How to separate chicken breast from back by cutting up through the rib gap inside the cavity
Find the gap between rib sets inside the cavity, insert the knife into the gap, and slice upward to free the back from the breast.
Open the chicken and look into the cavity for two sets of rib bones with a clear gap between them. Put your knife into that gap and slice up; then press to finish separating the back from the breast.
The short version
- Look for the rib gap inside the cavity; cut there.
- Pressing can finish the separation once the cut is made.
What you need
- chef’s knife
- cutting board
How to do it
- 1
Open the chicken and look into the cavity to locate the two rib sets and the gap between them.
You can often see the gap by looking through the light.
Watch this step - 2
Insert your knife into the gap and slice upward to separate the back from the breast.
If you’re in the right spot, nothing should be ‘holding you back’.
Watch this step - 3
Finish removing the back by pressing on it to break it free.
Once cut correctly, it should come off easily.
Watch this step
What goes wrong
Trying to cut through ribs/bone instead of the gap
Reposition to the visible gap between rib sets and slice upward.
Why it works
Cutting through the natural rib gap avoids hacking through bone and makes the separation cleaner and easier.
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