Silly question from an absolute beginner

[junior]

When a recipe calls for "4 chicken breast halves" and I go to the store and buy a package of "boneless chicken breasts", do I need to cut them in half or are they already halves?

And they say there are no stupid questions...yeah right!

[TATTRAT]

Welcome to the Board.

I haven't put too much thought into it, I am going to say 4 lobes. The Full set has been halved to make 1 breast.

[jennyema]

The recipe is calling for 2 whole breasts, each breast cut in half. A whole breast has two distinct lobes to it with connective tissue joining them.

This is what they look like when they've been separated.

You want 4 of these.

[GotGarlic]

Hi, junior. The only stupid question is the one not asked

Here's a photo of 4 chicken breast halves:



See the straight line down the right side of the breast in the front? That indicates it has been cut in half and the bone removed (some are cut more evenly than others). Whole chicken breasts are more rounded, and include the two halves on either side of the center breast bone. HTH.

[suziquzie]

I'd have to say more often than not they come already halved. Unless I just never look for whole boneless ones.

[junior]

Thanks for all of the replies. I really appreciate it!

[Uncle Bob]

Originally Posted by junior

When a recipe calls for "4 chicken breast halves" and I go to the store and buy a package of "boneless chicken breasts", do I need to cut them in half or are they already halves?

And they say there are no stupid questions...yeah right!

No! They are halved for you...either bone-in or boneless. The only time you will encounter a whole chicken breast is if you buy a whole bird.

[pacanis]

Originally Posted by suziquzie

I'd have to say more often than not they come already halved. Unless I just never look for whole boneless ones.

I get them either way. Sometimes I think it's already halved, just thick, only to find out it was a small breast tightly folded with a little bit of ice holding the halves together. I hate when that happens.
I'll be flipping it on the grill and next thing you know it opens up and there's a whole nuther side that's not even cooked

[jennyema]

Originally Posted by Uncle Bob

No! They are halved for you...either bone-in or boneless. The only time you will encounter a whole chicken breast is if you buy a whole bird.

Bob,

I buy whole ones all the time. They sell both in my market.

[Uncle Bob]

Originally Posted by jennyema

Bob,

I buy whole ones all the time. They sell both in my market.

I've never ever seen one. Breast bone etc still intact? What label/brand is that Miss Jenny?