The Roast Chicken Mistakes You May Be Making, According To Ina Garten

If there's anyone who knows about roast chicken, it's Ina Garten. After all, her recipe is actor Emily Blunt's go-to, and it's also the one Meghan Markle was making when Prince Harry proposed to her, People reported. You might assume, therefore, that the celebrity chef's famous recipe is foolproof, but the truth is that roast chicken isn't the easiest to master.

As one fan shared in the Ask Ina section of Barefoot Contessa's website, even if you follow the recipe step by step, you can end up with roast chicken that's too dry and vegetables that are too charred. Garten explained in her response that this is often the result of the oven being at the wrong temperature. For some ovens, the temperature you set it to isn't always accurate, and could be hotter than you realize. But if you're sure this isn't the case, Garten also shared that the size of the pan may be an issue too. If the pan is too big, the chicken and vegetables will burn too fast.

The first thing you'll want to do, according to Ina Garten, is use a properly sized pan. For best results, use one that fits both the chicken and vegetables snugly. When you have the right size pan, you can go ahead and check the accuracy of your oven temperature. If you don't already have one on hand, Garten suggests investing in one from any hardware store. Then, before you put your chicken in, make sure the oven is actually 425 degrees as stated in the recipe instructions.

Per Bon Appétit, it also helps to check the temperature of the chicken itself. Garten roasts her chicken for about one and a half hours, but if you want to be absolutely sure that you don't end up overcooking it, Bon Appétit suggests taking it out when the thermometer reads a temperature of 165 when inserted into the thickest part of the bird. At that point you can remove the chicken from the oven and let it rest for 10 to 15 more minutes. When you finally carve into it, it'll be perfectly juicy.