How to Carve Chicken, Cutting up Chicken

Instructions on preparing whole chicken for cooking.

First insert the knife between the leg and the body, and cut to the bone; then turn the leg back with the fork, and if the chicken is tender the joint will give away easily. The wing is broken off the same way, only dividing the joint with the knife, in the direction from 1 to 2. The four quarters having been removed in this way, take off the merry-thought and the neck-bones; these last are to be removed by putting the knife in at figs. 3 and 4, pressing it hard, when they will break off from the part that sticks to the breast. To separate the breast from the body of the chicken, cut through the tender ribs close to the breast, quite down to the tail.

Now turn the chicken over, back upwards; put the knife into the bone midway between the neck and the rump, and on raising the lower end it will separate readily. Turn now the rump from you, and take off very neatly the two side bones, and the chicken is carved. In separating the thigh from the drumstick, the knife must be inserted exactly at the joint, for if not accurately hit, some difficulty will be experienced to get them apart; this is easily acquired by practice. There is no difference in carving roast and boiled chickens if full grown; but in very young chickens the breast is usually served whole; the wings and breast are considered the best parts, but in young ones the legs are the most juicy. In the case of a capon or large chicken, slices may be cut off at the breast, the same as carving a pheasant.