #learntocook #cookingtok #cooktok ♬ original sound - Keri's Way