Cooking a whole chicken is not really as complicated as cooking other types of meat. Sticking to the basics usually result to the most desirable dish all the time. Just like many other meats, cooking time will also vary depending on the size of the chicken and the heat of your oven. Take note that different ovens also operate at different temperatures. So make sure that you are familiar with the settings of your oven to avoid confusion that could sometimes results in overcooking or undercooking your chicken.
Consider the weight of the bird that you will be cooking beforehand. The packaging will usually tell you the exact weight of the bird which you can use as a reference in calculating the appropriate cooking time.
Preheating your oven to 400 degrees while doing some preparation would also ensure that you get an even temperature to the dish. Additionally, try to make it a point to only cook your chicken once it has reached room temperature. Thawing the chicken in an oven could significantly affect the outcome of your dish since the oven might not thoroughly distribute heat in a frozen or cold chicken (thus leaving some overcooked or undercooked regions). Cooking a chicken that is at room temperature will also avoid making the meat tough and dry.
You can also use a thermometer to check if the temperature of the inside of the chicken shows that it is thoroughly cooked. If no cooking thermometer is available, you can use a skewer on the deepest part of the meat and check if the flowing juice is running clear. If it comes out pink, chances are that the insides are not yet fully cooked.
For a chicken that weighs 2.5 – 3 lbs, you can cook it for about 1 hour to 1hr and 45 minutes. For 3.5 -4 lbs, cook the chicken for about 1 hr 30 min to 1 hr 45min. for 4.5 – 5 lbs chicken, you can cook it for 1hr 30 min to 2hrs. And for 5 – 6 lbs, it would normally require 1hr 45 min to 2 hrs 30 min of cooking time. Consider that a chicken is like a small turkey and a turkey is like a big chicken. So basically, cooking time for both meats are almost the same.
You can also spread over some seasoning or butter over your chicken before putting it in the oven to achieve more flavor and also make the skin crispier. Spread a little butter or fat on the bottom part of your baking pan – or even just plain aluminum foil – to avoid the chicken from sticking. Place your chicken breast side-up. This will help ensure that the heat is thoroughly distributed and the flavor of your seasoning gets to each side of the chicken.
It really is not that complicated to cook a whole chicken. Just like in any dish that you cook, practice will produce perfect results – so if it doesn’t turn out perfect this time, just try again! Just keep in mind that cooking time varies on the size and oven temperature.
