Introduction

If you’re a regular Cook’s Illustrated reader, then you’ve probably seen the term “cooking time” thrown around a lot. But what is it? How do you figure it out? And why does it matter? Well, that’s what we’re going to tackle today. We’ll cover where to find cooking times, how long they typically last, and how they work with different types of meat—including chicken! I’m going to show you how to use these handy numbers so that every piece of meat comes out perfectly cooked every time.

Chicken breasts take the least amount of time to cook, generally about 20 minutes per pound, or 6-7 minutes per 1/2 inch.

The chicken breast is the smallest part of a whole chicken and it is usually 1/2 to 3/4 inches thick. Cooking time varies depending on how thick your chicken breasts are, so be sure to check them frequently. The thicker they are, the longer they will take to cook through.

Chicken thighs take about 30 minutes per pound, or 10 minutes per 1/2 inch.

The chicken thigh is a good source of protein, iron and zinc. It also contains less fat than breast meat, making it an excellent choice for people on high-protein diets who want to keep their calorie count down.

Thighs take about 30 minutes per pound in the oven (or 10 minutes per 1/2 inch).

Boneless chicken takes about 45 to 60 minutes per pound, or 15 to 20 minutes per 1/2 inch.

If you’re cooking a whole chicken, the time it takes to cook will depend on its size. The average size of a boneless chicken breast is 6 ounces and the average size of a boneless chicken thigh is 8 ounces. As noted above, these averages can vary by type or brand; if your meat exceeds this range (e.g., if it’s closer to 10 or 15 ounces), check out our guide on how long to cook 6 pound turkey breast instead!

Bone-in chicken takes about 50 to 90 minutes per pound, or 18 to 26 minutes per 1/2 inch.

When you’re cooking bone-in chicken, you should plan on about 50 to 90 minutes per pound, or 18 to 26 minutes per 1/2 inch. This is because of the extra fat and connective tissue in the bones that make them take longer to cook than boneless chicken.

Cooking bone-in chicken in a slow cooker is an easy way to get it done without having your oven on for an extended period of time (which would increase your electricity bill). You can also use this method if you want to bake some other foods while your roast is cooking; just keep them at different temperatures so they don’t overlap too much!

Whole chickens take from 4 to 6 hours and should be rotated halfway through the cooking process.

Whole chickens take from 4 to 6 hours and should be rotated halfway through the cooking process. If you’re using a meat thermometer, check that the internal temperature of your chicken is 165 degrees F (74 C).

The key to knowing how long you need to cook a particular piece of meat is knowing its dimensions.

The key to knowing how long you need to cook a particular piece of meat is knowing its dimensions. A 6-lb chicken will not take as long as a 3-lb chicken, but it also won’t be twice as long.

If you’re using an instant-read thermometer, the temperature will tell you when the meat is done enough for your liking. The USDA recommends 165 degrees Fahrenheit (74 degrees Celsius) for poultry without bones and 180 F (82 C) for poultry with bones, but these recommendations have come under fire recently because they don’t account for different cooking methods or temperatures that may occur during grilling or roasting. If you want more accurate results from your thermometer, check out our guide here!

Conclusion

In conclusion, there are many factors that affect how long it takes to cook a chicken. The most important thing is knowing how long the meat should be cooked based on its size and thickness.