How to Cut Chicken Breasts into Slices

Chicken breast contains a lot of protein and is low in fat, so it is a favorite dish of many people. Whether you’re tired of eating grilled chicken breasts every day or simply want to cook quickly, changing the way you prepare and cutting chicken breasts into slices can be fun. You can follow the traditional method of slicing the chicken breasts, or safer, using kitchen scissors.

Table of Contents

Cut the chicken breast with a knife

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Choose a sharp knife about 20-25 cm long. The sharper the knife, the lower the risk of cutting into the hand because the knife will not slide back and forth while cutting. Using a long knife will result in a neat and smooth slice instead of having to cut multiple cuts with the shorter knife. The kitchen knife is also tough enough to cut meat with just light pressure. ^{[1] X Research Source}

You can sharpen knives easily with a knife sharpener. Insert the blade into the sharpening slot marked “rough grinding” and pull the blade towards you a few times with light pressure. After that, continue to sharpen the knife in the “fine grinding” slot. ^{[2] X Research Source}
Kitchen knives have a very different selling price depending on the quality and material. You should browse the kitchen stores or online shopping sites to choose a suitable knife.

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Place the chicken breasts in the freezer for about 15 minutes. Since chicken breast is very slippery, placing it in the freezer before slicing will help it stiffen to prevent your hands from slipping when slicing. You do not need to wrap the brisket and can either leave it in its original packaging or take it out. ^{[3] X Research Sources}

If you don’t want to wait for the chicken to harden in the fridge, pat the brisket dry with a paper towel before slicing. This method is not as effective but will reduce the smoothness of the breast piece. ^{[4] X Research Sources}

Place chicken breasts on a cutting board. Remove the chicken breast from the freezer by sliding it from the refrigerator tray onto the cutting board or placing it on the cutting board with the handle. You should place the brisket in the center of the cutting board. If it slides back and forth, it will stay on the cutting board instead of falling off the stovetop and getting dirty. ^{[5] X Research Sources}

If you’re using the chicken breast handle to place it on the cutting board, don’t touch anything other than the cutting board, the brisket, or the knife. Raw chicken has bacteria, and you shouldn’t let it spread in the kitchen.
Use a separate cutting board to cut the chicken to avoid contaminating other foods. ^{[6] X Trusted Source Centers for Disease Contrp and Prevention Go to source}

You will now debone the chicken breast if it still has bones. Use a knife around the ribs and breastbone, then gently pull the meat away from the bone. Remember to cut off the tendons at the bottom. ^{[7] X Research Sources}

Hold the chicken breast in place with your non-dominant hand. Using the hand where you are not holding the knife, place your palm firmly on the brisket and fold your fingers in slightly. This grip will limit the possibility of the knife hitting your hand while cutting meat. ^{[8] X Research Sources}

For those who are clumsy or not confident enough to use a sharp knife, you can purchase cut-resistant gloves at a kitchen supply store or online. This type of glove is made from the same material as a bulletproof vest, so it will provide good protection for the hands.

Cut across the grain of the meat. Find the grain of the meat (the tiny white muscle fibers) and cut across the grain instead of parallel to it. If the grain runs vertically, cut from left to right. Cut in long cuts and pierce the meat with a single stroke. ^{[9] X Research Source}

Slicing across the grain will help keep the chicken tender after it’s finished cooking. ^{[10] X Research Source}

Continue to cut the chicken breast into even slices. Cut each slice of meat to the same thickness and size so that they cook at the same time when cooking. Depending on the thickness of the meat slice, 1 piece of chicken breast can be cut into 5 to 7 slices.

Determine the thickness of the meat slice based on the dish you plan to prepare. For example, to make Fajitas, you need to slice the meat relatively thin about 1.5 cm, while the grilled chicken needs to be about 2.5 – 5 cm thick.

Use kitchen scissors

Choose removable kitchen scissors. Kitchen scissors differ from regular scissors in that they are sharper and harder to cut through both bone and flesh. Look for detachable scissors. With this type of scissors, you can disassemble the two branches to clean the gap between the two blades. ^{[11] X Research Source}

Most kitchen scissors cost about 10-20 USD (in the US). Buy kitchen scissors at a kitchenware store or online.

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Place the chicken breast in the center of the cutting board. Even though you can pick up the brisket while cutting it, it’s not a good idea to do it this way. Cutting on a cutting board gives you more control and produces straight cuts. ^{[12] X Research Source}

Another option is to cut the chicken right in the pan you’ll be cooking it in. Since you’ll be using scissors instead of a knife, there’s no need to worry about cutting into the pan, plus you won’t have to wash a plate! ^{[13] X Research Source}

Remove bones from chicken breasts before slicing. Use scissors to cut around the ribs and breastbone while pulling the meat away from the bone. Then cut off the tendons. ^{[14] X Research Source}

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Find the grain of the brisket and place the scissors across the grain. Meat fibers are small white muscle fibers that run through the chicken breast. You will cut across the grain instead of along the grain. ^{[15] X Research Source}

Cutting along the grain will make the slices tougher and tougher. ^{[16] X Research Source}

Things you need

Cut chicken breast with knife

Plate
Knife
Chopping board

Use kitchen scissors

Pull the kitchen
Chopping board

Advice

Buy boneless chicken breasts if you plan to cut them into slices. That way, you won’t have to do the bone removal step.
Always wash your hands thoroughly with warm water and soap before and after handling chicken to avoid spreading salmonella bacteria.

Steps

Cut the chicken breast with a knife

Use kitchen scissors

Things you need

Cut chicken breast with knife

Use kitchen scissors

Advice

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