What to use? Remove backbone in Spatchcock Chicken

Scooby's Eggin again!

What is the best way to remove the backbone in Spatchcock Chicken? What does everyone use to remove it? I have done a few, but there must be a better way to cut the back bone out. Thanks for every ones help and advice!

Rich

Unknown

Scissors.

gdenby

I use a small pair of tin snips. Goes right through the bones. Takes maybe a minute.

Davecooksslow

Kitchen shears.

Cookin Corvette Doug

I use the Henkels kitchen shears. Goes through the chicken like butter.

Unknown

I use the Henkels kitchen shears. Goes through the chicken like butter.

Hmmm.... Butter Chicken....

Boilermaker Ben

Wow, I guess I'll be the contrary one. I just use my 8" chef's knife, It only works if it's really really sharp, which it almost always is.

fishlessman

not as fancy as the scissors, but i just use a big chef knife upsidedown and thru the chicken and lift on the first cut, then same knife and saw down holding the backbone up. works quick enough for me and i still have all my fingers :laugh:

stevesails

a sharp 6 inch knife.

Davekatz

I use kitchen shears, but I only cut down one side and don't bother to remove the backbone.

fishlessman

works for me too

The Naked Whiz

Ordinary kitchen/poultry shears.

reccitron

I use kitchen shears

Fidel

I use a Timedyne Optilase® PL100 Nd:YAG.

(Not really, I just take a nice, sharp 8" chef's knife and cut right down either side)

Frobozz

Be careful about using a knife. Not all knives will handle being pushed through bones. I had a really nice santoku knife that had its edge seriously ruined after I cut up a chicken with it. Kitchen shears, which are specifically made for this very task, are a better choice IMHO.

Little Steven

The optilase is a POS. A real man would use the TRUMPH TruLaser 5030. Skim the backbone out of a pterodactyl in mere seconds

Fidel

That's actually pretty good advice for most folks.

I'm sure my steel is up to the task, and if not I've got a very good sharpener to put the edge right back on it.

Celtic Wolf

That was an easy example since Pterodactyls are extinct. Well maybe not in Canucka.... :unsure:

There is that height thing you got going.. That Pterodactyl you say was probably just a hummingbird.. :woohoo:

fishlessman

its a good reason why you dont toss an old knife when you upgrade, my bunmei single bevel and global deba hang on the wall and my 60 year old 13 inch chef knife with the darkened steel blade chops up the chicken

PhilsGrill

The breast bone however can pop out with your fingers. See how it's done here.

http://www.virtualweberbullet.com/butterflychicken.html
.

Little Steven

Oh, now that hurt. You've gotten real chatty after 14K eh?

Steve

TNmike

I've never removed the breast bone before but I like that and will try it next time. Thanks for posting the link.

Celtic Wolf

Got to use up my 25,000 words somehow. Nobody is home to talk to and my dog just looks at me funny..

'Q Bruddah

Phil, thanks so much for that link. That it one clean looking chicken. It was worth getting to the end of the thread just for this. I bookmarked it.

The Naked Whiz

The breast cartilege can be pulled out, but the backbone has to be cut out with shears.

Little Chef

Didn't read all the other posts...but Kitchen Shears are the only way to go!! (get the shears that are hinged to be separated for proper cleaning)

Little Chef

Totally just a curiosity question...why not make the second cut so you don't have to fight with the backbone after the cook? Honesly, just curious.

Davekatz

I've honestly not noticed the backbone putting up much resistance after the cook . But I just quarter the birds for serving, so I'm only cutting through it once. I also get really close the the backbone when cutting - to the point that half the time I'm cutting a least partially though the backbone, not the ribs.

Mickey

Messermeister Utility Shears.
Cooks Country number 1 rated, tried them and never looked back - they work well

Little Chef

Mickey: Spot on!! Been using the Messetmeister Sheers for about 4 years now. I absolutely love them! Worth every penny paid.

Scooby's Eggin again!

Thank you! That answers all of my questions. Now I know what to buy!

Thanks again!
Rich