When cooking chicken, it is important to let it rest before carving and serving. But how long should you leave chicken to rest for maximum juiciness? Here is a quick overview of resting times for different types of chicken.
Why Should You Let Chicken Rest?
Letting roasted, grilled, or pan-fried chicken rest after cooking serves a few purposes:
- It allows time for the juices to redistribute evenly throughout the meat. As the chicken cooks, the juices get pushed towards the center. Resting gives the juices time to reabsorb back into the chicken fibers.
- It helps prevent losing too many juices when you cut into the chicken. Cutting into chicken right after cooking can cause the juices to run out onto the cutting board.
- It gives the chicken time to complete the cooking process. The inner temperature will rise a bit more as it rests, ensuring it cooks through.
So resting is crucial for ensuring moist, flavorful chicken! Now let’s look at ideal resting times.
Resting Time for Whole Chicken
For a whole roasted chicken or chicken baked in the oven, the recommended resting time is about 10-15 minutes. A whole chicken needs ample time for the juices to redistribute throughout the meat and muscles.
Set your roasted whole chicken on a cutting board or serving platter, tent loosely with aluminum foil, and let sit for 10-15 minutes before carving. The meat will reabsorb its juices and be juicy and tender.
Resting Time for Chicken Breasts
For boneless, skinless chicken breasts or bone-in breasts, let them rest for 5-10 minutes after cooking. Chicken breasts cook quickly, so they benefit from a shorter resting time.
After cooking chicken breasts on the stove, grill, or baking in the oven, transfer them to a clean plate. Tent with foil and let them sit for 5-10 minutes before slicing.
Resting Time for Chicken Thighs and Legs
Chicken thighs and legs should rest for 10 minutes after roasting or baking. Chicken legs require a little longer resting time than white meat to allow the juices to reabsorb.
For pan-fried or grilled boneless thighs or drumsticks, let them rest for 5-10 minutes before serving. The shorter cook time requires less resting.
Resting Time for Ground Chicken
Ground chicken cooked in dishes like meatballs, burgers, or meatloaf needs very little resting time. Let ground chicken rest for just 2-5 minutes before serving.
The loose texture of ground chicken doesn’t hold juices and redistributes heat quickly. A quick 2-5 minute rest is enough to let the inner temperature finish rising before serving.
Resting Time for a Whole Cut-Up Chicken
For a cut-up whole chicken with breast, thigh, leg, and wing portions, let it rest for 10 minutes before serving. A cut-up whole chicken has a mix of white and dark meat and needs adequate resting time.
After roasting or baking the cut-up chicken, transfer the pieces to a serving dish and tent with foil. The mixed pieces will benefit from a 10 minute rest period.
Tips for Resting Chicken
Follow these tips for getting the most out of resting your chicken:
- Always rest chicken on a clean platter or cutting board, not the cooking pan which will continue cooking it.
- Loosely tent the chicken with aluminum foil to keep it warm.
- Resist cutting into or moving the chicken during the resting period.
- Pour any juices from the resting chicken back over the meat before serving.
- Keep food safety in mind and don’t let chicken rest for longer than 30 minutes.
What Happens If You Don’t Let Chicken Rest?
Failing to let chicken rest can result in dry, less flavorful meat. Here are some of the risks:
- More juices will run out when you cut into the chicken, making it dry.
- The inner temperature will continue rising, potentially overcooking the meat.
- Flavors won’t have time to distribute evenly throughout the chicken.
- Texture may be unevenly cooked and less tender.
That’s why it’s always best to let chicken rest for the ideal time! Use the recommended resting times in the summary table for the juiciest chicken cooked to perfection.
Chicken Resting Time Summary
| Chicken Type | Recommended Resting Time |
|---|---|
| Whole chicken | 10-15 minutes |
| Chicken breasts | 5-10 minutes |
| Chicken thighs and legs | 10 minutes |
| Ground chicken | 2-5 minutes |
| Cut-up whole chicken | 10 minutes |
Conclusion
Resting chicken is a crucial finishing step to ensure moist, flavorful meat. Follow the recommended resting times in this article for the type of chicken you are cooking. Letting the chicken rest gives the juices time to redistribute evenly and complete the cooking process. While it’s tempting to dive right in, be patient and let your chicken have a rest. Your taste buds will thank you with juicy, tender chicken cooked to perfection!