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Original poster

Cooking whole chicken - urgent advice needed!!!

24 replies

Feelingcrappy2 · 03/12/2023 13:56

I got an extra large chicken from Lidl and popped it in the oven on 170 (fan oven) about 1.5 hours ago.

It says on the packet that the chicken takes 140 minutes to cook, which seems awfully long to me… and it looks cooked? I can’t imagine leaving it in for another whole hour…. Does 140 minutes sound right?

OP posts:
LauderSyme · 03/12/2023 13:59

Have you stuck a skewer into the middle to see if the juice that oozes out runs clear? If yes it's cooked, if not, ie pinky colour, it isn't.

BronwenFrideswide · 03/12/2023 14:01

What weight is the chicken? Usual rule is 20 minutes per pound in weight plus 20 minutes over.

Fan ovens do cook quicker.

Are the juices running clear when you prod it?

Original poster
Feelingcrappy2 · 03/12/2023 14:01

@LauderSyme I poked a knife into it and no juices came out. But if it is cooked through in 1.5 hrs, I wonder why they have predicted 2.5?! Thats a big difference!

OP posts:

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General food
NigelHarmansNewWife · 03/12/2023 14:02

Stick a skewer or thin bladed knife in the thickest part of the thigh and see if the juices run clear. If not, put it back in for another 15 minutes and check again.

Azandme · 03/12/2023 14:03

Isn't it 1:40 mins - as in 1 hr 40 mins?

That's how it was on my Asda one last weekend.

NigelHarmansNewWife · 03/12/2023 14:03

Feelingcrappy2 · 03/12/2023 14:01

@LauderSyme I poked a knife into it and no juices came out. But if it is cooked through in 1.5 hrs, I wonder why they have predicted 2.5?! Thats a big difference!

140mins isn't 2.5 hours. These things are always over estimated ime probably for health and safety reasons.

Iudncuewbccgrcb · 03/12/2023 14:03

Are you sure it's 140 minutes and not 1hr 40 minutes?

My general rule of thumb for a large chicken is about an hour and a half. If you think it looks cooked it probably is.

Original poster
Feelingcrappy2 · 03/12/2023 14:04

@Azandme that’s what I thought. However it definitely says 140 minutes, but that sounds excessively long. Just paranoid i’m taking it out an hour early and everyone will get sick!

OP posts:
BoohooWoohoo · 03/12/2023 14:06

Supermarkets always overestimate cooking time

Are you sure that there’s no decimal point and it’s not 1 hour 40 mins which sounds more reasonable ?

Original poster
Feelingcrappy2 · 03/12/2023 14:06

The chicken weighs just under 2.4kg, if that helps…

OP posts:
forumuser · 03/12/2023 14:06

I'd guess an extra large chicken is about 5lbs weight so 20 minutes per lb plus an extra 20 is minimum 2 hours. I'd cook a medium chicken for at least 1hr 45 minutes so 2 hours 20 minutes sounds about right to me. If you think it's browning too much you can put tinfoil over it to stop the skin burning.

Original poster
Feelingcrappy2 · 03/12/2023 14:08

@forumuser thank you. I think I will leave it in to save the paranoia and like you say, cover it with foil.

OP posts:
SummerSazz · 03/12/2023 14:08

30 mins per 500g so 2hr 20 sounds fine. Mine do tend to cook a bit quicker so I use a meat thermometer which takes any guesswork out!

Grumio · 03/12/2023 14:08

BronwenFrideswide · 03/12/2023 14:01

What weight is the chicken? Usual rule is 20 minutes per pound in weight plus 20 minutes over.

Fan ovens do cook quicker.

Are the juices running clear when you prod it?

Sorry, edited because I misread your post. Your chicken is 5.2 lbs so using the 20 mins per pound thing then I'd say about 1 hour 45.

TerfTalking · 03/12/2023 14:09

I often cook a whole chicken for 120 minutes but I’m very very low like 130 or 140 degrees as it tends to be really juicy and fall
off the bone so I would imagine doing it on 170 for 140 minutes will make it as dry as a desert.

tale it out now
and rest it

LickleLamb · 03/12/2023 14:09

If you stick a knife into the thigh at the thick lower bit (ie bit of thigh not at the top) and place a clean spoon at the hole to catch juices then pour juices onto white plate to see if they are pink or clear (cooked)-that should tell you -stick knife in a
horizontally or pointing up slightly. If there no juices it’s prob cooked.

Moltenpink · 03/12/2023 14:10

Pull gently on a leg, it should come away easily if it’s done

KnickerlessParsons · 03/12/2023 14:10

Waggle the legs. If they waggle easily, it's done. If the legs won't waggle, it's not done.
Foolproof - no need to faff about with thermometers.

Highlyflavouredgravy · 03/12/2023 14:11

Wiggle the legs. If they feel loose itvis cooked

Highlyflavouredgravy · 03/12/2023 14:12

Ha!!!! We all posted the same thing at the same time!!!

sixteenfurryfeet · 03/12/2023 14:13

Did you stuff it? If so, it will need an extra 15 mins at least. Give the legs a wiggle. If they are stiff it needs longer, if there is some relaxed give in the joint where it joins the body, it's done. You can also push a skewer right into the deepest part of the breast. If it feels a bit 'squeaky' then it's not done yet. I can't quite think of another way to describe it.

LauderSyme · 03/12/2023 14:14

Poke it again and push down hard on the flesh as you do; some juice really should come out. It is the most reliable way to tell if it's cooked.

You are right to be cautious. I've had food poisoning caused by chicken served at a dinner party (all the guests got ill) and it is not fun!

Just to be safe, cover it in foil and pop it back in the oven for a bit.

KnickerlessParsons · 03/12/2023 14:14

Highlyflavouredgravy · 03/12/2023 14:12

Ha!!!! We all posted the same thing at the same time!!!

😁 it must be true then!

ShellfishCellar · 03/12/2023 15:05

Grumio · 03/12/2023 14:08

Sorry, edited because I misread your post. Your chicken is 5.2 lbs so using the 20 mins per pound thing then I'd say about 1 hour 45.

Edited
Show quote history

2.4kg is almost 5.3 pounds.
5.3 * 20= 106 minutes plus 20 extra is 126 minutes in total

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