Cornish Hen - Internal Temperature?
I'm cooking two Cornish Hens tomorrow and while they rest gently in the fridge, I got online to see about the best internal temperature. Bad idea! I read 155, 165 and 185 degrees Fahrenheit!
What is the optimal temperature for them? I'm thinking that it's a bird, like chicken, but is that so?
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6 Comments:
Yep same as chicken, and be wary on some of the higher numbers you read. Some people are crazy, food doesnt need to be dry and tasteless just to be safe. And once you get used to it, you can usually tell by touch.
twoojoe at 8:47PM on 05/02/09
Thanks, twoojoe, and by touch, do you mean the chin, cheek, forehead touch to measure doneness?
(Sorry for the followup question and, yeah, the Cornish Hens weren't prohibitively expensive, but why bother messing them up if I don't have to?
TikiPundit at 10:14PM on 05/02/09
I'm thinking 170, based on today's experiment, I browned the skin in a pan first, which rocketed the temperature upwards, meaning the veggies under the hens didn't cook as much (I hate nearly-raw veggies, no matter how much they retain their nutrients). But would go 165 and assume some more cooking while tented.
TikiPundit at 9:45PM on 05/03/09
For its relatively smaller size, I would recommend 160 and letting the residual heat do its bit. Is there any stuffing involved?
The HogFather at 2:11PM on 05/04/09
HogFather: nope, no stuffing. I cut out the backbone and removed the breastbone so roasted them flat.
TikiPundit at 6:17PM on 05/04/09
I like 165. Cooks poultry thuroughly without drying.
rlwycoff at 6:52PM on 05/04/09