What It Means To Butterfly A Chicken

Chicken is arguably the most versatile protein money can buy. From Nashville hot chicken to a citrusy Cuban mojo recipe, there isn't much you can't do with this mildly flavored meat. Still, one problem always arises when cooking the breasts: They are uneven. The thin side is done in a jiffy but continues to cook until the thicker side has juices running clear. A chicken breast needs to be butterflied if you want it to cook evenly, and thankfully, anyone with a knife and a cutting board can do it at home.

If the breast has skin, it should be removed prior to butterflying. Set a cutting board down on an even surface and grab your sharpest knife — the sharper it is, the easier you can cut into the chicken. Place the breast top side down and slice into the thick end horizontally, carefully holding the chicken in place with your free hand. You are essentially making a slit in the meat that allows the entire piece to open up. Go deep enough so that each newly formed side is approximately the same thickness as the thinner end of the breast.

The main thing to watch out for is letting the knife slip too far into the meat. This results in the protein being halved, which could be beneficial for some recipes but it doesn't give you the even single piece you're looking for when butterflying. Additionally, some dishes require you to butterfly a chicken breast, and two thin pieces of poultry just don't cut it.

While it makes it easier to estimate the cooking time, you don't necessarily have to butterfly the meat for recipes such as breaded chicken sandwiches. However, some poultry dishes can't be made without utilizing this technique. If you want to stuff your chicken with a delicious mushroom duxelles, you first need to open it up by butterflying it. Some recipes call for the breast to be pounded flat, like a broccoli, cheese, and bacon chicken roulade. Before you take out your mallet, butterfly it so you start with an evenly thin piece.

Poultry isn't the only kind of meat that benefits from this technique. Butterflied pork can be made into various visually appealing dishes, like a stuffed pork chop or a pesto pork roast made with butterflied pork loin. Beef can likewise be made thin to accommodate several savory recipes. Even if you aren't making anything super fancy, you can appreciate how much simpler it is to cook meat evenly by butterflying it beforehand.