How Long Does It Actually Take to Bake Chicken?

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Chicken has been a staple food throughout the world for thousands
of years. It’s absolutely easy to cook, and can be paired with just about any
ingredients to whip up a tasty and fulfilling meal. What’s more, organic
pasture-raised chickens are rich in high-quality protein, and are also
excellent sources of vitamins and minerals, including:[1]^,[2]

From chicken noodle soup to chicken pudding dessert (also called Tavuk
göğsü, a Turkish delicacy)[3], [ECF1] there are various ways to enjoy this
healthy meat. However, just because it’s easy to cook doesn’t mean that you don’t
have to pay attention to how you’re cooking it.

Keep in mind that you have to cook chicken thoroughly, as
there are foodborne organisms associated with it, which may harm your health if
ingested. Some of these harmful bacteria include:[4]

·
Salmonella
enteritidis: This strain of Salmonella is found in the intestinal tracts of
livestock, and is usually associated with poultry and shell eggs.[5]
According to the World Health Organization, salmonella is one of the main
causes of diarrheal diseases. It may also be life-threatening, especially for
people with a weak immune system.[6]

·
Staphylococcus
aureus: Staphylococcus aureus causes food poisoning. Its symptoms, which
include diarrhea,
nausea, vomiting and dehydration,
may occur one to six hours after ingestion.[7]

·
Campylobacter
jejuni: Campylobacter from raw chicken may cause a life-threatening form of
food poisoning. Since this bacteria can spread to other surfaces, it may be
ingested by using unwashed cutting boards and utensils.[8]

·
Listeria
monocytogenes: This bacteria causes a serious infection known as
Listeriosis. Just like other foodborne diseases, its symptoms also start with fever
and diarrhea. However, it may also affect other parts of the body over time,
including the bones, joints, chest and abdomen.[9]

·
Escherichia
coli (E. coli): E. coli is usually found in the intestines of animals and
humans. Although most of its strains are fairly harmless, some may still cause
diarrhea, urinary tract infections and respiratory illnesses if ingested.[10]

Don’t let these bacteria discourage you from eating chicken,
though. As long as you’re handling and cooking its meat properly, you and your
loved ones should be safe. One important safety tip you should remember is to
designate separate cutting boards for meat and vegetables. Avoid using the
cutting board that you just used to prepare your chicken (or other meats) to
cut vegetables, as this will lead to cross contamination.

While you’re at it, you may also want to consider baking
your chicken. Baking chicken is one of the healthiest cooking options you have.[11]
Plus, it allows you to effortlessly create your own recipe by mixing different
sauces, spices and
marinades.

However, baking chicken can be a bit tricky. If you bake it
for too long, you might end up with dry, tasteless meat. Putting it in the oven
for only a short period of time can also be disastrous, as it may end up
uncooked, posing the threat of bacterial contamination.

How Long Does It Take
to Bake Chicken?

There’s a variety of chicken cuts that you can bake, which
is why it’s sometimes hard to tell which of the cuts need to be in the oven for
a longer time versus a shorter time. The cooking time and temperature for
baking chicken may also vary depending on its weight, the recipe that you’re
cooking and the oven that you’re using.

According to the Food Safety and Inspection Service, chicken
must be cooked to a minimum internal temperature of 165 degrees Fahrenheit. Take
note of this standard since it may help you determine whether a chicken is safe
for consumption or not, especially if you don’t know exactly how long you
should bake it. When checking for the internal temperature, place the food thermometer
in the innermost part of the thighs and wings or in the thickest part of the
breast.

The ideal baking time for a whole chicken that weighs 5 to 7
pounds is approximately two hours and 15 minutes. However, it may take 50
percent longer to cook if it’s baked in a frozen state. You should also allow
at least 10 minutes standing time for bone-in chickens.[12]

A Guide to Baking
Different Chicken Parts

As I’ve mentioned above, the average cooking time for
different chicken parts may vary. If you’re planning to bake different cuts,
then you should know how long each of them takes to cook to ensure that you end
up with a juicy and flavorful meat. Here are the approximate cooking times for specific
chicken parts if baked at a temperature of 350 degrees Fahrenheit:[13]

