Cutting up the Chicken

Ragtop99

What are you using when you spatch or quarter a chicken to cut it up?  I have some scissors that I use when doing the backbone removal, but on larger birds (e.g. 6lbs or bigger), I'm fighting it more than I would like.  What's everyone using?  Any specific poultry scissors or knife I should give a try?

Onegrecook

I just use a pair of kitchen sheers. They make quick work of the chicken!

Tjcoley

Wustof kitchen shears. Work great.

Little Steven

Or cheaper, get a pair of longnose aviation snips (tin snips). Wash them after use and spray with Pam when dry.

Skiddymarker

Ok, I've been down the road of snips and trying to clean them, kitchen shears and big scissors. 

Bought at least three different two and three packs of Cuisinart and others. 

I bit the bullet and bought a $25 pair of stainless steel poultry shears from Lee Valley. I wish I had done this years ago. These shears are incredible. Long handle (great leverage to break bones), all stainless (right in the dishwasher, although we don't, to keep the edge). locking clip (to keep them closed in the drawer). 

"Spatch's" a chicken in seconds. 

Little Steven

Can you do a turkey or a duck?

Mthomp13

I know this is probably cheating but the butcher at our local Publix will cut it for.

LizzieSamps

I am having the same problem. I feel like my hands are breaking when done.

Fred19Flintstone

Skiddymarker said:

Ok, I've been down the road of snips and trying to clean them, kitchen shears and big scissors. 

Bought at least three different two and three packs of Cuisinart and others. 

I bit the bullet and bought a $25 pair of stainless steel poultry shears from Lee Valley. I wish I had done this years ago. These shears are incredible. Long handle (great leverage to break bones), all stainless (right in the dishwasher, although we don't, to keep the edge). locking clip (to keep them closed in the drawer). 

"Spatch's" a chicken in seconds. 

I finally coughed up the $25 for poultry shears (not sure of brand) and it does make quick work spatching a chicken.  I saw a video on YouTube of Fred B spatching a turkey.  He had someone do it for him (that's not cheating Mthomp13) and that guy used a cleaver because turkeys have bigger bones than chickens.

SoCal_Griller

I tried the scissors route, then switched to my boning knife. The knife is much easier so far.

Outcast

Katana.

nolaegghead

I used to use a Fiskars 36" Super Splitting Axe, but I found it cut through the other side of the chicken and wedged itself deep into the cutting board.

Skiddymarker

Hey Nola - glad to see you are online, hope the family is all safe and well....

nolaegghead

Man, I can't believe the tenacity of this storm.  Weather still hummin' outside.  Generator still crankin'.  75% of New Orleans are camping without power (and I'm sure drunk as skunks and BBQin).  Thought today was going to be a cleanup days...nuh uh.  Maybe tomorrow.  I'm down to a fifth of bourbon.  And the generator is burning a more than a little earl.  I just wanna see some sun.... (sniff)
B-)

paqman

Good to hear you are safe. It did not look good in the news.

travisstrick

A decently sharp knife spatches a bird like butter. I have some henkel shears but the knife is much easier.

paqman

travisstrick said:

A decently sharp knife spatches a bird like butter. I have some henkel shears but the knife is much easier.

+1

AleBrewer

Yeah....a sharp 10" chefs knife is all I use to spatch a bird.

DMurf

I use my 10' Gerber chef's knife and it works great on chickens and turkeys.

SoCal_Griller

@DMurf, Now thats a big knife! L)

Griffin

I've never had a problem with just using poultry shears, but I don't buy birds in the 6lb range. Thought those were more for braising or in soups. I could be wrong. I stick with the 3 to 4 lb range.

MikeP624

Have your butcher do it.

probe1957

Another vote for a sharp chef's knife.

tazcrash

SWMBO has a pair of pampered chef kitchen sheers, makes really short work of those birdie ribs.

Little Steven

nolaegghead said:

I used to use a Fiskars 36" Super Splitting Axe, but I found it cut through the other side of the chicken and wedged itself deep into the cutting board.

I'm sure I am not the only one that found that hilarious

jeroldharter

I use kitchen shears but they are not created equally. Basic shears are ok but you will wrestle with the chicken. I bought these Kuhn Rikon shears earlier this year and they are superior. No problem at all with a chicken spine. http://www.amazon.com/Kuhn-Rikon-2710-Ultimate-Shears/dp/B001EN4CSI/ref=sr_1_17?ie=UTF8&qid=1346348568&sr=8-17&keywords=kitchen+shears

Ragtop99

Thanks for the suggestion.  I keep going back and forth between my scissors and 10" chef knife.  Not happy with either one.

I'm going to go look and see if I still have a pair of tin snips.  I can picture them, but haven't seen them in a while.  Otherwise I may splurge on scissors or a new knife. 

DMurf

@SoCal_Griller

Why yes it is! I really like the weight of that knife and it cuts through chicken and turkey bones like budda.

Where are you in SoCal? I grew up in Spring Valley just outside of San Diego.

DMurf

Little Steven said:

nolaegghead said:

I used to use a Fiskars 36" Super Splitting Axe, but I found it cut through the other side of the chicken and wedged itself deep into the cutting board.

I'm sure I am not the only one that found that hilarious

@LS No you are not the only one that found that funny.

HBmoai

I don't know where you're at but in California we have a couple department discount stores( Marshall's Ross Tuesday morning) and they almost always have hi grade poultry shears in their kitchen section for a fraction of the normal cost, might want to check them out, the inventory changes all the time, but if you're patient you should be able to find a pair there eventually

Hungry Joe

jeroldharter said:

I use kitchen shears but they are not created equally. Basic shears are ok but you will wrestle with the chicken. I bought these Kuhn Rikon shears earlier this year and they are superior. No problem at all with a chicken spine. http://www.amazon.com/Kuhn-Rikon-2710-Ultimate-Shears/dp/B001EN4CSI/ref=sr_1_17?ie=UTF8&qid=1346348568&sr=8-17&keywords=kitchen+shears

I like the description, "Serrated lower blade makes it easy to cut through poultry bones, branches, carpet, heavy plastic, wire, packages and more "