Learning to break down a whole chicken can help save you money and help you to get acquainted with utilizing all parts of the bird to make a delicious meal! You’ll need a whole roasted chicken, cutting board and kitchen shears. Place the whole roasted chicken breast-side up on the cutting board. First, separate the thighs and legs, using your kitchen shears to pull them out of the joint. Turn over the chicken so that it is breast-side down. Use your shears to cut out the backbone, opening up the breast plate as well. You’ll be able to pop out the bone and remove the breast plate and cartilage. Next, separate the chicken breasts, cutting them into thirds with the shears. Cut off the wings (and tips) and separate those as well. Finally, separate the drumsticks from the thighs. You can use the chicken carcass and bones to make homemade chicken stock.