Boning a Chicken Breast

If desired, remove the skin from the breast. Remove by getting a firm hold at the thickest part of the breast, grasping the skin, and then pulling the skin away from the meat until all the skin has been removed. The chicken breast will be slippery, so to get a firm hold, use a paper towel when gripping the breast.

Begin removing the bones by placing the breast on the cutting board with the bone side up. Start by cutting through the V of the wishbone.

Cut through the cartilage around the top of the keel bone (the bone separating the two halves).

Cut along both sides of the breastbone and then bend each side of the breast backwards until it cracks and reveals the keel bone.

Get a firm hold on the keel bone and peel it, with the cartilage and the breastbone, away from the meat. Cut off any cartilage that did not come off with the keel bone.

Remove the remaining bones. Using a sharp knife, hold it close to the rib bones. Following along the ribs, start cutting them away from the meat with short swiping cuts. Pull the bones away from the meat as you cut. Cut out all bones staying as close to the bones as possible. Remove the wishbone by trimming it away from the flesh.

Leave the breast whole or cut it into halves. Find the white tendon on the underside of the breast by lifting the flap (tenderloins) at the wide end of the breast half. The tendon is tough, so it best to remove it. Grasp one end of the tendon and pull it away from the meat while scraping it off with a knife.