Chicken breasts are one of the most commonly used ingredients in the kitchen, valued for their versatility, delicate taste, and high protein content. Do you want your chicken dishes to be truly successful? The key to success is properly preparing the meat. The right cutting techniques, contrary to appearances, are of great importance in this context! In this article, we’ll show you how to chop poultry meat like in a professional kitchen.
Cutting a chicken breast. How to do it correctly?
Properly cutting a chicken breast has a huge impact on the quality and appearance of the finished dish. To achieve the best results, you should start by properly preparing the meat. It’s a good idea to gently dry the chicken breast with a paper towel – this will make the work easier and prevent the meat from slipping under the knife. Cutting against the grain is key, as it allows you to get tender, juicy pieces. You should always use sharp kitchen knives – a dull tool will not only make the work more difficult but can also damage the meat’s structure, leading to its tearing. When cutting a chicken breast, you should also pay attention to the thickness of the slices – they should be a similar size, as this will help them cook or fry evenly.
How to cut a chicken breast into cutlets?
To cut a chicken breast into cutlets, we start by slicing the meat along its longest side to get thinner slices. This can be done in two ways: either by cutting the breast in half and dividing it into two thinner pieces, or (if you want more delicate cutlets) cutting the meat again, getting four thin slices. If the slices are uneven, you can gently pound them with a meat mallet, which will additionally tenderize the meat and even out its thickness. The key here is to maintain the right thickness of the cutlets – they shouldn’t be too thin (this could lead to them drying out during frying) or too thick (there’s a risk they won’t fry evenly).
How to cut chicken into cubes?
Cutting chicken into cubes is one of the most commonly used techniques in the kitchen, ideal for preparing stir-fries, salads, or skewers. To properly cut a chicken breast into cubes, you should first remove any fatty parts and cartilage. Then, starting from the longest side, cut the breast into strips of even width – usually about 1.5-2 cm. Afterwards, cut each strip crosswise, creating even cubes. As we mentioned earlier, it’s important that all pieces are of a similar size. Also, remember to cut the meat against the grain – this will make the cubes more tender and delicate!
How to cut chicken into roulades?
Cutting chicken into roulades requires precision – the goal is to obtain appropriately thin yet large enough pieces of meat that can be easily rolled. We start by placing the chicken breast on a cutting board and slicing it in half lengthwise – so that two thinner fillets are created. Then, each fillet can be gently pounded with a meat mallet, covering the meat with plastic wrap (this will prevent it from being damaged). The goal is to obtain an even, thin layer of meat that, after being filled with your favorite ingredients, will roll into an aesthetically pleasing roulade. Delicacy and precision are essential here – the meat must not tear during pounding and rolling.
What knife for chicken meat will be appropriate?
Choosing the right knife for cutting chicken meat is crucial for achieving the best results. The ideal one should be sharp, well-balanced, and long enough to allow for precise cutting of both thin slices and even cubes. The best choice here will be a chef’s knife – it has a versatile use and is universal enough to handle both slicing and chopping. It’s also worth considering buying a filleting knife, which, thanks to its thin, flexible blade, allows for precise separation of meat from bones and skin. The knife must be sharpened regularly – only then will it fulfill its function, making cutting easier and minimizing the risk of damaging the meat.
Properly cutting a chicken breast, a seemingly mundane skill, has a huge impact on the quality of the dishes you prepare. Using the right technique not only makes cooking easier but also affects the taste and texture of the meat. Thanks to this simple but effective method, your chicken dishes will become even tastier, and cooking will become a pleasure. Try the tips described and enjoy perfectly prepared pieces of chicken in every dish.
