Do you know what the correct temperature to cook chicken to is? Do you know when chicken is safe to eat? What is the risk of undercooked chicken?

Cooking any cut of chicken can be a challenging process to get correct. To get that perfectly juicy tender and flavoursome chicken can be difficult and unlike some other meats, there is a higher risk of food poisoning if not cooked correctly. 

The challenge gets even tougher on the BBQ or grill where temperatures can be less stable than the oven or stove top. Cooking chicken is easy, cooking chicken well is a lot more difficult.

When you are cooking mixed cuts, or even a whole roast chicken the challenge increases significantly. The challenge comes from the irregular shapes and different thicknesses combined with some parts of the chicken (breasts) are very lean and can dry out if overcooked.

EXPERT TIP: According to the food safety experts the safe internal temperature for cooked chicken is 74 C ( 165 F )

At 74 degrees Celcius / 165 degrees Fahrenheit the illness-causing bugs are killed off and your chicken is safe to eat. 

The most important tool in your bbq toolbox is your instant-read thermometer. This will give you the best chance of getting that perfectly cooked chicken. When using your meat thermometer or instant-read thermometer, be sure to test in the thickest part of the meat, or if cooking a whole bird it is best to test the thickest part of the thigh. Just be sure not to touch the bone with your thermometer or your reading could be incorrect.