Not sure how long to cook that joint of beef or leg of lamb? No problem. We talk you through the optimum cooking temperatures and timings for chicken, pork, lamb and beef in our latest guide.
How Long To Cook…
Steak
- Rare – 1.5 mins each side
- Medium Rare – 2 mins each side
- Medium – 2.25 mins each side
- Medium/Well – 4 to 5 mins each side
- Well Done – 6 mins each side
Why not check out our recipe: how to cook the perfect sirloin steak?
Chicken Breast
- Oven – 200C/fan 180C/gas 6 for around 25 minutes. Ensure the chicken juices run clear before serving.
- Frying – Place chicken breasts in a pan with some oil and cook on one side until browned, turn over and do the same. This should take around 10 minutes. Check juices run clear before serving.
Chicken Thighs
Put the chicken thighs, skin-side up, on a baking tray and drizzle with oil. Place in the oven for 35 to 40 minutes on 200C/180C Fan/Gas 6.
Whole Roasted Chicken
Cook for 20 minutes at 200 degrees Celsius followed by an extra 20 minutes at 180 degrees Celsius (per 500g.) For a 1kg chicken, cook for 20 mins at 200 degrees Celsius then cook for a further 40 mins on 180 degrees Celsius. Be sure to adjust cooking times per the size of the whole chicken.
Chicken Wings
To cook chicken wings, drizzle with oil and seasoning and roast in the oven for 20 minutes on 220C/200C Fan/ Gas 7. Reduce temperature to 180c/160 Fan/Gas 4 and cook for another 25 mins.
Beef Joint
Preheat oven to 180c/160 Fan/Gas 4 and cook the beef by its weight:
- Medium rare – 20 minutes per 500g
- Medium – 25 minutes per 500g
- Well done – 30 minutes per 500g
Leg of Lamb
For half a leg or a whole leg of lamb, preheat the oven to 180c/160 Fan/Gas 4:
- Medium – 25 minutes per 500g, then a further 25 minutes overall
- Well done – 30 minutes per 500g, then a further 30 minutes overall
For a Boneless leg of lamb, preheat the oven to 180c/160 Fan/Gas 4 and cook for 30 minutes for each 500g, then cook for a further 30 minutes overall.
Lamb Shoulder
Place the lamb in a roasting tray and drizzle with oil and season. Heat oven to 170 degrees Celcius/150 Fan/Gas 4 and cook for 40 minutes per 500g, plus an extra 40 minutes overall. For a part boned shoulder, cook for 60 minutes per 500g, plus an extra 30 minutes overall.
Lamb Chops
For griddle cooked lamb chops, place on high heat in a little oil and cook for around 3-4 mins on each side. Place the chops on their side, fat side facing down, and cook for a further 1-2 mins.
Joint of Pork
For boneless leg, loin roast, rack or shoulder of pork, heat oven to 220 degrees Celcius/200 Fan/Gas 7 and cook for 30 minutes. Bring temperature down to 180C/160 Fan/Gas 4 and cook for further 35 minutes per 500g, plus an extra 35 minutes overall.
For pork fillet, cook for 45 minutes per 500g and then an extra 45 minutes overall on 160 degrees Celcius/140 Fan/Gas 3.
Ensure a tasty roast dinner by avoiding these common Sunday roast mistakes.
Ribs
- Oven – For oven-roasted spare ribs, cook on 200 degrees Celcius in foil for 35 minutes. Remove the foil and cook for a further 60 minutes. Make sure to turn the ribs frequently and baste with the marinade.
- BBQ – To cook on a BBQ, use a moderate heat setting and grill for around 30 minutes whilst turning frequently.
Take a look at our blog, where you’ll find Spare Ribs Recipes for Chinese Oven Roasted Ribs and Texas Style BBQ ribs.
Burgers
- Oven – Place burgers on a rack or tray in the oven for 10 minutes to 15 minutes on 220C/200C Fan/Gas 7.
- Pan Fry – Place in a frying pan on high heat with a little oil. Cook until well sealed on one side then turn over and do the same for a few minutes on the other side. Add the cheese and place on a tray in the oven and cook for 5 minutes (at 180 degrees Celsius) until the cheese has melted and the meat is cooked through.
Why not try one of our steak burgers or learn how to make your own Five Guys Burger with our recipe from Harvey Ayliffe?
Pork Chops
Place pork chops in a hot pan with some oil. Turn down the heat and seal well on both sides. When they are well sealed, remove them from the pan and rest for 20 minutes. Check out our recipe for Iberico Pork Chops and Chorizo Butter Beans.
Steak
Place steaks in a hot pan with a little oil and cook according to the following:
- Rare – 1.5 minutes each side
- Medium Rare – 2 minutes each side
- Medium – About 2.5 on each side
Times may differ slightly depending on the thickness of steaks. Learn how to cook the perfect steak in our blog post and video guide from top chef Harvey Ayliffe. We also talk you through common mistakes people make when cooking steaks and how to avoid them.
Turkey Crown
If your Turkey crown is under 4kg, then you should cook for 20 minutes per Kilogram plus an extra 70 minutes. If over 4kg, cook for 20 minutes per Kilogram and add an extra 90 minutes. The oven temperature should be 190C/170C fan/gas 5.
Beef Wellington
In the oven for 20-25 mins for medium-rare, 30 mins for medium on 180 degrees Celsius. Remember to seal the beef in a pan beforehand. Our full Beef Wellington recipe shows you exactly how to cook this classic dish.
Gammon
Start by placing in a pan of cold water and bring to the boil then simmer for around 1.5 hours. Place on a baking tray and cook in the oven for around 25 minutes at 200 degrees Celsius until crisp and golden. Take a look at our full recipe here for Honey Glazed Gammon.
Always ensure the meat is cooked thoroughly before serving. These are guidelines only and may differ slightly depending on the type of oven or cookware you are using.
