How to cook a whole organic chicken
A whole chicken with crispy and golden skin, the meat inside is as beautifully tender as the appearance is inviting, making for the perfect roast dinner.
How to cook a whole organic chicken
A whole chicken with crispy and golden skin, the meat inside is as beautifully tender as the appearance is inviting, making for the perfect roast dinner.
- Serves: 4
- Prepare: 10 Minutes
- Cook: 1 Hour 20 Minutes
- Difficulty: easy
WHO ARE THE ORGANIC BUTCHERY?
Starting life as an organic farm in the heart of the West Country, The Organic Butchery is proudly founded on a long history of organic principles. We source the best quality organic grass-fed and wild meats, sustainable fish and organic free-range poultry from trusted local suppliers and like-minded brands to guarantee the highest standards of animal welfare and environmental stewardship. Our mission is to approach butchery with a whole-carcass perspective, to make the most of every animal that crosses our blocks, which means we offer you cuts that you will never see on the supermarket shelves.
WHAT IS ORGANIC CHICKEN?
Our chickens are 100% organic, they have room to roam, a naturally foraged balanced diet, clean water and high hygiene standards. The chickens are grown slowly for approximately 70 days not 35 like those reared in intensive systems. Full of flavour and oh-so tender, it’s a versatile meat that is full of goodness.
Ingredients
- 1 whole organic chicken, 1.5kg
- 25g butter, softened
- half a lemon
- spring fresh thyme
- half a bulb of garlic
- salt
Method
- Rest your organic whole chicken on your kitchen side at room temperature for an hour or so
- Preheat your oven, 160°C fan, 180°C, gas mark 4
- Pat dry the chicken skin with kitchen paper.
- Season the cavity of the chicken liberally with salt and pepper, then stuff the chicken with half a lemon, fresh thyme and half a bulb of garlic
- Smother the breast and legs all over with 25g softened butter, then season the outside with salt and pepper.
- Transfer the organic chicken to a large oven tray
- Roast for 20 minutes per 500g + 20 minutes (e.g 1 hour, 20 minutes for 1.5kg bird, 2 hours for a 2kg bird). Organic chickens do cook more quickly than conventional chickens, so do check a little before the end time to ensure it doesn't overcook. You are aiming for an internal temperature of 75°C
- Resting your bird is key to retaining moist meat. We recommend wrapping it in at least 2 layers of foil and resting in a warm place for 30 minutes before carving. just enough time to make a giblet gravy and pour a glass of wine
Other recipe ideas
08/07/20 Recipe
Chicken Enchiladas
Delicious chicken enchiladas topped with melted cheese
03/06/20 Recipe
Breast of Organic Chicken & Spicy Chorizo Risotto
Easy version of the traditional Spanish paella dish
19/12/18 Recipe
Pearled Spelt Risotto with Chicken and Wintery Veg
A charming recipe using Sharpham Park organic pearled spelt, perfect for kicking those January blues
WHO ARE THE ORGANIC BUTCHERY?
Starting life as an organic farm in the heart of the West Country, The Organic Butchery is proudly founded on a long history of organic principles. We source the best quality organic grass-fed and wild meats, sustainable fish and organic free-range poultry from trusted local suppliers and like-minded brands to guarantee the highest standards of animal welfare and environmental stewardship. Our mission is to approach butchery with a whole-carcass perspective, to make the most of every animal that crosses our blocks, which means we offer you cuts that you will never see on the supermarket shelves.
WHAT IS ORGANIC CHICKEN?
Our chickens are 100% organic, they have room to roam, a naturally foraged balanced diet, clean water and high hygiene standards. The chickens are grown slowly for approximately 70 days not 35 like those reared in intensive systems. Full of flavour and oh-so tender, it’s a versatile meat that is full of goodness.
Frequently asked questions
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When choosing any meat to purchase, it is worth carrying out some research. There are a number of studies that suggest organic chicken is a healthier option, containing less saturated fat and higher in omega- 3 fatty acids, which are good for your heart. There are also several other reasons why choosing organic chicken is a good idea. They range from the contribution of organic farming to climate change, animal welfare and the use of pesticides and medicines used in the farming of conventional chickens, organic birds are only given antibiotics if absolutely necessary, rather than routinely, as they are in lower welfare systems to prevent spread of disease.
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Organic chicken has been reared in accordance to a set of organic high-welfare standards. These organic standards cover not just the bird’s housing, the amount of space they have and the way they are treated, but also what they are fed, how they are transported and eventually slaughtered. Under the current Soil Association standards, chicks can be taken from a conventional system providing they are less than 3 years old and reared organically to 70 days. Our trusted local suppliers provide a natural environment for our birds to thrive without the need for preventative medication: room to roam, a naturally foraged balanced diet, clean water and high hygiene standards.
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Organic chicken and regular chicken are reared very differently, to different standards of welfare. Our organic chicken is Soil Association certified which is considered the highest welfare organic certification. All of our chickens are reared by trusted local suppliers in a system that allows the birds free access to pastures where they can roam during the day using their natural instincts. The chickens are grown slowly for approximately 70 days. In intensive systems, which rely heavily on genetic breeding and antibiotics, birds are ready at just 35 days which is why their meat has very little flavour. We believe the slow approach is better for the welfare of our birds, and results in the delicious flavour you can try for yourself.