Quick help! Roast chicken tonight and no lemon.

[TheOddity]

Please come up with a miracle solution ASAP as I need to put the chicken in the oven.

I just got back from shopping, heavily pregnant and sleeping child in pram. It's also raining. I need to get the chicken in and realised I forgot the lemon to shove up its bum.

Is there anything else that fills the cavity and tastes nice/keeps it moist? I have garlic but not sure I have the quantity for that job. A peach?! A potato?

Help!!

thank you!

Fair enough, I deserve derision . It's actually pretty hard to achieve middle class problem of the week, it is much sought after on MN.

And after all the hackergate scandal, still no chicken emoticon! I thought all clouds had a silver lining!

Now for the vipers who add water at the bottom of the tray...is this kind of like adding water to the oven when making bread, to crisp it up? Is there science at play here?

It just gives the gravy a head start, I use white wine or stock instead of water.

Yup, head start on the gravy and I think the steam makes it more tender/ moist (without needing lemons or bums).

I have NEVER considered a lemon a necessity for roasting a chicken. I sometimes do stuff it with lemon, garlic and herbs but not usually only if it's being served with a salad and new potatoes. It adds to the flavour but it makes zero difference to the succulence.

In fact for a classic British roast dinner with gravy I prefer it sans lemon. the flavour of the lemon can be overpowering sometimes.

You should have put a beer can. Best chicken ever.

An onion, nice flavour to juice as well.

By the way, if you open up a big piece of loin of pork and fill it with canned or fresh peaches, herbs and a bit of garlic and roll it and tie it up then roast it, it's the best thing ever.

Alternative to the beer can - if like me you worry about it toppling is just to pour a can of beer in the tray. Makes the best gravy!

i put rashers of bacon over the breast - kids fight over them

Baste from time to time to stop it drying out. I hardly ever put a lemon in the cavity and my roast chicken is still lovely and moist!

Well you were all right of course, it was still juicy and tasty. Don't think it is actually possible to break roast chicken. My vegetables on the other hand were well below my usual standard, but serves me right for mumsnetting while cooking.

Garlic and any fresh herbs are good - but also fine with nothing! Out of interest, I'd love to know how it works out with a peach and/or a potato! ;)