Roasting a Whole Chicken
I used to think that buying a whole pre-cooked chicken at the grocery store was a great deal. The last couple of times I bought one it seemed so small. I think it was about 3 pounds, if that. It did not even feed my family of six one meal much less expect to have leftovers from it. I went to the grocery and found that buying a whole chicken and cooking it at home was actually less expensive. I was a little scared at first of roasting my own chicken, but it is similar to roasting a turkey and I have done that often. So I went online and found some information and recipes about roasting chickens. The whole process was a lot easier than I thought it would be. I usually get my chickens for $0.99 a pound unless I can find them on sale for less, of course. I try to get the biggest chicken I can so we can have leftovers. If you think you are too busy to roast a chicken during the week, consider making it on the weekend and then using the leftovers for meals that week. If you are wondering how to roast your own chicken, here’s how to get started.
Roasting Tools
You will need a roasting pan to cook your chicken in. You also want to look for a roasting rack., some pans already come with one of these. The rack allows the chicken to cook more evenly since the air circulates freely around the whole chicken. It also allows the chicken to sit freely away from its droppings, which will give you a crispier chicken. You can find roasting pans for pretty cheap at Goodwill stores. I found mine at Wal-Mart in the clearance section for $10. It’s been something I have used quite a bit. If you don’t have a rack, you can make a bed for your chicken with celery pieces, cut up lemons, and garlic. To allow for easy clean-up you can also line your pan with aluminum foil.
You will also need an instant read thermometer. This will help you make certain that the chicken is cooked to the proper temperature and under cooked, but also not overcooked either.
Preparing Your Chicken
Once you get your chicken home from the store there are several things you need to do before roasting. First, make sure your chicken is completely thawed out. Next, remove the neck and giblets. Then, wash the chicken with cold water. Pat dry with paper towels and then rub spices on the chicken to season it. I personally like to place a small amount of olive oil on the chicken and then rub it with seasoning salt. After you complete these steps, you are ready to place your prepared chicken in your roasting pan.
Cooking Methods
There are two ways to roast a chicken. The first method is the regular method. With this method, you preheat your oven to 350 degrees F and then cook your prepared chicken for 20 minutes per pound plus 15 additional minutes. This method is the easiest, but sometimes does not give the appearance you want. The second method is the high heat method. This method leaves a crispy, darker skin. It is also my favorite way to roast a chicken. In this method, you preheat your oven to 450 degrees F. Cook your prepared chicken for 10-15 minutes then lower the heat to 350 degrees F and cook for 20 minutes per pound. Be sure to use your meat thermometer to check for doneness. Place the thermometer in the inner thigh; if it reads 165 degrees F, then your chicken is cooked.
Whole Chicken Recipes
There are a lot of really great whole chicken recipes to try. These usually have different spices to rub your chicken with before cooking. Here are a few I like:
Chicken Leftovers
One of the main reasons I make a whole chicken is for the leftovers. You can use leftovers in soups, casseroles, and other recipes that use chicken. Don’t forget to save the carcass of the chicken. You can make your own homemade chicken broth to use in other recipes later. You can also make gravy out of the droppings. So, don’t let any otf those things go to waste either. Here’s a great tutorial on making homemade chicken broth.
