$40 Thanksgiving Challenge ~ A Bonus ~ Carving!

You have successfully transferred your bird to your serving platter.  This one happens to have a slight lip on it in case there are any juices that want to run out.  Speaking of juices running…you want to be sure to let the bird rest for at least 15 minutes to let the juices calm down a bit and redistribute back into the bird.  If you were to puncture the bird or cut off a piece as soon as it came out of the oven you will have all your yummy juices on the serving platter and not in your meat.

Now it is time to carve!

Run your knife along side of the breast bone.  Some people prefer a serrated knife but have a sharp chef knife that I like to use.  The choice is up to you.

If you are using a chef knife use long even strokes.  If you are using a serrated knife use a sawing motion.  I would not be using an electric knife.  In my opinion they just shred up the meat.

Follow the bone all the way to the serving plate.

Bring your knife around to the front and connect where you started carving at the top of the breast bone.  Cut down the ribs.

Follow it around and down to the bottom to connect to the bottom of the first breast bone cut.

Now pull the meat away from the carcass.

Pull and cut away the meat as needed.  It should basically fall off at this point.  There will be bits and pieces that will still be connected but those can be separated with a quick knife stroke.

You did it!

Now do the same thing on the other side of the bird.

The extra bits of meat can be pulled off and served or just leave it on there till you clean the rest of the carcus after the meal.

Now slice for serving.  I like to slice against the grain of the meat.

Happy Thanksgiving!!!