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Trussing Chicken for the Perfect Roast

Published: Nov 22, 2016 · Modified: Jun 11, 2021 by Steven Pennington · This post may contain affiliate links.

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Learning how to truss a chicken will improve the overall quality of your roasted chicken. Trussing creates even cooking, plus there's something about beautifully presented roasted chicken. Golden brown with crispy skin all around and super moist doneness.

Trussing a chicken takes on average 20 seconds to complete.

Fully trussed chicken cooked golden brown sitting on top of a wire roasting rack
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⬇️ Table of Contents
  • Step By Step Instructions
  • Chicken Recipes To Try
  • 📖 Recipe Card

Step By Step Instructions

Step 1: Rinse the chicken off with cold water. Then pat dry with a paper towel.

Step 2: Season the inside of the chicken with salt + pepper. If adding items like onion, garlic, lemons, herbs & spices, you should add them at this point. 

Step 3: Cut a piece of trussing string longer than you think. Cut it too short, you'll have to start over. (Trussing spring Amazon link in the recipe card below)

Step 4: Place the trussing string underneath the chicken. Line up with the chicken wing. 

Lay the trussing string in the middle of the underside of the chicken right behind the wings

Step 5: Move the string forward over the front of the chicken wings, making a loop back underneath the wings and back to the starting position.

Next step please take the string forward over the front of the wing looping underneath the wings and back to the middle of the chicken

Looping forward over the chicken wings and underneath and looping around the wing back to the middle

Step 6: Image Below: Begin by moving the trussing string over the top of the chicken legs. Wrap the string underneath the legs making a complete loop back to the starting position. You might need to manually move the trussing string into place around the legs.Trussing string has been looped around the wings and pulled to the back of the chicken over the top of the legs

Secure the string around the legs by moving the string with your fingers close to the chicken.

Wrap the trussing string over the top of the legs and then all the way around making a loop

Step 7: Finish by bringing the trussing string ends together as seen in the photo below. Make a knot and secure the trussing string right underneath the breast bone. This step follows right after getting the trussing string in place around both legs. 

Secure the string around the legs by moving the string with your fingers close to the chicken.

For the Butcher/Chef knot please watch the short video attached to the recipe card below.

See where the trussing string comes to rest/finish? Tie a knot there and cut the string shorter.

Location the knot needs to be placed - right underneath the breast bone at the back of the chicken

Using a second piece of trussing string, tie the legs together

  1. Take the new piece of string around the first leg and tie a knot
  2. Then connect the string over to the second leg and take the string around the second leg
  3. Finish by tying a second knot to secure

Sideview of completed trussed chicken

  1. Finish by tying a second trussing string to connect both legs together
  2. Sideview of perfectly trussed chicken

Will this technique work with Turkey?

Yes, you can follow the exact same process with turkeyChef's holiday turkey tips - tips even grandma might not know

What is the value of trussing?

Trussing a chicken promotes even cooking by exposing more of the chicken skin to the roasting heat. If you do not truss the chicken the thighs and wings will just lay flat on whatever cooking surface your using. This causes the skin to only steam, no browning.

Can I use fishing line to truss?

No, the fishing line is usually made from nylon or braided polymers. The issue is too many possibilities of what it could be made from, so the answer is no.

Chicken Recipes To Try

  • Cut up your own whole chicken
    Cut Up Your Own Whole Chicken - Step by Step
  • How to save money
    How To Save Money | Chicken
  • Crispy chicken thigh curried cauliflower
    Crispy Chicken Skin Techniques with Roasted Curry Cauliflower
  • Instant pot chicken breast 1
    Instant Pot Chicken Breast: Quick and Easy
  • Stuffed pepperoni chicken parmesan with roasted roja sauce 2
    Stuffed Pepperoni Chicken Parmesan
  • Chicken tortilla soup instant pot slow cooker crockpot
    Instant Pot Chicken Tortilla Soup

📖 Recipe Card

Trussing a chicken

How To Truss a Chicken

Steven Pennington
Technique covering how to truss a chicken. This skill will improve the quality of your chicken by promoting even cooking and browning.
4.91 from 10 votes
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 3 mins
Total Time 3 mins
Course Culinary School Techniques
Cuisine French | American

Suggested Equipment

Trussing String
Scissors

Ingredients
 

  • Chicken (Patted Dry) 1

Instructions
 

Step 1: Chicken Preparation

  • Salt & pepper the inside of the chicken before trussing. You will also want to add any ingredients to the chicken cavern now. Items like onion, garlic, lemon, thyme, rosemary...
  • Cut a piece of trussing string. Make sure it is long enough, 2 ½ to 3 ft will work.

Step 2: Trussing The Chicken

  • Lay the rinsed and patted dry chicken in front of you with the legs pointed at you
  • Place the trussing string under the chicken, by the wings
    Start under the chicken behind the chickens wings
  • Loop the trussing string over the top of the wings to the front of the chicken, then back under to complete the loop
    Bring the trussing string over the top of the wings
  • Next, take the trussing string and come over the top of the legs
    Next take the trussing string and come over the top side of the legs
  • Now loop back under the legs and back to the top of the legs.
    Loopback under the legs and back to the top of the legs.
  • The trussing string is now at the backside of the chicken
  • Tie a chefs knot, or any knot that works ( How to tie a chefs knot is in the video)
    Tie a chefs knot, or any knot that works ( how to tie a chefs knot is in the video)
  • Secure tightly, the chicken will shape up and look picture perfect for your roasts
    Secure tightly the chicken will shape up and look picture perfect for your roast
  • Tie the legs together with string if desired
    Tie the legs together with string

Video

Notes

  • Trussing creates and allows more of the chicken skin to be exposed to the heat while cooking. This will give you the best presentation and more even browned skin.
  • Golden browned chicken skin requires that the chicken be patted very dry before cooking. Moisture on the skin will lead to steaming, not browning.
  • You can truss a turkey with the same method.
  • Adding items like lemons or onion into the chicken cavity, please do before trussing, or the items will not fit in the opening after tightening the trussing string.
Keyword How To Truss a Chicken, Technique To Truss A Chicken, Trussing Chicken
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Learn to Truss & Tie a Butcher's Knot For "Roasts"

Truss and tie a butchers knot

Our Ultimate Chicken Learning Kit

Ultimate chicken guide

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