How Long Should I Bake a 5-Lb. Whole Chicken?
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Determine by Weight
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Robin Bellinger of the Serious Eats Website says that cooking time is determined by pound. Each pound requires about 40 minutes to cook at a temperature of 375 F. For a stuffed bird, add 20 minutes per pound. A 5-pound chicken, without stuffing, takes about 2 hours.
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Use a Thermometer
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The USDA, however, argues that to cook chicken safely, it is better to take a reading of the fowl with a meat thermometer. Insert an oven-safe or quick read thermometer into the inner thigh area, a full 2 inches deep. When the thermometer reads 165 F, the bird is cooked.
Bottom Line
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While both these methods are useful on their own, combine them for a reliably tender chicken. Bake the 5-pound chicken for 2 hours, taking a reading with the thermometer near the end. Always remember that when removed and resting, the chicken continues to cook.
References
Resources
- Photo Credit roast chicken image by Vladislav Gajic from Fotolia.com
