Epicurious - The Best Roast Chicken You’ll Ever Make (Restaurant-Quality) | Epicurious 101
Ann Ziata, a professional chef, shares her method for roasting chicken to achieve juicy meat and crispy skin. She emphasizes the importance of dry brining the chicken overnight, which involves drying the chicken thoroughly, seasoning it generously with salt, and refrigerating it uncovered. This process allows the salt to permeate the meat, enhancing flavor and moisture retention while drying out the skin for crispiness. Ziata also highlights the technique of flipping the chicken during roasting. Starting with the breast side up, she cooks the chicken in a preheated cast iron pan at 475°F, flipping it halfway through to ensure even cooking and moisture distribution. This method prevents the breast from drying out and allows the thighs to cook thoroughly. After roasting, she advises letting the chicken rest to allow juices to redistribute, ensuring moist and flavorful meat. Ziata concludes by demonstrating how to carve the chicken efficiently, emphasizing the use of a sharp knife for safety and precision.
Key Points:
- Dry brine the chicken overnight for enhanced flavor and crispy skin.
- Preheat the oven and cast iron pan to 475°F for optimal searing.
- Flip the chicken halfway through cooking to ensure even cooking and moisture retention.
- Let the chicken rest after cooking to allow juices to redistribute.
- Use a sharp knife for safe and precise carving.
Details:
1. Introduction to Perfect Roast Chicken 🍗
- Ann Ziata, a professional chef and culinary instructor, will demonstrate the best way to roast chicken.
- The segment will cover techniques used by professionals to achieve perfect, juicy, and crispy chicken.
- This is described as 'Roast Chicken 101,' indicating a foundational approach to mastering roast chicken.
2. Avoiding Common Pitfalls in Roasting 🔄
- Flipping the chicken halfway through the roasting process helps achieve a juicier chicken breast, preventing it from drying out.
- Flipping also ensures the skin becomes brown and crispy, avoiding sogginess.
- This technique allows for even cooking, addressing issues of undercooked thighs.
- Season the chicken thoroughly, both inside and out, to enhance flavor and ensure even distribution of spices.
- Preheat the oven to the correct temperature and maintain it to avoid uneven cooking and ensure the chicken cooks thoroughly.
- Use a meat thermometer to check that the internal temperature reaches at least 165°F (74°C) to ensure the chicken is fully cooked.
- Let the chicken rest for 10-15 minutes after roasting to allow juices to redistribute, resulting in a more flavorful and moist meat.
3. Dry Brining and Preparing the Chicken 🌿
- Dry brining involves drying the chicken thoroughly to achieve crispier skin by removing moisture.
- The process includes checking and drying the cavity to prevent steaming during cooking.
- Salting the chicken generously and letting it rest in the fridge overnight allows the salt to permeate the meat, enhancing flavor and moisture retention.
- For optimal results, the chicken should rest for a minimum of eight hours, though even one hour can make a difference.
- Herbs such as thyme can be inserted between the skin and the meat to infuse flavor without adding moisture that might cause steaming.
- Tucking the wings behind the neck bone prevents them from burning and ensures even cooking.
- Using a wire rack on a sheet pan promotes air circulation around the chicken, aiding in even drying and cooking.
4. Cooking Process and Flipping Techniques 🔥
- Preheat oven to 475°F and preheat the cast iron pan in the oven to ensure the chicken sears properly, preventing it from steaming and becoming soggy.
- Apply a small amount of oil to the pan before placing the chicken breast side up in the oven.
- Cook the chicken for 30 minutes before flipping to ensure even cooking and prevent the breast from drying out. Ensure that the skin has caramelized before flipping.
- Flipping the chicken allows moisture from the thighs and legs to drip into the breast, keeping it moist. This technique enhances flavor and ensures even cooking.
- Final flip for the last 5-10 minutes of cooking for crispier skin on the breast.
- Internal temperature of the chicken should reach 155°F at the thickest part of the breast.
- Allow the chicken to rest for 10 minutes to enable carry-over cooking and moisture absorption by the muscles.