Chicken has a very versatile flavor and texture. You can flatten a whole chicken to reduce cooking time or you can beat just the breast with a meat mallet to stuff it with your favorite ingredients.
Steps
Method 1 of 2: Beat the Chicken Breasts
Step 1. Remove chicken breasts from the freezer 12-24 hours before cooking
Step 2. Put them in the fridge in a sealed plastic bag
The chicken must be completely defrosted before beating.
Step 3. Place a layer of wax paper on a very large cutting board
Place the chicken breast on the paper and cover it with another sheet.
- Alternatively, you can keep the chicken in its plastic bag and cut a corner to let the excess air out.
- Although greaseproof paper can transmit more bacteria, it's easier to get the chicken off the cutting board if you use layers of paper to keep it from sticking.
Step 4. Score the meat two-thirds horizontally with a sharp knife
Step 5. Begin beating the chicken with the meat tenderizer, starting from the center
Gently tap in the middle, then move to the sides of the meat.
If you don't have a meat tenderizer, you can use a rolling pin
Step 6. Continue beating until the meat is 6 cm thick
If you need a thinner slice for your recipe, keep flattening it with your fingers.
Step 7. Remove the top layer of the paper
Spread the filling over the piece of meat and roll up the chicken slice or transfer it to the baking sheet with a spatula.
Method 2 of 2: Flatten the Whole Chicken
Step 1. Place the whole chicken, breast side down, on a plastic cutting board
Plastic cutting boards are better in this case because they can be washed at high temperatures in the dishwasher to get rid of all bacteria.
Step 2. Find the backbone, which runs across the back of the chicken
Use scissors to cut the spine on both sides.
Step 3. Remove the backbone and tail, including the fat pad at the base of the tail
Step 4. Spread the chicken halves as wide as possible
Look for the small white piece of cartilage at the top of the chicken. Insert your index and middle fingers until you find the bone.
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You should feel a bone in the center of the two breasts. You should also be able to hook your two fingers on either side of the bone.
Step 5. Open the chicken as far as possible on both sides
It should stay flat as you grill or cook it in the oven.