Pink chicken in gas oven?

[lilacben]

I cooked a free range chicken yesterday and when it was cooked it looked very pink. It was in the oven for hours and only a small bird. I have noticed before that things like chicken or pork go pink. Can anyone tell me why this happens.

[bushbaby_de]

If the chicken was in the oven for hours I'd say the oven wasn't hot enough and pink chicken is NOT safe to eat! Gas ovens need about half an hour to heat up and lose their heat every time you open the door so maybe you're opening and closing the door too much - how exactly did you cook it?

[pastafreak]

What was the weight of your bird?,and at what temp was the oven set? When done ,the wing or leg should feel loose when you wiggle it....also-the juices should run clear. Was ALL the meat pink, or just the leg/thigh?(which would be expected as that is more muscular meat.,especially on free-range birds)

[crisgal]

Did you put bacon on the top?
Could it have been the dye from that?
My friend cooked a chicken for the specified time but it was almost raw next to the bone.
Then she realised she'd had her double oven on "grill"

[lilacben]

Hi everyone thankyou for your replies. I cooked this chicken the same as usual. gas3 for about 4 hours. only tiny chicken. I alwas cook them in a glass bottom and topped dish. The meat did full away from the bones and the juices ran clear so it was cooked.But as I said what ever meat I cook pork or chicken/turkey it alwas comes out pink on top.

[hollie1586]

meat that is near the bone is always more pink!

[pastafreak]

You may be better off not covering it...then the chicken skin can crisp up a bit,and may not be pinkish.

[bushbaby_de]

I'd be tempted to say cook it for shorter on a higher temperature as that is more a casserole temperature than roasting temperature - i'd be worried the bit nearest the bones isn't actually getting hot enough to cook properly.

[Pippa24]

You need to pre-heat the oven then cook on a higher temperature, at least a gas 4, even gas 5 if your oven is not a fan oven. You then don't need to cook for as long - 2 hours should do it. Follow the instructions that come with the chicken, if you are buying it from a butcher ask him how you should cook it

[lilacben]

Many thanks to all of you that have replied. I will try cooking on a higher heat and see how I get on then.