Does this chicken look cooked?

[octobersky19]

Hi,

Ate out at a popular restaurant today, my sister ordered chicken wrapped in bacon. She said it wasn't cooked, it did look very pink. Waitress agreed and apologised. She asked could it be cooked a bit longer, it returned just as pink and covered in bbq sauce.

Chef was seen shouting at staff and waving his arms and shaking his head in dismissal.

He told the waitress the bacon had discoloured it.

Now I'm not a chef and it wasn't my meal, but my sister was really upset and I know you can't be risky with chicken.

Does this look cooked to you?

I'm a bit funny with chicken but it does look cooked and the bacon has discoloured it. If you could shed it then I'd say it was cooked. I assume she didn't eat it though.

Yes it is cooked, and the chef was right - bacon does give the chicken a pink look.

You can tell by the texture and how it comes away from the bone (if it was on the bone). Did it ‘feel’ cooked?

@DeliciousBass she wasn't sure and decided against it just in case. It didn't have the fleshy/jelly texture but it was very pink

@CrypticQueen didn't look fleshy to me, but she was really put off

It looks cooked to me, although it’s not easy to tell from a photo. Bacon does make chicken pink. It doesn’t look like uncooked pink, if that makes sense!

Yes it's cooked. Raw chicken has an entirely different texture.

Random google image of raw chicken.....

If anything that chicken is overcooked. The bit in the bottom middle where it looks like it's been cut is far too dry.

Pink chicken can be perfectly safe to eat - as long as its reached the correct temperature.

Given this, and the impact the bacon will have had on colour, I'd eat it without question.

I think the colour really put her off, I don't think she was expecting that amount of pink.. I didn't see fully inside though for the texture.

I'm useless with chicken, very rarely eat and it barely ever cook it

It's a shame but I can understand why. It's personally why I never order chicken out. I've been put off in the past and now stick to either meat or veggie. Not great for your sister though.

@m0use DH just said this to me, he said as long as the temperature is hot enough

Yes that looks cooked. I've been given undercooked chicken to eat before and trust me you can tell by more than the colour.

How does bacon discolour chicken? I’ve never heard this before

The colour is something to do with the nitrates in bacon apparently www.chicken.org.au/remember-chicken-food-safety/#:~:text=That's%20why%20it%20can%20happen,contain%20reasonable%20levels%20of%20nitrites.

Well the link doesnt work, but easy to find on google

Yes I have had Tesco Kievs with ham & Waitrose Chicken & bacon something and they do go pink from the bacon.

Cooking advice from Tesco product -

"The bacon in this product may cause the chicken to appear pink after cooking. This is a natural occurrence and completely harmless"

I've had chicken which has a slight pink tinge despite hours of cooking... sometimes it just happens

Yes

@m0use interesting thanks, never heard of this before

I think it looks ok

Yes it’s cooked. Bacon does make the chicken turn a bit pink. I often buy chicken pre-wrapped in bacon and have cooked it to death thinking it wasn’t done before now but the pink tinge isn’t because it’s raw.

Thanks everyone, not a big chicken eater so really wasn't sure!!

Chef is correct in my book. A bloody chicken is a bit different somehow. The blood pools in the joints and where you prick and press. The chicken in the photo is impregnated with pink i.e. it is distributed across the meat fairly evenly.