Meat and Poultry Roasting Charts (2024)

FAQs

What temperature should meat and poultry be cooked to? ›

Note: There are three important temperatures to remember when cooking meat or eggs at home: Eggs and all ground meats must be cooked to 160°F; poultry and fowl to 165°F; and fresh meat steaks, chops and roasts to 145°F. Use a thermometer to check temperatures.

When roasting meat and poultry, set the oven temperature to 325°F (163°C) or higher. Explore the charts below to learn how to get great results every time you cook.

For tender, fall-off-the-bone meat and soft skin, roast whole chicken at 325°F (162°C) for 1 ½ to 2 hours, depending on the weight. For firm, juicy meat and crisp, golden-brown skin, roast whole chicken 425°F (218°C) oven for 45 minutes to 1 ½ hours, depending on size.

While you're waiting, preheat your oven to the recommended temperature. You'll notice our chart selects low to moderate heat, in the range of 325 or 350 degrees, for larger roasts and higher heat, above 400 degrees, for smaller, tender roasts to produce the best results.

Next, place the roast in a baking dish with aromatics, such as garlic, onion, celery and carrots. Also, include herbs, stock or water. "If you cook the roast at 250 degrees, it will take about 40 to 45 minutes per pound.

Regardless of the size of your roast, aim to cook at 375 degrees F (190 degrees C) for 20 minutes per pound. After resting for 15 to 20 minutes, your roast should reach its final internal temperature, which could be 5 to 15 degrees higher than when removed from the oven.

You can roast or bake anywhere between 325 and 450 degrees F. When roasting a whole chicken, a nice rule of them is to start at 400 to 425 degrees F and then turn the oven down to 350 after 15 minutes and cook until the internal temp of the chicken is 165 – 175 degrees F on an instant read thermometer.

Roast the chicken, uncovered, at 450 degrees F for 10-15 minutes. Then reduce the temperature to 350 degrees F and roast for 20 minutes per pound, or until internal temperature (inserted on middle of thigh and breast) reaches about 165 degrees. Skin should be golden brown and the juices should run clear.

How long does it take to cook a 4 lb chicken at 375 degrees? ›

How long to roast a chicken at 375°F: 2½- to 3-pound chicken: Roast 1 to 1¼ hours. 3½- to 4-pound chicken: Roast 1¼ to 1½ hours. 4½- to 5-pound chicken: Roast 1¾ to 2 hours.

All poultry should reach a safe minimum internal temperature of 165 °F (73.9 °C) as measured with a food thermometer. A whole chicken must reach this temperature throughout the bird. Check the internal temperature in the innermost part of the thigh and wing and the thickest part of the breast.

All carcass meats should be unwrapped and hung so that air can circulate around them, ideally at 1°C in a standard fridge and 3°C in a walk-in refrigerator. Individual meat cuts such as steaks, chops and ground meat should be kept in covered containers between 2°C and 4°C.

Poultry is one of the most important foods to cook to temperature for food safety. Whether you're preparing chicken breasts, chicken thighs or turkey, always cook to temperature using a food thermometer. When chicken cooks, all of the harmful bacteria is destroyed at an internal temperature of 74 °C.

Normal chicken body temperature ranges from about 105 to 107 degrees Fahrenheit. Just as with humans, it can vary a little depending on time of day, wither the chicken is stressed, or whether she's eaten recently. Only take the temperature of adult chickens, not baby chicks.