Your Guide To Cooking Birds & Joints

If you have bought a turkey, rooster, chicken or a joint from us – you have made a great choice!

We have taken a cooking guide from our friends at Herb Fed Chicken. Please note our
suggestions on resting. Resting is key – and if you use the 2 hour rest, it takes a lot of pressure off you the cook! Enjoy!

All our birds are farm fresh and suitable for freezing. From Christmas turkeys to Christmas roosters and chicken, here’s all you need to know about cooking your herb fed bird!

If frozen, defrost thoroughly in a fridge before cooking and use within 24 hours.
Do not wash raw poultry and always wash your hands after handling raw meat.
Keep poultry refrigerated below 4°C.

Chicken
Cook at 190 o C / Gas Mark 5 for 18 minutes per lb (454g). 30 minutes before the end of the cooking time, baste the bird with pan juices. The chicken is cooked when the juices from deep in the thigh run clear when skewered. If the bird is still not cooked check every 10 minutes after the allocated cooking time.
Rest the Chicken for 30 minutes before carving.

Turkey & Turkey Crowns
Remove the turkey from the fridge the night before you intend to cook it to allow it to reach room temperature. Cook at 180 o C/ 170 o C (fan)/ Gas Mark 4.

For whole birds – start the bird in the oven breast side down and about half way through the suggested cooking time below turn the bird over on to its back to brown the breast, seasoning both sides.

For crowns – place the bird breast side up for the duration of its cooking time in a roasting time and sprinkle with salt and pepper. The bird is cooked when the juices from deep in the thigh run clear when skewered. If the juices are pink, return to the oven and check at 10 minute intervals.
After cooking allow the turkey to rest. You can cover the bird with foil and dish cloths for a couple of hours – which allows you plenty of time for your roasties and trimmings! No stress!

Suggested cooking times – should be used as a guideline only. If stuffing the bird ensure you re-weigh the bird with stuffing to calculate the cooking time.

Turkey Breast Joints
Remove the bird from the fridge the night before you intend to cook it to allow it to reach room temperature. Cook at 180 o C/ 170 o C (fan)/ Gas Mark 4. Keep the bird right side up throughout cooking time. The bird is cooked when the juices from deep within the joint run clear when skewered. If the juices are pink, return to the oven and check at 10 minute intervals.

After cooking allow the turkey to rest uncovered for at least 30 minutes before carving. But please note if you need more time – you can cover the joint with foil and tea cloths for an hour plus – while you deal with the trimmings. It takes a lot of stress off the day!

Suggested cooking time – should be used as a guideline only

Rooster & Rooster Crown
Remove the bird from the fridge in good time to allow it to reach room temperature before cooking. If stuffing your rooster, fill the neck with stuffing and place a large peeled onion in its cavity to give extra flavour. We do not recommend stuffing the body cavity. Ensure you re-weigh your bird with stuffing to calculate the cooking time. Pre-heat the oven to 180 °C, (170 °C fan), Gas mark 4. Cook for 14 minutes per lb (454g)

For whole birds – Place the bird breast side down in the oven in a roasting tin and sprinkle with salt and pepper. At about halfway through the suggested cooking time (see table overleaf), turn the bird on to its back to brown the breast. Season again with salt and pepper.

For crowns – keep breast side up for the duration of the cooking time.

30 minutes before the end of the cooking time baste the bird with pan juices. To check your rooster is cooked insert a skewer through the inside of the thigh / deep within the meat – if the juices run clear the bird is ready. If the juices are pink put it back in the oven and check at 10 minute intervals.

After cooking allow to rest uncovered for at least 30 minutes before carving – but note resting suggestions above.

Suggested cooking time– WHOLE ROOSTER – should be used as a guideline only

Suggested cooking time- ROOSTER CROWN – should be used as a guideline only

Followed this recipe?

We'd love to see your variations of this recipe, and feature your version here. Make sure to tag us on Instagram @butchersquarter and mention our Your Guide To Cooking Birds & Joints to have your photo featured.