Follow this guide, then turn your chicken into one of the following recipes for a fast track to your Sunday roast or BBQ feast. Can you spatchcock a chicken with a knife? Yes, you can. Use a large sharp knife. Place the tip of the knife on one side of the backbone in the middle of the chicken, press it down, then firmly bring the knife down along one side of the spine in one movement so you cut all the way through. Turn the bird around and repeat so you have cut all the way down one side of the backbone. Repeat on the other side. How to spatchcock a chicken:
- Place the chicken on a board, breast-side down, with the legs towards you.
- Run your finger along the back of the chicken so you can feel the backbone, then use sharp kitchen shears or scissors to cut right along one side of the bone, through the ribs. Or use a knife (see tip).
- Repeat step two along the other side of the backbone.
- Lift out the backbone and discard (or save for making chicken stock).
- Open out the chicken and turn it over.
- Now press down firmly with the heel of your hand so that it opens out and the meat is all one thickness. You’ll hear a crack and you’re good to go. Spatchcock chicken recipes to try
