Roast chicken help

[Strawbewwy]

I need to pop out this afternoon for about 45 mins but this is over the time I would have the chicken in the oven for dinner. Preschoolers in the house so don't want dinner just to be later... is it possible to start cooking the chicken earlier and then finish it off later on. Haven't tried this before and not sure how I would keep the chicken for the in between bit without risking food poisoning. Has anyone done this before?

If it's only 45 it will be fine out, but you can't just turn off the oven as it will carry on cooking. Does your oven have a timer?

I personally would lean it cooking in the oven while I went out. Not advised I know. Do you have a slow cooker? You could put the chicken in there to cook and that’s fine to be left on while you go out.

I would cook the whole thing earlier then use the meat later either cold or in risotto or something.

just cook it all the way before you go out. Wrap it in foil and a towel and it will sit happily for an hour or too. I do this at Christmas ( Nigella recipe) for 2 hours while everything else cooks. When you remove the foil etc it will still be steaming.

Or pop it in oven ( about an hour and a half for a standard chicken) while you go out. PS toddlers can’t tell the time.

You can’t safely part cook chicken. You would need to fully cook it earlier then reheat it.

Yes, either this or leave it cooking while you’re out, using oven timer if needed. Our oven timer is a PITA to use but after googling I can always figure it out.
I wouldn’t part cook chicken then leave it in a part cooked state - feels like a health risk.

If you want it to cook faster and be more easily fitted in to a tight schedule you could spatchcock it - makes the whole thing a lot quicker.

I would cook it earlier then take it out and wrap it in foil before you go out.

Cook the whole thing now. It'll keep.

cook it,
take it out
cover in foil and tea towels

Just cook it before you leave - you can always heat it up again.

If you have an air fryer it'll cook in 30 mins

I would just leave it cooking while I was out. It's what generations of people did/do with the turkey when they went/go to church on Christmas morning....

Thanks for all the suggestions. Was tempted to leave it cooking but going out in the car and thought best not to just in case we get stuck out.

Anyway I decided to just cook for lunch time and do a cold tea but think I'd have gone for the cooking it beforehand and wrapping it really well otherwise. Hope everyone has a lovely Sunday!

Second this. Will stay warm for ages!

More than warm( food hazard) it will be piping hot. I was amazed the first time I did this with the Christmas turkey- 2.5 hrs cooking for a large turkey- thanks Nigella.