Drumsticks are a popular chicken cut, valued for their juicy dark meat and the convenience of their built-in handle. However, with a higher fat content than chicken breasts, drumsticks can take longer to cook through fully. Determining the right drumstick cooking time ensures they are cooked through without drying out.
What Factors Affect Drumstick Cooking Time?
Several factors impact how long it takes to cook drumsticks:
Drumstick Size
Larger drumsticks naturally take longer to cook than smaller ones. Full chicken legs with thighs attached will need more time than just drumsticks alone.
Cooking Method
The cooking method makes a major difference in drumstick cook times. Moist slow cooking methods like braising in a sauce or slow roasting need longer cook times. High heat methods like grilling or frying take less time.
Temperature
Higher temperatures cook drumsticks faster. Chicken should always be cooked to an internal temperature of 165°F to kill any bacteria. But cooking at a lower oven temp or grill heat requires more time to bring the center up to temp.
Bone-In vs Boneless
Bone-in drumsticks take longer to cook than boneless cuts. The bone partially insulates the meat, slowing down the cooking process. Boneless drumsticks flatten out more, cooking faster with more surface area exposed to the heat.
Marinade
Marinating drumsticks in an acidic ingredient like lemon juice, vinegar, yogurt or wine can shorten the cooking time slightly by beginning to denature proteins on the exterior. But any time savings will be minimal.
Average Drumstick Cooking Times by Method
Here are approximate cooking times for bone-in chicken drumsticks by different cooking methods:
Oven Baked
- 400°F oven: 40-50 minutes
- 375°F oven: 50-60 minutes
- 350°F oven: 60-75 minutes
Cooking drumsticks in the oven lets the fat render slowly while the skin crisps up. Use a thermometer to confirm they reach 165°F internally.
Grilled
- Medium-high heat (400°F): 25-35 minutes
- Medium heat (325°F): 30-40 minutes
Grilling uses high direct heat to cook drumsticks from the outside-in. Turn them every 5-10 minutes to prevent burning.
Air Fried
- 370-400°F: 22-28 minutes
Air frying uses super hot circulating air to crisp up drumsticks quickly. The bone prevents them from fully cooking as fast as boneless chicken.
Slow Cooker
- Low: 3-4 hours
- High: 1.5-2.5 hours
Letting drumsticks cook low and slow in a slow cooker causes the connective tissue to break down into gelatin for extra moist meat.
Pressure Cooker
- High Pressure: 12-15 minutes
A pressure cooker drastically decreases cooking time by raising the boiling point inside. Use natural or quick release.
Poached
- Simmering Water: 20-25 minutes
Gently poaching drumsticks in simmering water keeps them incredibly moist and tender. Ensure the water maintains a bare simmer.
Deep Fried
- 350°F Oil: 8-12 minutes
Deep frying drumsticks submerges them in hot oil to cook and crisp the skin quickly. Use a thermometer to monitor oil temp.
How to Tell When Drumsticks Are Done
These methods ensure drumsticks are fully cooked through:
Use a Meat Thermometer
Inserting a meat thermometer into the thickest part of a drumstick away from the bone should show it reaching the safe minimum internal temperature of 165°F.
Check for Visual Cues
The drumstick meat will look opaque when fully cooked with no traces of pink and the juices will run clear. The skin will be deeply browned and crispy.
Cut to Inspect
Making a small cut into the thickest part of the meat should show no traces of pink with clear juices.
Check for Loosened Meat
When fully cooked, the meat should pull back from the end of the bone 1/4 to 1/2 inch.
Do a Wiggle Test
Shake the drumstick gently. If the meat feels loose instead of stiff on the bone, it is likely finished cooking.
Tips for Maximizing Juiciness
To help keep drumsticks extra juicy:
- Pat dry before cooking for better browning
- Coat in a light layer of oil to prevent moisture loss
- Cook at a lower temp then finish at high heat
- Let rest 5-10 minutes before cutting to retain juices
- Avoid overcooking by using a meat thermometer
Properly cooked chicken drumsticks should be moist enough to make your fingers glisten while eating them.
Different Size Drumsticks
Drumsticks can range in size, which will alter the cooking time needed. Here are estimated cooking times based on drumstick size:
Small Drumsticks
- Oven: 30-40 minutes at 375°F
- Grilled: 20-25 minutes (medium heat)
- Air Fried: 18-22 minutes at 380°F
Smaller drumsticks range from 4-6 ounces each. Look for them labeled as “game hen” drumsticks.
Average Drumsticks
- Oven: 40-50 minutes at 375°F
- Grilled: 25-30 minutes (medium heat)
- Air Fried: 22-26 minutes at 380°F
The average drumstick size is around 6-8 ounces. Most grocery store chicken drumsticks fall into this range.
Jumbo Drumsticks
- Oven: 50-60 minutes at 375°F
- Grilled: 30-35 minutes (medium heat)
- Air Fried: 26-30 minutes at 380°F
These extra large drumsticks can weigh 8-12 ounces each. They take noticeably longer to cook through.
Cooking Times for Other Cuts
For comparison, here are approximate cooking times for other chicken parts:
Chicken Breasts
- Boneless, Skinless Breasts
- Grill: 6-10 minutes per side
- Saute: 3-6 minutes per side
- Bone-In, Skin-On Breasts
- Oven: 35-45 minutes at 375°F
- Grill: 30-40 minutes (medium heat)
Chicken breasts cook faster than dark meat. Grill or sauté boneless breasts briefly just until done. Bone-in breasts take longer.
Chicken Thighs
- Boneless Thighs
- Oven: 20-25 minutes at 400°F
- Saute: 8-12 minutes
- Bone-In Thighs
- Oven: 30-40 minutes at 375°F
- Grill: 25-35 minutes (medium heat)
Chicken thighs have more fat than white meat, keeping them juicy when cooked to 165°F. Boneless thighs cook quicker.
Whole Chicken
- 3-4 pounds
- Oven: 1-1.5 hours at 350°F
- Grill: 50-60 minutes (medium heat)
- 5-7 pounds
- Oven: 1.5-2 hours at 350°F
- Grill: 60-90 minutes (medium heat)
Whole chickens have a wide range of possible cook times from under an hour for a small bird to over 2 hours for a very large one.
Conclusion
The exact drumstick cooking time can vary based on specific factors, but typically falls into the following ranges:
- Oven: 40-60 minutes at 350°-375°F
- Grilled: 25-35 minutes at medium heat
- Air Fried: 22-28 minutes at 370°-400°F
- Slow Cooker: 1.5-4 hours on high or low
- Pressure Cooker: 12-15 minutes under high pressure
- Poached: 20-25 minutes simmering
- Deep Fried: 8-12 minutes at 350°F
Use a meat thermometer to confirm drumsticks reach an internal temperature of 165°F. Letting them rest for 5-10 minutes before serving helps retain moisture. With the proper drumstick cook time for your preferred cooking method, you can enjoy juicy and flavorful chicken drumsticks.