Re: cooking chicken

You can rinse the chicken off if you like, but then pat it dry with a paper towel. A super easy way to cook chicken is to simply rub it generously with salt including the cavities (sea salt is best), then roast it in the oven. Heat your oven to 400 degrees. Put your whole chicken breast side up in a baking pan, if you feel like it you can add vegetables along side your chicken. The classic vegetables are onion, Celery and carrot, these veggies will add flavor to the chicken. Cover the whole dish with a lid or foil. Try not to let the covering touch the chicken as that it will cause the skin to stick. Depending on the size, a 4 pound chicken will take about 55-65 minuts to cook. Remove the foil or cover for the last 15-20 minuts to let the chicken skin to crisp. You can tell if your chicken is done by; using a meat thermometer (170-175 degrees) measure the thickest part of the chicken, (don't touch the bone) or you can prick the breast or thigh, when the juices run clear and not red it's done. You can also give a tug on a wing or leg, when it gives way it's done. If you like your dark meat fall of the bone tender and done (thigh will measure 180 degrees), you risk a dry breast. Good Luck!