One time when a fresh taste is not a good thing.

Lime and Salt: Cleaning Chicken Caribbean Style

Cleaning a chicken at our house is what my mom would have called a pro-duc-SHON!  Cleaning chicken is not a game.  This is one case where if someone says your chicken tastes “fresh” – that is certainly not a good thing.

One time when a fresh taste is not a good thing.

Here’s what you’ll need:

A lime (lime juice will do in a pinch)

Salt

  • Put the chicken in a large bowl in the sink. Fill it about 1/4 full of water.
  • Roll the lime on the counter, then cut it in half.  Pour salt onto the cut side of the lime.  You may need both sides, you may not.
  • Pull the lime apart some by putting your finger in the center and pulling slightly.
  • Then scrub the chicken with the cut side of the lime and the salt.  You will see the slime and yellow stuff (see photos) roll away.
  • Rinse the chicken.

I do this with cut and whole chicken.  If I will be removing the skin before cooking it, I remove the skin first, then clean it.

Place the chicken in the sink, in a bowl, with water.

Photo by Eva Wilson for SocaMom.com

Not sure what the yellow stuff is, but I don't intend to eat it.

Photo by Eva Wilson for SocaMom.com

Not sure what the yellow stuff is, but I don't intend to eat it.

Photo by Eva Wilson for SocaMom.com

Not sure what the yellow stuff is, but I don't intend to eat it.

Photo by Eva Wilson for SocaMom.com

Not sure what the yellow stuff is, but I don't intend to eat it.

Photo by Eva Wilson for SocaMom.com

If you are using just the juice, put the salt in your hand, pour the lime juice on top of it, and scrub.  It is important that the lime/lime juice is cold so that the salt does not dissolve.  In the images, I was using just the juice and salt.

Is this how you were taught to clean chicken or do you just rinse it and get cooking? Let me know how you learned to clean chicken in the comments.  If you are from a Caribbean country, tell us where you are from.

One thought on “Lime and Salt: Cleaning Chicken Caribbean Style”

  1. I am English born from parents who are from Barbados, and I have learnt to clean meat and poultry with lime and salt, or lemon, but today I added soy sauce as well on my turkey wings for Sunday evening meal, and then I will season or marinade to my liking.

    From Lenora at skeetelenora@gmail.com

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