Want To Find Out How Long To Cook A Whole Chicken In A Crockpot?
Have you ever asked anyone how long to cook a whole chicken in a crockpot? If so, were you even more baffled afterward? Did you walk away and start looking through recipes? I’ll be the answer got further and further away. Now you are even more confused, right?
There are many variations that make the answer to this question puzzling. Many cooks who attempt cooking a whole chicken in their crockpot start by trying to adapt a recipe they already like. This will definitely have you shaking your head in confusion if you don’t know what you have to take into consideration before you begin. This is why we need to take a look at all the areas involved in figuring this out:
The Term Whole – This is not as strange as it seems. When one person refers to a whole chicken they could mean a chicken that is left whole, uncut. However, another person may mean an entire chicken – the “whole” chicken – even though it’s in half, or even in pieces. You might say you are cooking a whole chicken when you cut the chicken in quarters but cook the “whole” thing. Confusing, right? Determine what term a person is using before you figure cooking time.
The Chicken Recipe – If you choose a crispy rotisserie chicken style of recipe, you will time your crockpot differently than if you have a chicken recipe loaded with lots of vegetables. A big pile of carrots and potatoes sitting around your chicken will cause a chicken to cook differently than if it is cooking in dry heat, rotisserie style.
The Preparation – Some people like to brown their chicken before putting it in the crockpot to give it a little extra color and flavor. This process will also shorten the cooking time. Then there’s the question of stuffing. If you add stuffing the bird will need to cook longer because it’s just more dense.
The Bird Size – If you have a big six pound chicken, you’re going to cook it longer than if you have a little three pound chicken. That’s just common sense. However, you also have to consider how much room you have in your crockpot. If your six pound bird is squeezed inside a five quart crockpot, your cooking time will have to be increased. There isn’t enough room around the chicken to let air and heat circulate.
The Crockpot Design – Do you have a brand new crockpot with extra insulation wrapped around to keep the heat in the pot where it belongs? Or are you still using the old metal pot that sits on top of the burner plate. Can you start your meal on high, then turn it to low to finish cooking? Is your cover one of the new ones that fits tight and even locks in place?
Don’t fret if you still aren’t sure how long to cook a whole chicken in a crockpot. It will take a little experimenting. Start by taking one of your favorite crockpot chicken recipes and turning it into a whole chicken recipe. Consider all the things we’ve discussed and give it a try. Soon you’ll have a brand new collection of great crockpot recipes!
Learn how to cook a whole chicken in crockpot and much more in the informative guide Crockpot Cooking Made Simple from Susanne Myers of the HillbillyHousewife.com. Click on and get your copy today!
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