Flattening Chicken

Flattening chicken is a helpful technique that will come up in various recipes. The main purpose of this method is to get the chicken to a consistent thickness, which promotes even cooking.
  1. Remove the tenderloin from the underside of each breast and save for another use.

  2. Place uncooked chicken between two sheets of waxed paper or plastic wrap.

  3. Using the flat side of a meat mallet, a flat circular meat tenderizer, a rolling pin, or even the bottom of a small pan, gently pound the chicken, from the center to the outside, until an even thickness is reached -- usually about 1/2 inch, though some "scallopini" dishes call for even thinner cutlets.

    Gently pounding the chicken to a consistent thickness promotes even cooking.
    Gently pounding the chicken to a consistent thickness promotes even cooking.
Take the time to prepare chicken properly will help ensure your finished product -- that is, your meal -- is as delicious as you hoped it would be!

Not what you're looking for? Try these:

  • Chicken Recipes: Chicken is a very versatile food that can take on a variety of different flavors and be used in all kinds of dishes. Find some suggestions on our Chicken Recipes page.
  • Chicken Safety: Since raw chicken can harbor harmful bacteria, it's important to know how to properly handle chicken in the kitchen. Learn chicken safety tips in this article.
  • How to Cook Chicken: Get all the facts on cooking this popular poultry on our How to Cook Chicken page.
  • Cooking Chicken: Cooking chicken can be a bit difficult because it's imperative that the meat is cooked all the way through. Gather helpful tips at HowStuffWorks.
  • Cooking: Learn the ins and outs of some basic cooking techniques in this helpful article.