how to cook a chicken

[pinkcowprint]

i have just bought a chicken but am unsure how to cook it exactly,do i put some water in the baking tray and cover with foil?it weight 1.200 kg,so how long should i cook it for?i am in all afternoon so could cook it slowly for extra tenderness or do i have to cook it on high first??

[pastafreak]

It is also generally done when
a)-the leg can be 'wiggled' easily....the joint won't feel stiff
and
b)- the juices run clear when you puncture the flesh in the thigh

[rinkins]

I always use the slow cooker these days, but I also used to make up a small dish of butter, crushed garlic, lemon rind (cut the lemon in half and put in the middle of the chicken) and any herbs and then put it between the skin and the breast of the chicken - soooo tasty! (I think it's a Jamie Oliver thing)

[tamborine]

Check for bagged offal inside chicken & remove. Place in baking tin with 2ozs lard on top. Sprinkle with salt. Put in middle of oven Gas 6 for 1hr.

Add potatoes with chicken to cook together.

[luxury]

Hello pinkcowprint,

This is how I roast ours:

Oven on 200

Put the roasting tray in the oven with sunflower oil and heat.

Prep the chicken:

For this I slide very carefully under the skin of the chicken large knobs of butter.

I do home made stuffing which is bread crumbs, onions finely chopped, 1 egg, melted butter and sage, either fresh or dried...mix all together and stuff chicken cavity.

I sprinkle a litle salt over the skin.

Then place chicken on the hot roasting pan and cook for one hour, then turn down to 180 for another 45 mins. I also add par boiled potatoes and sweet potatoes, parsnips and onions for the last 45 mins and turn after 20 mins.

I check that no red juices are coming out after this time by piercing the chicken legs.

If the juices are clear then its cooked.

I then place on a carving tray while I make the gravy.

I put a large glug of sherry in the pan and reduce, stirring constantly. Then add chicken stock and reduce again. I then add a bit of cornflour mixed with cold water to thicken. You can add a bit of single cream to this.

Here are some more ideas for roasting chickens:

http://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/4752/foolpr oof-slow-roast-chicken

http://www.bbc.co.uk/food/recipes/database/roa stchickenwithsavo_6594.shtml

http://www.bbc.co.uk/food/recipes/database/roa stedchickenwithga_86552.shtml

12:23 Tue 14th Jul 2009

[wasp]

Buy a Weber or a cheaper equivalent kettle bbq. Place +/- 15 charcoal briquettes and a couple of fire lighters either side of the fire bowl and light . When the coals turn from black to grey lightly spread olive oil , salt and pepper over the bird and place on the upper grid over the coals. put the bbq lid on and retire to the local . After 90 minutes remove the best roast chicken you will ever have tasted

[luxury]

BBQ chicken!!! good point Wasp:

Heres a recipe from Weber thats yummy lol

http://www.bbq.co.uk/bbq-recipes/poultry/bbq-b eer-can-chicken-barbecue-recipe.htm

and heres the other one I do: Spatchc... Chicken but I marinade with Cajun Spices.

http://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/2186/spatch cock-barbecue-chicken

[wasp]

Hey Luxury I was getting quite interested in your recipies until reading the part about " Pour off half the beer " Get real

[luxury]

don't shoot the messenger lol

the only place the beer gets poured is down mr Luxurys throat hehe

it is a good recipe though Wasp... so fire up the barbie xxx

[pinkcowprint]

thanks for all your answers,i usually cook everything in the slow cooker but wasnt sure if a chicken would work as all the meat has to be covered with water/juice,how do you cook yours rankins?

[tamborine]

Cooked in slow cookers makes chicken a greasy & slimey dish - yuk!

[wasp]

Rather a sad reply sprinter

[brenda]

Seems a good question to me -----I didn't know how to cook a chicken either.

I am a don't cook, won't cook person, have had my oven on twice in 14 years.

If i can't do things on the top of the oven ,I don't do them.

[brenda]

Seems a good question to me -----I didn't know how to cook a chicken either.

I am a don't cook, won't cook person, have had my oven on twice in 14 years.

If I can't do things on the top of the oven ,I don't do them.

Pathetic maybe , but suits me fine.

[lucca]

Why would you put 2 oz lard on top of chicken?!!! You on't need that! A little oil, some herbs, and bingo. Minimum of 1.5 hours (one hour not enough, even for small chicken). Most important: check juices are clear.