Trussing a Cornish hen might seem a little intimidating at first, but once you get the hang of it it's easy and only takes a couple minutes. Follow along with my step-by-step guide, or if you're a visual learner watch the short video.

Why Truss a Cornish Hen?

Trussing allows the hens to cook evenly while keeping the meat juicy and tender.

What You'll Need

Kitchen twine
Shears (scissors or a sharp knife)

Step-by-Step Instructions

Trussing involves tying the wings and legs of the bird close to its body.

Cut a piece of kitchen twine about 2.5 ft long and set it aside.
Place the hen on a clean surface, backbone up, with the legs pointing toward you.
Pull the neck outward and drape the twine around the hen's neck like a necklace.
Flip the hen over while holding the twine in place.
Slide the twine under the tail, bring it up around each ankle, and wrap it around at least once.
Pull the legs together and secure them by tying the twine tightly around them.
Bring the twine up wrapping it around each wing.
Flip the hen back over (breast-side down) tying the twine.
Flip the hen back over (breast-side up) and secure the wings onto the breast by tying the twine tightly in a knot.
Trim any excess twine using scissors or a knife.

If you need a visual, check out the video.

Tips

If your hen is frozen, thaw it completely in the refrigerator. This can take 24 hours depending on its size.
Rinse the thawed hen under cool running water, both inside and out, and pat it completely dry with paper towels to help the skin crisp up during cooking.
Check the cavity for any giblets or organs. Remove these and save them for stock, or gravy, or discard if you don’t use them.
For juicy and flavorful meat, brine the hen in a simple saltwater solution overnight. This keeps the hen moist.
Before trussing, let the hen come to room temperature for 20–30 minutes. This prevents uneven cooking.

Ready to Cook a Cornish Hen on the Rotisserie?

Now that you know how to truss a Cornish hen, check out my rotisserie Cornish hen recipe to put this technique to use.

📖 Recipe