CHARTFree Chicken Cooking Temperature Chart
Free chicken cooking temperature chart for UK commercial kitchens. Verify 75°C core temperatures to eliminate Campylobacter and Salmonella risks.
A commercial chicken cooking temperature chart establishes the mandatory core thermal lethality standards for poultry in UK commercial kitchens. Under Food Standards Agency (FSA) regulations, chicken and poultry cuts must achieve a minimum core temperature of 75°C for 30 seconds (or 70°C for 2 minutes, and 82°C in Scotland) to destroy Campylobacter and Salmonella bacteria.
Commercial Poultry & Chicken Cooking Temperature & Core Probe Calculator
Calculate commercial roasting times by joint weight, inspect cut-specific core probe locations, verify compliance with statutory temperature limits (75°C for 30s / 82°C Scotland), and print an EHO audit wall chart.
Oven: 58°C - 66°C Precision Immersion Circulator
Plus mandatory 5 min rest under foil to equalise core temperature.
Hold reading for at least 30 seconds at the thermal centre.
Commercial Poultry & Chicken Cooking Temperature Chart
Campylobacter & Salmonella Eradication Standard • Statutory Core Probing & Carvery Holding Standards
| Joint / Cut | Oven Temp | Time / kg | Resting | Min Core Temp | Probe Location Protocol |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Low-Temp Pasteurisation & Sous-Vide (7-Log Lethality) Salmonella 7D Eradication | 58°C - 66°C Precision Immersion Circulator | 50 min/kg | 5 min | ≥ 65°C | Center of thickest breast or dark meat portion using calibrated thermocouple probe and foam tape. |
Whole Roasting Chicken Whole Carcass | 180°C – 190°C (Fan) | 45 min/kg | 15 min | ≥ 75°C | Probe thickest part of the inner thigh between leg and breast, avoiding contact with the bone. |
Bone-In Chicken Thighs & Drumsticks Dark Meat Cut | 190°C – 200°C (Fan) | 40 min/kg | 10 min | ≥ 75°C | Insert probe into thickest meat section without touching leg bone. |
Boneless Skinless Chicken Breasts White Meat Cut | 180°C – 190°C (Fan) | 35 min/kg | 8 min | ≥ 75°C | Insert probe horizontally into the deepest center of the breast fillet. |
Chicken Livers & Pâté Preparation Offal / Pâté | Pan-sear / Oven bake | 20 min/kg | 5 min | ≥ 70°C | Probe the center of largest liver piece; must hold at ≥ 70°C for at least 2 full minutes. |
Antibacterial Probe Hygiene
Always sanitise the digital thermometer probe with a single-use BS EN 1276 probe wipe before and immediately after checking each joint. Never insert an unwashed probe into cooked meats.
Mandatory 30-Second Dwell Time
Thermal lethality depends on time and temperature combinations. Hold the probe at the geometric center for at least 30 seconds to verify temperature stabilizes at or above the target limit before recording.
Service Hot-Holding (≥ 63°C)
Carvery decks, bain-maries, and heated passes must maintain cooked meats at ≥ 63°C continuously. If temperature drops below 63°C, the food must be consumed or discarded within 2 hours under UK law.
FSA 90-Minute Cooling Rule
Portion leftover cooked roasts into shallow stainless gastronorm pans (< 5cm depth). Chill down to < 8°C within 90 minutes before sealing and placing on top shelves of the walk-in refrigerator.
How to Implement the Chicken Cooking Temperature Chart in Your Commercial Kitchen
Practical due diligence procedures, regulatory compliance steps, and EHO audit verification guidelines for UK hospitality businesses.
UK Statutory Due Diligence Framework
Under Section 21 of the Food Safety Act 1990, a food business operator has a defense of due diligence if they prove that all reasonable precautions were taken and all due diligence was exercised to prevent food safety offenses.
Documented logs like the Chicken Cooking Temperature Chart provide contemporaneous proof of monitoring required by Regulation (EC) No 852/2004 (retained UK law). Local council Environmental Health Officers (EHO) evaluate these records when scoring the "Confidence in Management" category of the Food Hygiene Rating Scheme (FHRS).
Official FSA Record-Keeping Guidance & Due Diligence
Under UK Food Standards Agency (FSA) Safer Food, Better Business (SFBB) standards and Article 5 of Regulation (EC) No 852/2004, food business operators are required to maintain contemporaneous, accurate operational records.
- Contemporaneous logging: Kitchen logs must reflect actual checks performed during opening, active service, and closing rather than retrospective estimates.
- Corrective action logs: Whenever a critical limit is breached, document the specific corrective measure taken (e.g. food discarded, chilled, or reheated) with staff initials.
- Statutory due diligence defense: Retaining completed daily sheets for a minimum of 6 to 12 months supports the statutory defense under Section 21 of the Food Safety Act 1990. Official guidance is available at food.gov.uk.
Step-by-Step Operational Routine
Operational Step 1
Select the poultry cut: whole roasting bird, bone-in thighs/legs, boneless breasts, or chicken livers.
Operational Step 2
Never wash raw chicken under taps to prevent spreading Campylobacter droplets across work surfaces.
Operational Step 3
Probe the thickest part of the inner thigh without touching bone; hold reading for at least 30 seconds.
Operational Step 4
Verify internal core reaches at least 75°C (82°C in Scotland) and juices run completely clear before serving.
Procedures align with UK Food Standards Agency (FSA) Safer Food, Better Business (SFBB) catering guidance and the Food Information Regulations 2014. Review official advice at food.gov.uk.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about UK kitchen compliance, record keeping, and EHO audits.
All temperatures, microbial lethality pairs, and critical limits on this page have been verified against primary statutory documents issued by the UK Food Standards Agency (FSA), Food Standards Scotland (FSS), Regulation (EC) No 852/2004, and US FDA/USDA guidelines.
These templates, checklists, and calculators are food-safety management tools designed to assist UK food business operators (FBOs) in maintaining organised kitchen records and internal procedures. They do not constitute legal advice and using them does not guarantee compliance with UK food law or a five-star food hygiene rating.
UK Food Hygiene Rating Scheme: Complete 5-Star Inspection Checklist
Read our in-depth guidance on UK Food Standards Agency inspection procedures, staff training, and compliance routines.
