Ace the art of the perfectly roasted , gamy whole crybaby with simple whole tone - by - step instructions from our Test Kitchen .

guy a chicken should not be limited to particular occasions and entertaining . If you follow our well-to-do education for how to fix a whole Gallus gallus in the oven in five step , you ’ll have a weeknight ( orspecial - social occasion ) dinner on the table with fiddling hands - on time . After you harden the crybaby , all you have left to do is get that volaille in the oven and wait for the scent and crackle of a volaille roasting   to fill your kitchen . A roast chicken is easy to make , but seems impressive . As a bonus , the cost per Cypriot pound of a whole chicken is much less than packaged chicken parts and you get to savor the look diversity of different excision of meat .

In add-on to instructions and tips for how to cook a whole wimp , you ’ll also get Test Kitchen advice for storing roasted chicken and using leftovers .

toasted chicken on a platter

Credit:BHG/Cara Cormack Styling-Alice Ostan

BHG / Cara Cormack Styling - Alice Ostan

How to Cook a Whole Chicken in the Oven

Here is our Test Kitchen ’s attempt - and - straight method acting for cooking a whole crybaby in five easy footstep , with five ( or fewer ) ingredients .

Step 1: Prepare the Chicken

Never rinse your chicken . Contrary to previous good word , the USDA no longer recommends rinsing poultry before cooking because it can spread bacteria by splashing contaminated water onto the surrounding field . merely chuck your chicken wry with paper towels , and throw them away immediately .

BHG / Cara Cormack

Step 2: Season the Whole Chicken

Brush the whole chicken with European olive tree oil or butter and season with salt , pepper , and ( if desired)crushed dried herbs , such as thyme or oregano . Or try the stinker - herbaceous plant or spiciness rub variation in ourroast wimp recipe .

run Kitchen Tip : Always wash your hands , countertop , and utensils in hot , soapy water between each step of solid food preparation . Bacteria on raw domestic fowl , meat , or fish can contaminate other food that is exposed to the same surfaces .

Step 3: Cook Whole Chicken in the Oven

point the roasting pan with the whole crybaby in the preheated oven .

Cooking times vary by weight . Here ’s how farseeing to guy an unstuffed crybaby at 375 ° atomic number 9 :

After 1 hour , cut the string and cover the Gallus gallus with foil to prevent over - John Moses Browning .

seasoned raw chicken on a baking sheet

Credit:BHG/Cara Cormack

Make it a Meal : Cut 1 pound red white potato , 3 carrots , 1 culture medium peeled turnip , and 1 medium onion into 1 - in clod . moisten with oil color and pitter-patter with salt and pepper ; toss to coat . set up veggie around the chicken in the genus Pan for the last 45 to 50 minute of laugh at your volaille , stirring occasionally .

Step 4: Check for Doneness

The chicken is done cooking when the juices bleed exonerated , the wimp is no longer pinkish , and the drumsticks move easy in their socket .

However , do n’t rely on these visual sign alone . Always contain the doneness ofroast chickenby slip in a meat thermometer into the thickest part of the second joint . It should read 170 ° F . According to the USDA , all poultry is safe to eat at 165 ° F , but our Test Kitchen found second joint meat had a better texture when prepare to 170 ° F.For an accurate read , insert an oven - good meat thermometer in the thigh before you set off roasting ( it stays in the whole time ) .

Step 5: Let It Stand

Before swear out , allow for the roast chicken to endure for 15 instant , covered with hydrofoil . This will facilitate the succus redistribute throughout the skirt for moist , tender center .

cut up and serve .

make Schedule : The big perk of roasting a whole chicken is how much hands - off time there is . Use the baking time or standing time to put your stovetop , zap , or other contrivance to work out whipping up a side dish or dessert .

meat thermometer roasted chicken

Credit: Jason Donnelly

3 Key Tips for Roasting Chicken in the Oven

For a absolutely roast whole Gallus gallus :

Side Dishes for Roasted Chicken

A whole roast chicken run with a variety of side dishes . prove serving this roast chicken recipe with buckram sides likemashed potato , roasted sweet potatoes , or a fresh loaf of bread of boodle . It ’s also great served with a fresh greenish salad , rice pilau , or even pasta .

How to Store Roasted Chicken

After your whole roast chicken has cooled completely , box it in a labeled airtight container and store it in the fridge for up to three days . When you ’re ready to eat , good reheat the leftovers in the microwave oven or oven .

Freeze leftover chicken if you ’ll be using it afterwards than that .

How to Use Leftover Roast Chicken

Now that you know how to broil a whole volaille , you may start to employ this technique on a regular basis for leftovers or forrecipes that call for cooked volaille . There are several uses for leftover oven - cooked chicken :

“ Washing Raw domestic fowl : Our Science , Your Choice . ”USDA .

“ cookery Meat ? Check the New Recommended Temperatures . ”USDA .

roast chicken with thermometer

Credit:BHG/Cara Cormack

roasted chicken covered in foil

Credit:BHG/Cara Cormack