How To Roast a Perfect Chicken

  • May 19, 2008
  • 21,962 Views
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Everybody loves roast chicken. It’s probably the number one comfort food out there. And you can take comfort in knowing it’s incredibly easy to make.

You Will Need

  • A 3- to 4-lb. chicken
  • 4 carrots, peeled and cut into large pieces
  • 2 white onions, peeled and cut into quarters
  • 1 head garlic, cloves peeled
  • 1/4 lb. butter, softened
  • Salt and pepper
  • 1/4 c. olive oil
  • 1/2 lemon, cut in quarters
  • 8 sprigs of thyme
  • A large roasting pan
  • A cutting board
  • A paring knife
  • 3-ft. piece of butcher’s twine
How To Roast a Perfect Chicken: Heat your oven

Step 1: Heat your oven

Heat your oven to 450º.

How To Roast a Perfect Chicken: Rinse the chicken

Step 2: Rinse the chicken

Rinse the chicken. Make sure to remove the bag containing the neck & intestines.

How To Roast a Perfect Chicken: Make a bed of vegetables

Step 3: Make a bed of vegetables

Make a bed of vegetables. Dump the carrots, onions, celery, and garlic onto the bottom of the pan.

Don’t dump the vegetables when you’re done—use them to make a nice sauce.

How To Roast a Perfect Chicken: Stuff the chicken with seasoning

Step 4: Stuff the chicken with seasoning

Stuff the chicken with seasoning. Insert the garlic, thyme, and lemon into the chicken.

How To Roast a Perfect Chicken: Season beneath the skin

Step 5: Season beneath the skin

Season beneath the skin. Separate the skin and insert butter and thyme.

How To Roast a Perfect Chicken: Truss the chicken

Step 6: Truss the chicken

Truss the chicken.

Trussing a chicken not only makes it tidier—it cooks more evenly, too.

How To Roast a Perfect Chicken: Season the chicken

Step 7: Season the chicken

Season the chicken in the pan. Drizzle olive oil onto the chicken and then sprinkle salt & pepper.

How To Roast a Perfect Chicken: Put the chicken in the oven

Step 8: Put the chicken in the oven

Put the chicken in the oven. The oven should be set at 450º. If it appears the chicken is getting too much color, you should lower the temperature a bit.

How To Roast a Perfect Chicken: Remove the chicken

Step 9: Remove the chicken

Remove the chicken after 45 minutes (for a 3 pound chicken). It may take more or less time, depending on the size of the chicken.

How To Roast a Perfect Chicken: Check the chicken

Step 10: Check the chicken

Check the chicken. Gently move one of the chicken’s legs. It should feel loose and easy to pull off. You can also use a knife to cut into the leg. Clear juices should drain out of the meat.

A chicken once had its head cut off and survived, headless, for over 18 months.

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Comments (5)

tigerick

I just want to know the source of the foul fact. Please comment next with more info. I'm guessing who ever let a headless chicken run amuck did'nt see this video! -YUM!!

over 3 years ago by tigerick

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simplyintricate

It's Mike the Headless Chicken.

over 3 years ago by simplyintricate

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simplyintricate

So I decided to roast the chicken following this video exactly. First time cook! He used celery, which wasn't in the ingredient list. (So I didn't add it). I don't know where the juices came from except from inside the chicken. I cooked it for 50 minutes, looked right but it wasn't done. Did I have to flip the chicken? Here's what I came up with: http://img128.imageshack.us/img128/7964/roastedchickenck8.jpg

over 3 years ago by simplyintricate

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GiaMarie

Simplyintricate, i've had the same problem. I have a recipe for baked chicken that called for cooking it for an hour and a half and I have to cook it for over 2 to get it done.

over 3 years ago by GiaMarie

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vkazemi

Did you know that once a roasted chicken turned out to be alive after 45 minutes of cooking?

over 2 years ago by vkazemi

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