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USDA FSIS Calibrated Poultry Guide
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Updated November 2026
At 425°F (218°C), a standard 5-pound unstuffed whole chicken takes 65 to 75 minutes to roast (roughly 13 to 15 minutes per pound), followed by a mandatory 15 to 20-minute uncovered rest on the carving board. Roasting at 425°F rather than 350°F is the critical Thanksgiving technique that blisters the skin to mahogany crispness before the delicate breast meat can overcook.
| Whole Bird Weight | Unstuffed Time at 425°F | Spatchcocked Time at 425°F | Breast / Thigh Pull Temp | Mandatory Rest Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 – 4.0 lbs (Broiler) | 50 – 60 minutes | 35 – 42 minutes | 160°F / 175°F | 12 – 15 minutes |
| 4.5 – 5.0 lbs (Holiday Standard) | 65 – 75 minutes | 45 – 50 minutes | 160°F / 175°F | 15 – 20 minutes |
| 5.5 – 6.0 lbs (Large Roaster) | 75 – 85 minutes | 50 – 58 minutes | 160°F / 175°F | 20 minutes |
| 6.5 – 7.0 lbs (Jumbo Roaster / Capon) | 85 – 95 minutes (Tent at min 65) | 58 – 65 minutes | 160°F / 180°F | 20 – 25 minutes |
Why You Should Never Stuff the Cavity of a 5-Lb Thanksgiving Chicken
Packing dense bread stuffing inside the body cavity of a 5-pound chicken turns the bird into a solid thermal mass. Because heat penetrates from the outside in, the breast meat must reach 180°F+ (completely dry and stringy) before the center of the cavity stuffing reaches the USDA-required 165°F safe internal temperature.
Instead, loosely aromatics-pack the cavity with 1 quartered lemon, 1 halved head of garlic, and 4 sprigs of fresh sage and rosemary so hot air circulates inside the rib cage (as demonstrated in our Thanksgiving Roast Whole Chicken Recipe), and bake your bread stuffing separately in our Chicken and Herb Stuffing Casserole.
When to Tent with Foil During a 425°F High-Heat Roast
For birds weighing 4.5 to 5.0 pounds, 425°F produces ideal golden-brown skin right at the 65-minute mark with no foil required. However, if you purchase a plump 6.0 to 7.0-pound jumbo roaster or use an apple cider glaze containing natural fruit sugars, check the breast skin color at Minute 55. If the breast skin is already deep mahogany while the internal probe reads 145°F, lay a loose triangle of aluminum foil solely over the breast (leaving the legs uncovered) for the final 20 minutes. See all 20 holiday timings in our Thanksgiving Chicken Recipes Hub.
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