How Long To Cook Chicken In Oven At 400?
How long to cook chicken in the oven at 400? Let’s take a look. With these tips in mind, you’ll have perfectly cooked roasted chicken every time!
If you want to make a delicious, juicy, and flavorful chicken dinner in the oven, 400 degrees is a great temperature. But how long to cook chicken in oven at 400? Let’s take a look.
How Long To Cook Chicken In Oven At 400?
The amount of time it takes to cook chicken in the oven at 400 degrees depends on what kind of chicken you’re cooking. Generally speaking, boneless skinless chicken breasts require about 20-25 minutes of baking time.
While bone-in pieces such as thighs or drumsticks may need an additional 10 minutes or so, just be sure always to watch your food and check its internal temperature with a meat thermometer—you want it to reach 165°F!
You Can Spatchcock Your Chicken for Faster Cooking Times
If you want to reduce cooking time when roasting your chicken at 400 degrees, consider spatchcocking it first! Spatchcocking is essentially splitting the bird open and flattening it out before cooking. This makes the heat penetrate more quickly into the meat and helps everything cook evenly.
Plus, you can add some exciting flavors by marinating or seasoning the inside of the bird before flipping it open. To spatchcock a chicken, start by cutting out its backbone using poultry shears; then place your hand over the breast area and press down firmly until you hear (and feel!) a crack—this will help flatten out the bird even more.
Once spatchcocked, bake your bird at 400 degrees for about 25-30 minutes until cooked!
What Temperature Is Best For Cooking Chicken?
If you're a home cook, there's nothing more important than getting the temperature right when cooking chicken. It's easy to undercook or overcook your chicken, which can mean a big difference in the taste and texture of your final dish. So what’s the best temperature for cooking chicken? Let's take a look!
The Secret is in the Temperature
No matter how you cook it—baked, boiled, grilled, or fried—the perfect temperature for cooking chicken is 165°F. Why? That's the temperature at which bacteria like salmonella die off from heat exposure.
Any lower and you run the risk of food poisoning; any higher and you'll end up with dry, stringy chicken. When cooked to the right temperature, your chicken should be juicy on the inside and golden brown on the outside. So how do you check if your chicken is cooked through?
Checking Doneness:
A meat thermometer is helpful here. Just insert it into your chicken at its thickest point (usually at the thigh) and ensure it reads 165°F before removing it from heat. If you don't have a thermometer handy, use a knife to cut into your chicken and ensure no pink juices are coming out.
You should also ensure it feels firm when pressed with a fork or tongs. If all else fails, just cut into one of those pieces of chicken and peek at its insides—if it looks done, then it probably is!
What Temperature Is Too High For Chicken?
As with all meat, chicken cooked and served safely must be heated to a high enough temperature to destroy any dangerous bacteria present in the meat. When it comes to chicken, the danger zone temperature starts at 40°F, meaning anything below this should not be consumed.
Generally speaking, poultry products are recommended to be cooked to an internal temperature of 165°F since temperatures above this will ensure poultry is safe to eat. Exceeding this temperature can cause the chicken to dry out quickly or become less flavorful.
As such, if you want tender, juicy cooked chicken, it is best not to go above 165°F for too long.
Bottom Line:
So how long to cook chicken in Oven at 400? When baking chicken in an oven set to 400 degrees Fahrenheit, cooking times can vary depending on what type of cut you are cooking. Boneless skinless breasts will likely require about 20-25 minutes, whereas bone-in pieces such as thighs or drumsticks may need an additional 10 minutes. You can also reduce cooking time significantly by spatchcocking your bird first — ensure it reaches an internal temperature of 165°F! With these tips in mind, you’ll have perfectly cooked roasted chicken every time!
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Lucy Anderson