sarynprime.com
  • sarynprime.com
  • Beauty
  • Food
  • Health
  • Money
  • Tech
  • Contact
  • English
    • Polski
    • Deutsch
    • Français
    • Português
    • Español
    • Русский

AirPods 3rd Gen review – a new design and better sound

29.01.2023

Best flared jeans for women: where to shop and how to wear the 2022 trend

28.01.2023

Audio Technica ATH-CKS50TW wireless earphones review – the bass to beat

27.01.2023
sarynprime.com
  • sarynprime.com
  • Beauty

    Is there any such thing as a pain free wax?

    19.01.2023

    14 clever uses for shampoo and conditioner

    16.01.2023

    Have we really been applying our DEODORANT all wrong?

    15.01.2023

    How to get perfect eyebrows at home

    07.01.2023

    How to wash your face properly, according to the experts

    20.12.2022
  • Food

    How to cook broad beans

    22.01.2023

    How to cook jackfruit

    22.01.2023

    How to sterilise jars and bottles

    18.01.2023

    How to cook turkey crown

    16.01.2023

    How to make sausage rolls

    31.12.2022
  • Health

    The best time to eat breakfast, lunch and dinner if you want to lose weight

    25.01.2023

    Should you eat before or after a workout? What the experts say

    24.01.2023

    How to lose weight in your face, according to the experts

    21.01.2023

    30-day squat challenge: How to do the perfect squat

    20.01.2023

    Piled on the pounds? Get back on track and drop a dress size in seven days

    15.01.2023
  • Money

    The 7 most expensive household items to leave on standby

    27.01.2023

    Cheap takeaways: 9 ways to save money on takeaway food

    26.01.2023

    How to create your own business

    26.01.2023

    Cheap train tickets: tips and tricks for getting the best price

    26.01.2023

    12 ways to save money on Netflix, Amazon Prime and Disney Plus TV streaming services

    23.01.2023
  • Tech

    AirPods 3rd Gen review – a new design and better sound

    29.01.2023

    Audio Technica ATH-CKS50TW wireless earphones review – the bass to beat

    27.01.2023

    Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 Ultra review – the biggest tablet with giant potential

    25.01.2023

    Paperlike screen protector for iPad makes it feel like you’re writing or drawing on paper

    24.01.2023

    Advantages of mobile development with RonasIT

    23.01.2023
  • Contact
  • English
    • Polski
    • Deutsch
    • Français
    • Português
    • Español
    • Русский
sarynprime.com
Home » How to check if a chicken is cooked
Food

How to check if a chicken is cooked

Tobias ToddBy Tobias Todd23.12.20226 Mins Read
Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn WhatsApp Reddit Tumblr Email
Share
Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Email

Learn how to check if a chicken is cooked with our easy guide. Following these steps will allow you to serve it with confidence.

Learning how to check if a chicken is cooked is an essential cookery skill and it’s very easy once you know what to look for.

Roast chicken is one of the most popular meats in the UK for a traditional Sunday roast. In a 2018 YouGov survey of 1640 adults, 27 percent of the survey picked chicken as the preferred meat with beef just beating it to the top spot with 33 percent.

According to the British Poultry Council, on average, people in the UK eat around 35kg of poultry meat per year.

Eating raw or undercooked chicken can lead to illness with unpleasant symptoms including vomiting, fever, and diarrhoea, which is why many people worry when cooking it.

However, once you know how to check if a chicken is cooked you’ll never have to worry. For complete peace of mind when cooking chicken, we recommend investing in a meat thermometer. Read our guide on how to use a meat thermometer for tips and recommendations on which thermometers to buy.

There are some visual signs you can look for too, which we will cover in this feature.

fnH4bPsz5Xd8ngfVwur44A-1280-80

How to tell if a chicken is bad

We always recommend buying the best chicken you can afford with the highest welfare standards possible.

Buying chicken that has been reared ethically and slowly will have more flavour and a better texture than mass-produced meat.

Organic meat is always free-range. In the case of chickens, according to the Soil Association, this means that flock sizes are smaller on organic farms with 2,000 as the maximum or 3,000 under EU organic standards. In the UK there is no maximum flock size for a free-range chicken

Having a smaller flock of hens means that it’s easier to look after the hens at an individual level and they can make better use of the outdoor space and roam more freely.

If you can’t afford organic chicken, look for chicken with Red Tractor certification. This means the farms adhere to strict animal welfare, safety, hygiene, and traceability rules.

You should always use chicken by the Use By date listed on the packaging. You can freeze raw chicken purchased on the Use By date, defrost thoroughly before cooking and use within two months.

When you open a packet of raw chicken there should be no foul, strong smells. If it smells bad, chances are your chicken is bad and should not be consumed.

