Everything You Need to Know for a Winning Chicken Dinner
By Ali Slagle
No bones about it: Here are the basics you need to know for winning chicken dinners.
Before you start dreaming about chicken braised in this or chicken roasted with that, you need to get the bird under control. It may need to be broken down, spatchcocked, trussed—and then after cooking, carved. You also want to avoid undercooking the thing.
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Consider this collection of articles your primer on chicken 101. Get an A and you’re on your way to A+ chicken dinners.
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The Safest Way to Prep and Cook Chicken
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For a protein that’s so easy to cook – one we turn to for both weeknight dinners and weekend dinner parties – it sure can be high maintenance. Watch us explain the ten tips for dealing with chicken safely – from unwrapping it to checking its doneness.
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Here’s something every home cook should know: how to break down a whole chicken. It certainly can be an intimidating task but once you get the hang of it, you’ll wonder what you were ever hesitant about.
The Best Ways to Cook Different Cuts of Chicken
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Today, we’re talking all about chicken –- and not the boring variety, but the juicy, skin-cracklin’, finger-lickin’ stuff. In the world of the bird, anatomy is key: thighs, breasts, wings, and offal each play distinct parts suited for different types of recipes. Learn which cuts of chicken should be the stars of your next culinary production.
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Truss we must – if not to practice our fine motor skills, then to ensure our chicken cooks evenly. Those few extra minutes spent securing your bird’s legs and wings will go a long way. The good news? It’s easier than you think.
Spatchcocking" is just the fun way to tell people you’re butterflying a bird, by taking out its backbone. Why would you do such a thing? Well, it’s much easier than it may sound, and your chickens and turkeys will cook quickly and evenly – cutting the time almost in half.
How to Know When Chicken is Done
A simple, whole roasted chicken is the most comforting dinner after a long day. But before carving into a crispy, juicy whole chicken, it’s important to make sure that your bird is done.
How to Carve a Chicken (or Turkey)
A whole chicken ready to carve can be daunting, and that’s quite understandable – with so many bones and joints, it can be hard to know where to start. Get yourself ready to chop away at another certain bird for a certain upcoming holiday.
