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Original poster

Right, have bought a chicken for the first time ever.... could someone please tell me how to cook it? (among other things!)

92 replies

TambaTheDragonSlayer · 30/09/2006 18:36

Its a meduim size on and it says it has no giblets inside. Never bought one bofore 0 cant stand the thought of touching raw meat but anyhow...

Have bought a lemon and some garlic to go in it. Do I put them in before cooking? Do I have to peel the lemon?

Do I put oil on it or anything?

Also how do I do roast potaotes? Boil first and then put in oven or just stick them straight in? Do I have to put oil on them?

(Have never bought oil either!)

Have also for the first time bought Sweet Potato which im going to put in the oven? Do I cook it first? Same as normal potatoes?

Going to roast an onion!!!

How long will they take to roast? How long should the chicken be in before I put every thing else in the oven? How can I tell when the chicken is cooked?

Bought veggies to cook too!! (Im assuming you just stick them in a pan for 15 mins?)

How bad does it sound that ive never cooked veggies???

Am working on it though....

OP posts:
SSSandy · 30/09/2006 19:51

You can buy a collapsable steamer which fits into different sized pots. THey're cheap and I use mine all the time. You can also get ones you stack on top of each other.

How it works is you put some water in the pot, the steamer on top (in my case it's like a metal sieve on legs), put the vegetables in the steamer and they get cooked via the steam and not boiled in the water. That way I think they have more taste.

Feelion · 30/09/2006 19:57

I dont turn mu chicken half way through either. I just leave it cooking and assume it cooks all way through.

Feelion · 30/09/2006 19:57

my chicken not mu

SSSandy · 30/09/2006 19:57

at not rinsing your chickens!!!!!!!!!!

EEEEEEEEEEEUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW

sallystrawberry · 30/09/2006 20:00

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

SSSandy · 30/09/2006 20:02

what about getting some of those little throw away gloves like the ones that nurses use?

Original poster
TambaTheDragonSlayer · 30/09/2006 20:02

I am dreading actually touching the chicken.

And they had better bloody well eat it!! H and the children are coming round and I want him to see that I am able to cook!!!!!

(seeing as hes got me cook books for rather alot of birthdays I think I have something to prove!)

OP posts:
sallystrawberry · 30/09/2006 20:04

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

SSSandy · 30/09/2006 20:04

they'll love it. Everyone loves roast chicken, don't they?

Are you making a rice pudding or apple crumble or anything to go with it? Mum always used to shove one on the bottom shelf. Mind you that way you might put all that weight back on again!

Original poster
TambaTheDragonSlayer · 30/09/2006 20:05

Have lost 5 stone in about 2 years sssandy so theres no way im going to risk putting it back on

Havent thought about puddings - I dont normally do them cause the kids would expect one every time then iyswim

OP posts:
trinityrhino · 30/09/2006 20:07

I don't tpuch raw meat either sally
We just had fajitas ans I cut the chicken breasts up hoding them with tongs and using a pair of scissors, which aren't allowed to be used for anything else

I think I have slight ocd tendencies too all about food though

sallystrawberry · 30/09/2006 20:11

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Carmenere · 30/09/2006 20:12

Tamba, I don't know you too well but I have to say I am massively impressed that you are rising to this challenge and about how much you have changed your diet recently.
They will love the dinner tommorow, just relax and enjoy cooking it, and scream for help on mumsnet if you get stuck Good luck

WideWebWitch · 30/09/2006 20:16

Don't wash it! Apparently it's a major cause of salmonella contamination and it spreads it all around your sink. Wash your hands thoroughly after touching it, with hot water (prob posting this after the event!). Well done, let us know how it went. Roasting a chicken and doign stuff to go with it is all in the timing.

brimfull · 30/09/2006 20:22

I have a friend who's an environmental health officer and she cringes when she hears fo anyone washing a chicken.It isn't necessary and the splashes of water from raw chicken contain bacteria ,spread all over kitchen . It is killed when the chicken is cooked.

DON'T WASH CHICKEN

brimfull · 30/09/2006 20:22

sanp www just read your post

tortoiseshell · 30/09/2006 20:23

Have never ever washed a chicken!

southeastastra · 30/09/2006 20:26

just bung in it with some pepper that's all, i've washed them and not washed them and have never had salmonella!

Mhamai · 30/09/2006 20:56

Well done Tamba

Expat psml at your "anoint the chicken" I was "annointed" with the oil of the hly spirit at confirmation but never heard of annointing a chicken! You learn something new every day.

expatinscotland · 30/09/2006 20:58

Every chicken in sacred, Mhamai!

Mhamai · 30/09/2006 21:03
Wink
Aimsmum · 30/09/2006 21:07

Message withdrawn

SSSandy · 30/09/2006 21:15

Wonder why so many people hate touching raw meat. (wouldn't say I ENJOY it but I can do it without a second thought)

SSSandy · 30/09/2006 21:16

Would never want to pluck a chicken or skin a rabbit though

ever

admylin · 01/10/2006 09:51

Good luck with the meal today, we're having roast chicken and roast veg today too!
By the way SSSandy where on earth do you get parsnips in Berlin? I really miss roast parsnip!