How to check if a whole chicken is cooked without a thermometer

Ingredients:

  • 1 whole roast chicken

How to check if a whole chicken is cooked: Step 1

2dXsSTRW7STLQ3RfFAQKdh-1280-80

When the timer goes off on your oven to indicate that your chicken is cooked, remove it from the oven.

How to check if a whole chicken is cooked: Step 2

ms6qsmvXfpMrm2W3cJ72HA-1280-80

Using a sharp knife, pull the leg away from the body. Pierce the skin and meat to release juices.

How to check if a whole chicken is cooked: Step 3

N55iQHHbKvqshZK3Q8YNr3-1280-80

The meat should not be red or pink and the juices should run clear when gently pressed. If the meat is pink or the juices do not run clear, return the chicken to the oven and cook for five-minute intervals until the meat is cooked.

For full peace of mind, and to avoid having to dissect the whole chicken before serving, you can use a meat thermometer to probe the thickest part of the chicken.

What temperature should a chicken be when cooked?

mbLRrRx98E4Xb2r99FkJ8W-1280-80

When you probe the thickest part of the chicken the thermometer should have a reading of 75C. If the reading is below this, continue cooking for a little longer and then check it again. Make sure you clean the probe between readings.

If the chicken is only a couple of degrees under, you can remove it from the oven to rest as it will continue to cook while it sits.

How to check if a chicken breast is cooked

ug46caZ67jhsBJNt6yExrT-1280-80

If you’re worried the breasts on your whole chicken are not cooked, the only way to check without using a thermometer is to cut them and see. The juices should run clear and the meat should not be pink.

For inspiration on how to cook chicken breasts, read our expert guide. It’s got lots of chicken breast recipes and expert tips on cooking them to perfection.

How to check if a chicken thigh is cooked

fWkndGrkDev722mkX2sh6X-1280-80

Chicken that still has the bone attached will take longer to cook but it’s often more succulent and is far cheaper than the breast.

To check if a chicken thigh is cooked we recommend piercing the thickest part of the meat and checking to see the juices run clear with no hints of pink or red. Using a meat thermometer will prevent you from having to cut the meat open.

When using the thermometer, make sure the probe doesn’t touch the bone as this will distort the reading.

If you’re not sure how to cook chicken thighs, read our pick of the best chicken thigh recipes.

How to check if chicken drumsticks are done

TXDhc7Liyr9xhztTfREEXH-1280-80

The chicken drumstick is the lower part of a chicken leg. They have less meat than the thigh and will therefore cook a little quicker. The shape of the chicken drumstick also makes them perfect for parties and picnics as they are easy to hold.

Chicken drumsticks are an affordable cut of meat but are often only available with the skin on, unlike thighs that can easily be purchased with the skin removed.

You can use the same technique as breasts and thighs to check if the chicken drumstick is cooked. Once again if you’re using a thermometer you should be careful not to put the probe on the bone.

We’ve got plenty of chicken drumstick recipes for you to explore including a simple take on a roast dinner and chicken drumsticks with a spicy marinade.

How to store cooked chicken

Cooking a whole chicken is a very affordable way to make several meals from one meat purchase. We’ve got plenty of leftover chicken recipes for you to explore but some key favourites include shredding the meat for sandwiches or stirring it into a soup.

You should cool the leftover chicken meat as quickly as possible after cooking if you don’t intend to eat it straight away. Ideally, it should be cooled within an hour and then stored in an airtight container in the fridge.

Consume the leftover chicken within two days and if re-heating it’s vital the meat is piping hot before eating. You should never reheat the chicken more than once.

If you’d like to freeze the cooked chicken, ensure it is completely cooled before packaging and freezing. Defrost thoroughly before cooking and use within two months.

Share. Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn WhatsApp Reddit Tumblr Email
Tobias Todd
  • Website

Related Posts

22.01.2023

How to cook broad beans

22.01.2023

How to cook jackfruit

18.01.2023

How to sterilise jars and bottles

Food 16.01.2023

How to cook turkey crown

31.12.2022

How to make sausage rolls

Food 31.12.2022

Minecraft cupcakes

Leave A Reply Cancel Reply

Don't Miss
Fashion 20.01.2023

How often should you wash jeans? 11 expert hacks for cleaning denim

Rarely a week goes by when we haven’t slipped on our trusty pair of jeans,…

How to cook rice

25.12.2022

Turning off ‘phantom’ appliances could save you big on your energy bills

09.12.2022

How to make sausage rolls

31.12.2022

Save money with homemade cleaning products

19.12.2022

Paperlike screen protector for iPad makes it feel like you’re writing or drawing on paper

24.01.2023

Weight gain: How long does it take to put on weight?

04.01.2023

Sonos Ray review – a tiny and affordable soundbar that produces a big sound

14.12.2022

Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.