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Few dishes are as beloved as a golden roast chicken. It’s hard to go wrong with the basic method, but there are some recipes that rise above the rest, yielding a delicious bird that is crisp-skinned and tender-fleshed without any more work. Here’s our guide to get you there. Before You Start
Preparing the ChickenThere is no consensus on the best way to prep a chicken for roasting; it’s all a matter of personal preference and tried-and-true experience. But here are some suggestions for where to start. Try each and then pick your go-to method. And note that there’s nothing wrong with leaving the bird as is, salting it and just putting it in the oven.
Seasoning and AromaticsSeasoning the chicken ahead of time is a good idea, so that the flavors penetrate the flesh all the way to the bone. This is true whether you're rubbing the bird with salt, spices and aromatics — a dry brine — or using a more traditional wet brine. Then add other flavors if you like, stuffing the cavity with aromatics (like lemon or herbs) or rubbing the skin with fat (like oil or butter), or both.
Brine
Aromatics
Fat
Glaze RoastingIt's time to put the bird in the oven. Here is what you need to know about the pan, temperature and timing.
Salt-and-Pepper Roast Chicken
CarvingHere's a method for carving the chicken so that everyone gets a little skin along with their meat. If you have the wherewithal, heat up a platter for serving. The easiest way is take it hot out of the dishwasher, or run it under very hot tap water for a few minutes, then dry. Placing the just-carved meat on a heated serving platter is the most elegant way to go.
Is it better to bake a whole chicken at 350 or 400?Both 350 degrees Fahrenheit and 400 degrees Fahrenheit are common baking temperatures for chicken, but 350 degrees is more likely to result in a juicier, more tender chicken, while 400 degrees will give the chicken a crispier skin.
How long does an average whole chicken take to cook?Using a conventional oven you will need to roast a whole chicken (6 lb) for 1 hour and 20 minutes to 1 hour and 50 minutes at 425°F until the internal temp reaches 165°F.
Do you bake a chicken covered or uncovered?Baking chicken at home (whether as pieces or a whole bird) is really as easy as prep and bake. You never have to worry about covering chicken while baking, as it's fine to bake it uncovered. Once your chicken is in the oven, it's hands-free until you need to check the temperature.
How long does it take to cook chickens in the oven?Here's the shortest answer we can give you: For large boneless, skinless chicken breasts: cook them 20 to 30 minutes in a 375 degrees F oven. For large bone-in, skin-on chicken breasts: cook them 35 to 40 minutes in a 375 degrees F oven.
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