Heres how youll know your chicken is done — and why we bake or roast chicken at so many different oven temperatures.
Spicy roasted chile miso chicken drumsticks with bell pepper and onion in cast iron skillet viewed from above
When it comes to baking or roasting chicken, everyone agrees what the internal temperature of the poultry should be when its done, but your oven can be set to a variety of temperatures. What should you choose? Heres what to consider:
All poultry should reach a safe minimum internal temperature of 165 °F (73.9 °C) as measured with a food thermometer. A whole chicken must reach this temperature throughout the bird. Check the internal temperature in the innermost part of the thigh and wing and the thickest part of the breast.
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What Is the Difference Between Roasting and Baking?
The name we give the method that means “put chicken in oven and cook” can be confusing. Is that chicken baked? Or is that chicken roasted? Both techniques utilize dry heat for cooking (as opposed to braising, a wet cooking method). Most often, experts define roasting as only for whole bird, like a holiday turkey or a whole chicken. And then baking poultry refers to cooking individual pieces in the oven.
In truth, the difference in what any recipe will call roasting chicken versus baking chicken is a personal choice made by the person who created the recipe.
How Long to Bake Chicken at 350 degrees F
Baking a whole chicken is like roasting a turkey. At 350 degrees you should count on 20-25 minutes per pound for a 3 to 8 pound chicken. As with all meats, check the temperature 15-20 minutes before the time it should be done. You never know how accurate your oven is, and you don’t want to overcook and dry out the chicken.
What is the Safe Temperature to Cook Chicken to?
FAQ
Is whole chicken done at 165 or 180?
What temperature should a whole roasted chicken be?
What temperature should roast chicken be cooked to?
Always check the doneness of roast chicken by inserting a meat thermometer into the thickest part of the thigh. It should read 170°F. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, all poultry is safe to eat at 165°F, but our Test Kitchen found thigh meat was a better texture when cooked to 170°F.
How long should a roasted chicken be cooked at 165?
Because the temperature of a roasted chicken continues to rise for several minutes after taking it out of the oven, if you pull it out when the breast is 162 F and let it rest for 30 minutes, that breast meat will remain above 165 F for more than the required 8.4 minutes, making it tender, juicy, and perfectly safe.
What is the correct internal temperature for cooked chicken?
The USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) recommends cooking whole chicken and parts of chicken (like the breasts, legs, thighs, wings and giblets), ground poultry, and stuffing to 165 degrees F.
What temperature should a roast chicken thigh be cooked to?
You may want to continue cooking the thigh to as high as 195°, depending on personal preference. With a roast chicken, you’ll want to check two temperatures: the thighs and the breasts. Use the locations specified above and continue cooking until both locations reach the appropriate temperature.