Chook Me!

If a recipe calls for chicken wings separated at the joint, will it matter if I don't?

I've never really worked with chicken wings before--I don't have poultry shears and wasn't about to slit my finger open with a knife. The recipe calls for the wings to be broken into drummettes and wingetts--I don't care if they aren't pretty, will they bake okay? Thanks.

Public Comments

1. They'll be fine just as they are. I often make Buffalo wings with the whole wings because they're less expensive and I don't wont to be bothered with the extra step of separating. They cook just the same. The only problem is that the wing tip, which is ultimately removed from the pre-seperated wings, will still be intact and doesn't really have any edible meat left on it once cooked. If you can lop thos off with a big knife it's better but no biggie if not!
2. It won't matter, but if you absolutely want them separated, you can use a paring knife and cut the skin and meat around the bone (at the joint), then just bend the bone backwards, and it will pop out of the socket and separate. Sounds sad, but it works, and you don't have to worry about slicing off a finger!
3. It will cook fine, but it may cook quicker because of more surface area exposed to the heat. Watch it & check it early, Even if you boil meat, it will actually dry out if overcooked. You could also turn down the temp a little (say from 350 down to 325).
4. NO!!! nice and simple
5. They'll still bake up fine. :) The cutting at the joint is just to make them A: Pretty, B: More of a finger food and C: seem like there are more there and therefore provide food for more people. :)