🐔 Your Guide for Cooking a Whole Chicken
Don’t Miss It: A downloadable PDF with meal ideas is at the bottom!
🧊 Step 1: Defrost the Chicken
- Defrost 12–24 hours in the fridge.
- Leave it in its package, inside a container with sides (to catch any liquid).
- Aim for longer with bigger sizes. I find I need more time and need to do a further defrost in a pot of cold water
- Quick defrost: Put chicken in a pot of water while still in packaging, submerge, and change water every 30 minutes.
🔥 Step 2: Choose Your Cooking Method
1. Oven-Roasted Chicken
- Temp: 350°F
- Time: 1 hour 30 minutes
- Pan: Glass baking dish
Optional Seasoning:
Rub mustard, dried herbs, salt, and pepper over the whole bird (especially the breast, legs, wings).
Optional Veggies:
- Surround the chicken with chopped vegetables.
- Veggies absorb the healthy fat as it cooks!
- Some people add veggies at the start, others wait until the last 30 minutes.
Tip:
- If chicken starts getting too brown, loosely cover with parchment paper + foil (foil on top of parchment, not touching the bird).
2. Roaster Oven Method
- Temp: 325°F
- Time: ~1 hour 30 minutes
- Setup: Add water below the rack to create steam.
- Season like above—mustard and spices are great!
🌡️ Internal Temperature Check
- Stick a meat thermometer in the thickest part of the thigh.
- You want 165°F and clear juices (not pink).
- If juices are still pink, cook longer.
3. Crockpot / Oven-Poached in Water
- Crockpot: Add 2 inches of water. Cook on LOW 6–8 hours.
- With various sizes, sometimes it takes on the longer side, so be watchful.
- Oven-Poached: Place chicken in baking dish, add 1 inch of water, cover with parchment + foil.
(Optional: Baste every 30 mins.) - Bonus: This gives you tender meat and broth for soup or gravy.
🔪 Bonus Option: Cutting into Pieces (Jointing)
- Cut the chicken into 8 pieces.
- Save the frame for broth or soup.
- Watch Gordon Ramsay’s demo: YouTube Video
- Pro Tip: Cut through joints, not bones—it’s easier and more fun!
📄 Meal Ideas with One Chicken
(See PDF below for inspiration and planning!)
Asper Family Farm 