I watched the Waitrose Cookery School programme again, this time with a Sainsbury's Chicken and a sharp knife. I managed to make a reasonable job of reducing the bird to two breasts, two boneless thighs, two drumsticks and two wings. Plus a heap of skin, a few scraps of badly trimmed bits, and two bones plus carcase.
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I was really pleased with the amount of meat I got from the chicken, and I agree with the guy on the programme - it certainly works out cheaper than individual portions. Next time I will try to cut the breast meat better!
I've booked to watch the steak lesson next week [not that we eat a lot of steak!] I am not sure I'd have had the confidence to joint a chicken like this without the lesson. In the past I've frequently roasted a chicken, and then stripped the leftover meat to make other meals, and made stock, but this is a whole new approach for me. Thank you Waitrose!
I see that I can watch this even from New Zealand so I’m going to follow your example. Margaret
ReplyDeleteIt is a fun programme - good to know you can watch it in NZ too
DeleteI never buy chickens as CBC is pescetarian but this sounds a useful tutorial! Kx
ReplyDeleteBut you could always buy one, joint it, and freeze the parts separately in case you fancied a piece of chicken when he had fish (cheaper than buying a load of individual pieces)
DeleteEasier to cook the same for two. I'm not that in need of chicken
DeleteVery impressive. Good old Waitrose!
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DeleteWell done, practice makes perfect.
ReplyDeleteI learnt how to dispatch, pluck and draw a chicken, and to use the giblets, from YouTube.
The River Cottage videos were useful.
Not sure I a manage "dispatch" just yet! The River Cottage team have done some useful stuff
DeleteI used to do this jointing of chickens or indeed the Christmas turkey without a thought when first married. You have inspired me to try again and it would make better use of a whole chicken from raw. I’m tracking my 30 things since yesterday and was pleased to see that I could use small amounts eg I have just taken out a well coated poppyseed bagel for my lunch so will add the seeds to the list. Catriona
ReplyDeleteI didn't have a fridge when we were first married. Now I have a fridge AND a freezer, I should be using them to maximum benefit
DeleteAlways good to gain new skills. You certainly made the most of that chicken.
ReplyDeleteAlison in Wales x
🐔🐔🍗🍗🐔🐔🍗🍗
ReplyDeleteWe often get whole chickens and disassemble them at home.
ReplyDeleteThe way our grocery stores are laid out, the boxed and canned things are in the middle and all of the fresh things (meat, eggs, milk/butter/yougutt) and fresh veg are around the perimeter. It's healthier to shop the store's perimeter!
Hugs!
Most of our stores have the fruit and veg immediately inside the door
ReplyDeleteAnd big box stuff like washing powder right at the end (so it doesn't fill up your trolley too soon)
DeletePutting fruit and veg first is a well-known strategy. After they are in your cart, you feel virtuous and think that you deserve a treat or two. Or three ~ skye
ReplyDeleteI'm glad they don't put sweets at the checkout anymore
DeleteThis is great! What a very useful video to watch and learn from, the best. I buy chicken thighs and freeze them in twos. I think they may work out even cheaper than buying a whole chicken and there is no work. JanF
ReplyDeleteIt is so well made
DeleteI used to do this every time when we were financially under strain. One thigh or drumstick per person in a casserole, 2 chicken breasts fed 4, and as I could only get them off in 3 pieces, the third bit made stir fry. Wings and carcass made into soup plus extra bits for stir fry so that fed 4ish as well. Used Crafty cook recipe book for instructions (remember him on TV?)
ReplyDelete🍗🍗🍗£££👍👍👍
DeleteYou did well. I should try this. Years ago I plucked and drew a couple of wild ducks that our neighbour passed on to us (his wife couldn't face dealing with them), so cutting up a pre-plucked and drawn chicken shouldn't be intimidating, but I might have to be in the mood!
ReplyDeleteMy grandmother was very capable at plucking and drawing (also preparing rabbits) But I'm not sure I can face doing that (yet)
DeleteWhole chickens can certainly go a long way and are much cheaper if you know how to cut it up yourself. Good job!
ReplyDeleteAlso I'm able to get "higher welfare" birds this way which is good
DeleteI once boned a chicken after watching it done and then stuffed it and it was amazing, I think I saw Delia Smith do it.. these Waitrose video's sound really good, a def. watch!
ReplyDeleteOh that sounds quite an achievement!
DeleteI learned how to cut up and draw a chicken as a teen. There were no precut, prepackaged chicken to be bought at that time. The first time I saw a whole tray of only one type of chicken parts on sale, I was shocked! I continued to buy my whole chicken and cut it up for the longest time. Very often, here, whole chickens, drumsticks, and thighs go on sale for the same price per pound, while the breasts cost more.
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