Roasting a chicken

Roasted chicken is the ultimate dinner recipe, and once you've mastered it, you're ready to tackle the roasted turkey for Thanksgiving. Despite its popularity, roasting a whole chicken is surprisingly simple, and it is thus regarded as a fundamental cooking skill. All you need is a roasting chicken and an oven (which is capable of roasting a whole chicken).

Simply season the chicken with salt and black pepper and drizzle with olive oil on both sides. Spread the olive oil over the surface of the chicken with your hands. Preheat the oven to 400°F (205°C) and place the whole chicken, breast side up, on a roasting pan in the oven. Roast the chicken for 30 minutes at 400°F, then reduce to 375°F and bake for another 20 minutes. Then, remove the roasted chicken from the pan and wrap it in foil until ready to serve.