How do you cook a whole chicken?

Question

I am cooking a whole chicken that is 4.46lbs. How long should i cook it and at what temp? Should I cover it in foil or leave it exposed in the oven? lol sorry, I know chicken is basic, but I rarely use a whole chicken. :)

Answer 1

I like using the oven bag method.  It makes it nice and tender and no mess.

Easy Roasted Chicken Dinner

1 Reynolds® Oven Bag, Large Size

1 tablespoon flour

1 teaspoon garlic salt, divided

1 pound baby red potatoes

1 package (8 oz.) peeled baby carrots

2 stalks celery, cut in 1/2-inch slices (optional)

1 medium onion, cut in eighths

4 to 5 pound whole chicken

1 tablespoon oil (optional)

1 teaspoon paprika



PREHEAT oven to 350°F.

SHAKE flour and 1/2 teaspoon garlic salt in Reynolds Oven Bag; place in 13x9x2-inch baking pan.

PLACE vegetables in oven bag. Turn bag to mix vegetables with seasoned flour; push vegetables to outer edge of bag. Brush chicken with oil, if desired. Sprinkle and rub chicken with remaining garlic salt and paprika. Place chicken in center of vegetables in bag.

CLOSE oven bag with nylon tie; cut six 1/2-inch slits in top.

BAKE until chicken is tender, 1 1/4 to 1 1/2 hours until meat thermometer inserted in chicken reads 180°F.

Number of Servings: 5-6

OR

Roast Chicken

1 small onion, peeled and quartered

3 cloves garlic, peeled and quartered

3 sprigs fresh tarragon

3 sprigs fresh thyme

1 5-pound chicken, giblets removed

2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil

1 teaspoon kosher salt

1/2 teaspoon freshly ground pepper

Preheat oven to 375°F.

Place onion, garlic, tarragon and thyme into the cavity of the chicken. Tie the legs together with kitchen string, mostly closing the cavity opening. Pull the wings so the tips overlap on top of the breast; tie in place, wrapping string around the wings and body. Rub the chicken with oil, salt and pepper. Set in a roasting pan, breast-side down.

Roast the chicken for 25 minutes. Turn breast-side up and continue roasting, basting occasionally with pan juices, until a thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the thigh, without touching bone, registers 175°F, 1 1/4 to 1 1/2 hours. Transfer to a cutting board; let rest for 10 minutes. Remove the string before carving.

TIP: Roasting Tips

1. Very cold meat won't roast evenly. Place it on the counter while preheating the oven.

2. Durable cotton kitchen string is sold at kitchenware stores, most gourmet markets and large supermarkets. Do not use sewing thread or yarn, which may contain inedible dyes or unsavory chemicals.

3. A heavy-duty, high-sided roasting pan is essential for conducting heat evenly. Never substitute a cookie sheet. A broiler pan will work in a pinch, but the roast will inevitably be somewhat chewier.

4. Give it a rest. A roast's internal temperature will rise about 10 degrees while resting. The natural juices will also reincorporate into the meat's fibers and the skin or crust will dry out slightly for a more toothsome yet more succulent dinner.

Answer 2

The rule is 20 minutes per pound, so about 1:30-1:45.  I'd go ahead and leave it uncovered but you can cover it if you're worried it's getting too brown. Cook it at 325 degrees. Remember to baste it periodically with broth or margarine.

Answer 3

season as you like.

cook at 350.

cover with foil for the last 15-30 min.

cooking times varry.  1-3 hours.

Answer 4

make a paste of margarine, sage, salt, and pepper, and rub on the outside, under the skin, and in the cavity of the chicken.

Place in baking pan with about 1/2 cup water in bottom.  I use a roaster.  

cover,

bake covered for about 1 hour, then uncover, baste, and then leave cover off to lightly brown.

bake at 350 degrees.  

have you cooked a turkey before?  it is the same process, only shorter time.

Answer 5

try going on www.kraftfoods.com or www.foodnetwork.com and type in chicken and it should tell u all u need

Answer 6

I make whole roasters all the time. My method is the crock pot. Just season it with whatever flavor you want, and turn the crock pot on high for the first 2 hrs and med for the rest of the day.  It will be ready for dinner if you start it before 1:00