How To Break Down A Whole Chicken

Do you wish you could save money by buying whole chickens instead of paying a premium for just individual parts, but don’t want to cook the entire thing at once? Well in today’s blog I’m going to help you learn how to break one down and get the most value out of one of our fresh pastured birds.

If you’re like me, an individual package of breasts or legs is much easier to prepare, especially on nights when it’s just me and my husband at the table. As much as I love to roast a whole chicken, they can take up a ton of storage room in the freezer and thawing one can take days. Conversely, the parts store in a fraction of the freezer space, and I can move a frozen pack of breasts to the fridge in the morning and saute them with some veggies later that same day for a quick and satisfying dinner.

I used to think it was too much hassle to cut up my own chickens, or that I needed some sort of special equipment. Nothing could be further from the truth. Once I learned how simple it truly was, I always break down a couple for us to store when harvest time comes around. I simply use a moderately sharp kitchen knife and a pair of scissors. I prefer to vacuum seal the parts in individual packages, but I’ve used ziploc freezer bags before without a problem. From one chicken I end up with two breasts, two leg quarters (thighs and drumsticks), two wings, plus the back and neck which I use in my bone broth. I’m left with four neat little packages to easily tuck in my freezer, and at least 3 meal starters ready to go.

Ready to give it a go? I’ve put together a short little video that gives you step by step instructions on how to do just that. I’d love for you to watch it and then try it out for yourself. You can even set up your laptop or smart phone on the kitchen counter and let it play as you slice up that chicken like a pro. There is even a bonus tip on how to Spatchcock a bird, which can really save on cooking time if you intend to roast or smoke it. Check it out here: