What internal temperature should chicken be cooked to

Chicken School

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Breaded Chicken
Is chicken done at 165 or 180?
Is 145 degrees safe for chicken?
Can you eat chicken at 160 degrees?
Does chicken actually need to be 165?

Use our chart to make sure that your chicken is cooked to perfection every time.

Proper cooking times are not just about safety. In fact, most Canadians overcook their chicken, which can leave it dry. From chicken breast to a whole roast chicken this chart ensures perfectly cooked chicken every time.

Internal temperature is measured using an instant-read food thermometer. Insert the thermometer in different spots, making sure to pay special attention to the chicken breasts and thighs which are the thickest parts of the meat. Food thermometers are available at most grocery stores in various formats and price ranges.

Roasting

Cut	Internal Temperature	Average Cooking Time*
Boneless, skinless breast Small piece (140 g raw) Large piece (200 g raw)	165°F (74°C)	35 minutes 45 minutes
Boneless, skinless thigh Small piece (60 g raw) Large piece (115 g raw)	165°F (74°C)	20 minutes 30 minutes
Bone-in, skinless thigh/drumstick Small piece (80 g raw) Large piece (130 g raw)	165°F (74°C)	35 minutes 45 minutes
Bone-in breast Small piece (170 g raw) Large piece (250 g raw)	165°F (74°C)	40 minutes 50 minutes
Bone-in legs Small piece (200 g raw) Large piece (300 g raw)	165°F (74°C)	40 minutes 55 minutes
Ground chicken patties (120 g raw)	165°F (74°C)	30 minutes
Whole chicken – stuffed (1.5 kg raw)	180°F (82°C)	2 hours 10 minutes
Whole chicken – unstuffed (1.5 kg raw)	180°F (82°C)	1 hour 40 minutes
Wings (90 g raw)	165°F (74°C)	25 minutes

*When to check the internal temperature – oven roasting uncovered, in a 350°F (180°C) oven.

Grilling

Cut	Internal Temperature	Average Cooking Time*
Boneless, skinless breast Small piece (140 g raw) Large piece (200 g raw)	165°F (74°C)	9 minutes per side 12 minutes per side
Boneless, skinless thigh Small piece (60 g raw) Large piece (115 g raw)	165°F (74°C)	5 minutes per side 8 minutes per side
Bone-in, skinless thigh/drumstick Small piece (80 g raw) Large piece (130 g raw)	165°F (74°C)	7 minutes per side 10 minutes per side
Bone-in breast Small piece (170 g raw) Large piece (250 g raw)	165°F (74°C)	14 minutes per side 17 minutes per side
Bone-in legs Small piece (200 g raw) Large piece (300 g raw)	165°F (74°C)	15 minutes per side 18 minutes per side
Ground chicken patties (120 g raw)	165°F (74°C)	6 minutes per side
Whole chicken – unstuffed (1.5 kg raw)	180°F (82°C)	1 hour 25 minutes
Wings (90 g raw)	165°F (74°C)	8 minutes per side

*Medium heat with the lid down.

Skillet

Cut	Internal Temperature	Average Cooking Time*
Boneless, skinless breast Small piece (140 g raw) Large piece (200 g raw)	165°F (74°C)	8 minutes per side 11 minutes per side
Boneless, skinless thigh Small piece (60 g raw) Large piece (115 g raw)	165°F (74°C)	5 minutes per side 7 minutes per side
Bone-in, skinless thigh/drumstick Small piece (80 g raw) Large piece (130 g raw)	165°F (74°C)	8 minutes per side 11 minutes per side
Bone-in breast Small piece (170 g raw) Large piece (250 g raw)	165°F (74°C)	11 minutes per side 15 minutes per side
Bone-in legs Small piece (200 g raw) Large piece (300 g raw)	165°F (74°C)	13 minutes per side 16 minutes per side
Ground chicken patties (120 g raw)	165°F (74°C)	8 minutes per side
Wings (90 g raw)	165°F (74°C)	8 minutes per side

*When to check the internal temperature – medium-high heat in a pre-heated skillet.

Breaded Chicken

Cut	Internal Temperature	Average Cooking Time*
5 nuggets (80 g raw)	165°F (74°C)	20 minutes
2 tenders (51 g raw)	165°F (74°C)	20 minutes
1 breaded chicken burger (85 g raw)	165°F (74°C)	25 minutes
1 stuffed breaded chicken breast (142 g raw)	165°F (74°C)	35 minutes
1 piece fried chicken (200 g raw)	165°F (74°C)	25 minutes

* Times are based on frozen, uncooked chicken.

Is chicken done at 165 or 180?

Current federal recommendations list various safe cooking temperatures for poultry, including 180°F for whole chickens and 170°F for breasts. The USDA said it wants to clarify that the key temperature for safety is 165°F.

Is 145 degrees safe for chicken?

Note: There are three important temperatures to remember when cooking meat or eggs at home: Eggs and all ground meats must be cooked to 160°F; poultry and fowl to 165°F; and fresh meat steaks, chops and roasts to 145°F.

Can you eat chicken at 160 degrees?

For the best-tasting white meat, which includes breasts and wings, you generally want to cook the meat to an internal temperature of 160°F. This temperature will continue to rise after removing the chicken from the heat, ideally to a temperature of about 165°.

Does chicken actually need to be 165?

What Temperature to Cook Chicken To? The FDA Food Code recommends cooking chicken to 165°F (74°C). But the pasteurization of chicken is actually a function of both temperature and time. If you can hold your chicken at 145°F (63°C) for 8.5 minutes, you can achieve the same bacterial reduction as at 165°F (74°C).