how do I get a juicy chicken?

reallylost

Hi
I know this is probably a stupid question...but everytime I cook a chicken it ends up dry.
Is there a way to make it all juicy and moist like in the shops?
I dont do anything to it just clean it and shove it in the oven till juices run clear.
please help as I am doing one later and would like it to be nice for our visitors.
Thanks

kittiej

I always used to cook mine upside down so the breast meat cooked in the juices.

I haven't cooked a chicken for about 15 years though since going veggie.

Olliebeak

Could wrap it in tinfoil until there's no blood left in the thickest part and then undo the foil for the final 20 mins or so - that usually works for me. But it does take longer because of the foil!

Another way is to do it in the slow cooker, but that's not much use if you want a typical roast chicken - no crispy skin that way - just loads of 'very moist fall apart meat'.

I normally use the upside-down method for about the first three-quarters of an hour and then turn right way up for the remainder of the time. Not much point though if cooking in tinfoil.

blue-kat

some ideas:
1. cook at lower temp, for longer rather than blasting it.

2. are you over cooking it ? use a probe to check internal temp. Since using one I discovered that I've been cooking meat to well done and beyond for years.

3. cover with foil for first 45 mins of cooking time.

4. cooking in breast down for first 45-60 mins then turn over. Turn over for final cooking, the idea being most of the moisture is in the breast meat.

5. put some water in the bottom of the roasting tray, prop the chicken up on a meat rack or balls of foil or chucnky veg so it's not actually standing in the water. this partiall steams the chicken as it roasts, and makes 'gravy' at the same time.

6. cook it in the slow cooker ( no added water) - this makes a very juicy chicken, then transfer to hot over for quick final blast to crisp up the skin, if you can get it out of the SC without it falling apart.

hope some of this helps

nickym

I p r i c k mine all over after it's half cooked then baste liberally 3 or 4 times.
Another way to keep it juicy is to cover the top in streaky bacon or make a moist stuffing, loosen the skin over the breast & stuff it

withabix

Upside down does it for me! Uncovered, no tin foil.

Makes the chicken self-basting.

Don't overcook it. 30-35 minutes per pound at 190C.

The 'Waiting for the juices to run clear' technique probably leads to overcooking to be honest.

Is your oven getting too hot?

By the way, the Thought Police say you shouldn't rinse a chicken, as that spreads any bacteria around the chicken.

carlos700

I spread butter all over it ,then sprinkle salt over it makes the skin nice and crispy put it in the oven then i baste it and !!!!! it reguarly whilst cooking .

Fi27

What i do is smear butter on the breasts but under the skin. You have to lift the skin from the breast gently to make a kind of pocket and then shove a bit of soft butter under and spread it about. Sorry, i know it doesnt sound pretty! I saw Jamie O do that at christmas so if it's good enought for him!!! I then cover loosley with foil, increase time slightly tho and remove foil for last 30mins or so. Check with a skewer that the juices run clear.

I've only started cooking a whole chicken since christmas, always used chicken pieces before as i thought a whole chicken was difficult, but not any more! Two weeks ago we had roast chicken on sun, chicken shepherds pie on tue, chicken & leek pies on wed and made soup with the stock!! All thanks to the GC 'ers!

HTH

Fi

carlos700

carlos700 wrote: »

I spread butter all over it ,then sprinkle salt over it makes the skin nice and crispy put it in the oven then i baste it and !!!!! it reguarly whilst cooking .

suppose to say !!!!! holes in it

carlos700

carlos700 wrote: »

suppose to say !!!!! holes in it

I think the forum thinks i am being rude so it is not allowing me to type that word sorry about that i hope everyone knows what i mean

nickym

carlos700 wrote: »

I think the forum thinks i am being rude so it is not allowing me to type that word sorry about that i hope everyone knows what i mean

Put spaces between the letters like i did