Roast Chicken Cooking Time & Cooking Temperatures for Chicken Need to be Known When Learning How to Cook Chicken

Select your roaster chicken roast chicken cooking time will be determined by weight. A 4-5 pound bird will serve six. Stuff and truss chicken. (See below) Weigh the stuffed bird since cooking time should be calculated from the weight. For the first part of the cooking period place the breast side down on a rack in a greased shallow roasting pan. The thighs will cook more thoroughly without the risk of overcooking the breast meat if the back of the bird is on the top during most of the cooking period. Baste frequently.

Roast in a preheated oven at 350F degrees. Allow 30 minutes per pound for birds of less than 4 pounds; 22 to 25 minutes for birds 4 pounds and over. (Check note below for younger chickens not roasters) If a meat thermometer is used insert the bulb in the thickest part of the thigh muscle and roast to 185F degrees.

Turn the chicken breast side up for the latter part of the cooking. If a fork is used for this purpose the skin is often broken... A better method is to lift the bird at the head and foot with hand protected with cleans folded towels. If a tender rather than crisp skin is preferred, cover the pan for the last half hour of roasting.

To see whether the chicken is done insert a steel skewer or two tined fork into the thickest part of the breast or the thickest part of the thigh. The key to roast chicken cooking time is when the meat is done the skewer or fork will pierce it easily and the juice which runs out will show no trace of red.

TRUSSING- Place the bird breast side down. Tie the center of a cooking cord to the tail. Pull the legs close to the tail and tie legs and tail firmly together. Insert skewers to hold the legs and wings close to the body. Lace the cord across the back, through the leg and wing skewers and tie.

NOTE: Today many people, including myself will roast a whole young chicken instead of an older roaster. These do not take as long to cook because they are more tender. Unstuffed they can be cooked in an hour or a little more. With these I place the chicken with the breast side up and roast the entire time. Check for doneness the same way as with the roaster.

How to Cook Chicken More Ways

• Cooking Chicken Wings


• Cooking BBQ Chicken


• Cooking Whole Chicken

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