Cooking 101

HOW TO BUTTERFLY A WHOLE CHICKEN

Whole chickens are economical, and you can butterfly the chicken in a few simple steps. Your will need a good pair of kitchen shears, which you can purchase in the kitchen section of department, houseware and discount stores. With just a little practice, you will be able to butterfly a chicken in just a few minutes.

HOW TO GRILL A CHICKEN

Grilling chicken can be tricky, and I've found that the best way to ensure a juicy, not dried out, bird is checking the internal temperature with an instant-read thermometer (around $5 at most supermarkets). For a whole chicken, insert the thermometer into the thigh without touching any bone. The chicken should come off the grill when the temperature registers 175-180 degrees. The temperature will continue to rise after it is removed from the grill. For boneless, skinless chicken breast halves, I usually pull the chicken off the grill when the internal temperature reaches 165-170 degrees.