Tying chicken legs together is an important technique when roasting or grilling whole chickens or other birds. Trussing, as it’s known, holds the legs neatly against the body, creating an evenly-shaped roast that cooks nice and evenly. But what if you don’t have kitchen twine or butcher’s string when you need it? Don’t worry, you can use several handy kitchen items to tie those chicken legs instead.
Why Tie Chicken Legs Together?
Tying the legs together serves multiple purposes
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It helps the chicken retain its shape as it cooks, preventing the legs from splaying open This allows the thighs to cook through at the same rate as the breasts.
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It presses the legs tightly against the body so heat circulates evenly and the skin crisps up nicely all over.
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It makes the chicken look neater and more professional when served.
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It can keep any stuffing contained neatly within the cavity.
So although trussing is optional, it creates a better presentation and more even doneness.
Frequency of Recommended Tying Materials
Based on the content provided, some common alternatives for tying chicken legs include:
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Dental floss – Recommended 3 times. Allows you to tie legs securely without adding flavor.
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Aluminum foil or wire – Recommended 2 times. Holds legs in place if you twist tightly.
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Bamboo skewers or toothpicks – Recommended 2 times. Insert through both legs to hold together.
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Kitchen string or twine – Recommended 1 time. The traditional trussing material.
Dental Floss is a Handy Kitchen Substitute
Out of the suggested materials, dental floss seems to be a particularly convenient option according to multiple sources. It’s something many people have easily accessible at home.
Plain unwaxed floss is ideal, as it won’t add any minty flavor to your chicken or risk melting and dripping wax into the oven. Simply tie the legs together by crossing them and then winding the floss around them several times. Finish with a tight knot just like you would with twine.
Dental floss cuts through soft foods like cheese much more cleanly than a knife. So it certainly has the strength to securely truss poultry. Just be sure to remove it fully before serving!
Other Recommended Options for Tying Legs
In addition to dental floss, a couple other handy kitchen items can substitute for kitchen string:
Aluminum Foil
Tightly twist together a length of foil to create a sturdy wire shape. Wrap this around the crossed chicken legs and twist the ends together securely. The foil band will hold the legs in place during roasting.
Bamboo Skewers or Toothpicks
Carefully insert thin wooden skewers or toothpicks through both chicken legs, essentially pinning them together. Push through one leg first, then penetrate the other while crisscrossing them.
Soak the skewers first if you’ll be grilling the chicken after trussing. Use care when turning or moving the skewered bird to avoid legs slipping loose.
Be Resourceful with Kitchen Staples
Part of being a versatile home cook is learning to substitute and improvise when you’re missing an ingredient or piece of equipment.
While specialized poultry trussing string is ideal, plain dental floss, aluminum foil, and bamboo skewers are handy kitchen staples you can use in a pinch to tie up those chicken legs. A little creativity keeps dinner on track!
Step 2: Loop Around Front
Introduction: How to Truss a Chicken
ChefSteps Tips & Tricks: Best Way To Truss A Chicken
FAQ
What else can you use to tie chicken legs together?
Dental floss: Tie up your bird or bundle with dental floss. It’ll hold things together just as securely as the twine.Feb 15, 2024
What can I use if I don’t have cooking twine?
You CAN use the normal butchers/cotton string…its pretty common. Alternately from a “been there done that” perspective – if you have any spring onions, chives or leeks laying around–twist them together in a braid and use that to tie your legs…or skewer with some bamboo or metal skewers.
What can I use to bind chicken?
Potato Starch, Then Egg, Then Crumbs
Horizontally halve the chicken breast. Gently pound the resulting cutlets so they’re an even thickness, about ½ inch. Set up 3 bowls for the breading: one with the starch, one with the egg, and one with the panko. Whisk the salt and pepper into the starch.
What is the best twine for a chicken?
Standard kitchen twine, or butcher’s twine, works best. It’s plain, unbleached cotton twine that’s strong enough to hold a chicken together but won’t burn, melt or otherwise ruin your roast. Furthermore, Can I use regular twine instead of kitchen twine?
How do you truss a chicken?
Trussing a chicken or turkey involves fastening the legs and wings as close to the rest of the body as possible. It helps the bird to maintain its shape while cooking and makes for better presentation when it’s done. Trussing can be done a number of ways, but the most popular way is to use kitchen twine to tie the legs and wings in place.
Is there a substitute for twine for turkey legs?
Sewing thread is not a good substitute for kitchen twine. If you have some short metal skewers, and you’re crafty, you might be able to use those to hold the legs in position. How do you tuck turkey legs without twine?
Can you tie a Turkey with twine?
Kitchen twine or string (or even dental floss) is the quickest and easiest way to truss a bird (surprisingly, you can also use gauze in a pinch). Can you use yarn to tie a turkey? If Your Turkey Doesn’t Come with a Hock Lock, Use String. Or, you can simply use twine, kite string, or unwaxed dental floss to hold the legs together.
How do you Tuck a chicken leg?
Tuck the end of the second leg behind the first. That’s it. You can also cut a slit into both sides of the chicken, using those dangling flaps of skin. With this method, cut the small slit into both flaps of skin, then just tuck the leg on the opposite side of the cut into the slit, crossing the legs.
What’s a good substitute for kitchen twine?
The Best Substitutes: Dental Floss, Wooden Skewers, or Aluminum Foil Kitchen twine is good to have on hand for those times when you need to truss a chicken or turkey, secure a stuffed loin, or tie off a packet of herbs, but it’s hardly essential kitchen equipment.