·
Whole
chicken: A whole chicken that weighs 3 to 4 lbs. takes around 75 to 90
minutes to bake, while a chicken that weighs 5 to 7 lbs. takes 2 to 2 1/4 hours.[AMDN2]

·
Chicken
breast: It takes 20 to 30 minutes to bake a 4-ounce boneless chicken breast.
For bone-in chicken breast that weighs 6 to 8 ounces, the baking time is 30 to
40 minutes.[AMDN3]

·
Chicken
thighs: It will take you 40 to 50 minutes to bake a bone-in chicken thigh
that weighs 4 to 8 ounces. For boneless chicken thighs, the cooking time is
approximately 10 to 15 minutes.[AMDN4] [14]

·
Chicken
tenders: Boneless and skinless chicken tenders take 15 to 20 minutes to
cook if baked at 425 degrees Fahrenheit.[15][AMDN5]

·
Chicken wings:
It can take 30 to 40 minutes to bake chicken wings that weigh 2 to 3 ounces.[AMDN6]

·
Chicken legs:
It takes 40 to 50 minutes to bake a chicken leg that weighs 4 to 8 ounces.
Moreover, a 4-ounce drumstick takes approximately 35 to 45 minutes to cook.[AMDN7]

The cooking times discussed above are applicable for unstuffed
chickens, so you should allow an additional 15 to 30 minutes cooking time for
stuffed ones. If you’re still unsure of whether or not the chicken is baked
after its average cooking time, double-check its internal temperature using
your food thermometer before you take it out of the oven.

Get Baking: Try Out
This Healthy and Savory Chicken Recipe Now!

Now that you know the best baking time for every chicken
part, you should put your knowledge to the test and try out this flavorful,
keto-friendly Jamaican Jerk Chicken recipe from world-renowned chef Pete Evans:

Jamaican Jerk Chicken

Ingredients:

·
2 pounds free-range chicken drumsticks

·
2 bay leaves

·
Lime wedges, to serve

·
1 handful of coriander leaves, to serve

·
Roasted vegetables, to serve

Jerk marinade:

·
1 red onion, chopped

·
3 scallions, chopped

·
6 large garlic cloves, crushed

·
4 habaneros, deseeded and chopped

·
3 tablespoons lime juice

·
3 tablespoons tamari or coconut aminos

·
3 tablespoons coconut
oil, melted

·
1 tablespoon white wine vinegar

·
1 tablespoon honey (optional)

·
1 tablespoon thyme leaves

·
1 tablespoon paprika

·
2 teaspoons ground allspice

·
2 teaspoons freshly ground black pepper

·
1 1/2 teaspoons sea salt

·
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

·
1/4 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg

Procedure:

1.
To make the jerk marinade, combine all the
ingredients in a food processor and process to a smooth paste.

2.
Transfer the marinade to a large shallow bowl,
add the chicken and bay leaves and turn the chicken to coat. Cover and
refrigerate overnight for best results.

3.
Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.

4.
Bring the chicken to room temperature 20 minutes
before cooking.

5.
Heat the oil in a large frying pan over
medium-high heat. Add the chicken drumsticks, in batches and cover, basting
occasionally with the marinade, for five minutes or until browned on all sides.

6.
Place the chicken in a roasting tin and roast in
the oven for 20 to 25 minutes, or until the chicken is cooked all the way
through. Cover with foil and allow it to rest for five minutes before serving.

7.
Arrange the chicken and lime wedges on a platter
and sprinkle over the coriander leaves. Serve with roasted vegetables.

Why Using Organic
Pasture-Raised Chickens Is a Big Deal

As I’ve mentioned above, chickens are a great source of
proteins, vitamins and minerals. However, this is only true for organic pasture-raised chickens — the only type of chicken that I recommend
eating. Those that come from concentrated animal feeding operations
(CAFOs) offer little to no
nutritional value. What’s worse is that they also make you more susceptible to
foodborne infections and antibiotic-resistant diseases.

If you really want
to make the most out of the nutrition that chickens have to offer, make sure
that you get pasture-raised ones from local farmers. These organic chickens are
antibiotic-free, and are allowed to forage freely for their natural diet of
worms, insects and seeds. As a result, they contain superior nutritional value
that can help improve your overall health[ECF8] .[AMDN9]

Source:: Mercola Health Articles