Whole chickens - worth paying extra?

alex21

I buy the M&S rotisserie style which you cook in the bag. We only get it if it is on offer or in a meal deal but it is fantastic and so moist and makes awesome gravy. Otherwise I always cook whole chickens in an enamel roaster with a lid so they are always moist and yummy. I cook all roasts this way now and much prefer the results.

peanutbuttercups

alex21 wrote: »

I buy the M&S rotisserie style which you cook in the bag. We only get it if it is on offer or in a meal deal but it is fantastic and so moist and makes awesome gravy. Otherwise I always cook whole chickens in an enamel roaster with a lid so they are always moist and yummy. I cook all roasts this way now and much prefer the results.

Just out of interest as I'm always looking to improve my gravy - how do you make your gravy from those juices? TIA.

Somniac

I think you'll find the cost of chicken has risen dramatically since the horsemeat scandal.

threemuttleys

I only ever roast small chickens (a la HFW)

Undo all the string, and stretch the legs out. Then smear butter (with added fresh herbs/salt and black pepper) all over the outside of the bird, ensuring that you get right into the creases.

Then in the oven on the highest heat for 20 mins, glass of wine in the bottom of the tin, turn heat down to around 180 for approx 40mins (check for clear OBV) Oven off, then leave oven door open (chook still in) for 10 mins.

Works a treat every sunday x

Fire_Fox

Somniac wrote: »

I think you'll find the cost of chicken has risen dramatically since the horsemeat scandal.

Has it? Asda Smartprice whole fresh chicken is £2.50 a kilo, Tesco Value frozen chicken portions £1.75 a kilo which is about the same as a couple of years ago, corn fed and free range I mentioned earlier in the thread is still much the same.

Possibly some rises at Tesco but it's scalping month across the board for them every January.

JIreland

I absolutely refuse to condone non free range chicken. They are clever inquisitive creatures and I want no part in their barn reared upbringing from hell. Unfortunately free range don't come in cheap, so it's yellow sticker chicken for us all the way.
Top tip; cook the chicken breast side DOWN when you roast; that way it doesn't dry out