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How Long To Bake

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chicken thighThe time to bake chicken thighs at 350 degrees will vary a bit based on whether or not your pieces have bones.

  • Boneless Thighs: 25 to 35 minutes
  • Bone-In Thighs: 50 to 55 minutes

One great thing about baking chicken thighs is that they’re fairly forgiving; they’re less likely to dry out if you leave them in the oven a bit longer. You can also cook them at higher heat, which is what we recommend. Set your oven to 400 degrees and you’ll get a faster bake time and chicken pieces with a nice golden brown color.

Chicken breastThe bake time for thin-sliced chicken breast should be around 15 minutes at 400 degrees. Thinner pieces will cook faster, which is why we actually recommend cutting thicker pieces in half before preparing baked chicken breast. We also recommend cooking your meat at a high temperature; at lower temperatures, thin pieces of chicken are more likely to dry out. Keep a close eye on your chicken to make sure that it doesn’t overcook. When it reaches an internal temperature of 165 degrees, it’s ready to eat.

salmonThe right amount of time to bake salmon at 375 degrees is about 20 minutes. One of the best ways to ensure that your fish comes out fully cooked, moist, and flavorful is to bake it in a foil pouch. Our favorite baked salmon recipe calls for wrapping the salmon in foil along with rosemary, lemon, and garlic before you put it in the oven. To test the fish for doneness, you can take its temperature at the thickest part, looking for a temperature of 145 degrees. You can also test it with a fork; if the flesh flakes easily, the fish is ready.

salmonIt only takes about 10 minutes to bake salmon in a 425-degree oven. However, when you cook salmon at such a high temperature, it’s much more likely that you’ll overcook it. Our preferred baked salmon recipe calls for you to set your oven to 375 degrees and cook the salmon inside a foil pouch. Both of these strategies can help to ensure that you end up with moist, delicious salmon that’s properly cooked all the way through. If you want to be absolutely sure that your fish is done, stick a meat thermometer in it: When it registers 145 degrees, dinner is ready.

sweet potatoThe bake time for sweet potatoes will vary a bit depending on how big they are. Smaller sweet potatoes will take about 30 to 40 minutes to bake, whereas large sweet potatoes can take up to an hour. In order to make sure your sweet potato is fully baked, you can test it by piercing it with a fork; if it slides in easily, the potato is done.

Like with regular potatoes, be sure to prick the skin of your sweet potatoes before you put them into the oven. This allows steam to escape, so your potatoes don’t explode in the oven.

sweet potatoesThe best bake time for diced sweet potatoes is 30 to 35 minutes in a 425-degree oven. Make sure to turn over your sweet potato chunks partway through the cooking time so that they cook evenly. When they’re nicely caramelized on the outside and soft on the inside, they’re done!

Roasted sweet potato chunks can be seasoned in a variety of different ways, making them a nutritious and delicious side for just about any meal. You can balance the sweetness of the potatoes with spice by tossing your cubes with garlic powder and cumin before baking them. Or you can lean into the natural sweetness of sweet potatoes by adding cinnamon and a drizzle of honey. Of course, they’re also delicious with just a sprinkling of sea salt.

pizzaFor the best results, split up the bake time for homemade pizza into two parts. First, shape your pizza dough and bake it on its own for 6 minutes in a 500-degree oven. Then, add your pizza sauce and toppings and return the pizza to the oven for 8 to 15 minutes. This approach keeps the crust from getting soggy. If you have a pizza stone or a specialized pizza pan, bake your pizza on that to ensure a crispy bottom crust. It’s also a good idea to bake your pizza on the bottom rack of your oven; this is the hottest part of the oven, and high heat is crucial for the right crust texture. When the crust is golden and the cheese is nice and melty, your pizza is ready to eat.

Chicken breastIt takes 15 to 18 minutes to bake chicken breasts at 400 degrees, depending on the size and thickness of your pieces. To be certain that your baked chicken breast is done, you’ll need to take its temperature: Insert a meat thermometer into the thickest part of the biggest piece of meat and wait a few moments, then check the reading. When the thermometer reads 165 degrees, your chicken is safe to eat.

Pork chopThe bake time for lamb chops is less than 10 minutes, with the exact time depending on the doneness you prefer. It’s important to start by searing your chops in a pan for the best flavor. Then, pop them into a 375-degree oven to finish cooking. Here’s how long to bake lamb chops to your preferred doneness:

  • Medium-rare to medium: 2 to 5 minutes
  • Medium-well to well-done: 5 to 8 minutes

Always keep an eye on your lamb chops while they’re in the oven: They’ll cook fast, and you don’t want them to overcook and dry out. Also, the longer you cook lamb, the more likely it is to taste gamey.

empanadasThe bake time for empanadas is around 30 minutes at 350 degrees; however, the amount of time it takes to bake empanadas will depend in part on the size of your empanadas. The bake time will be the same no matter what type of filling you use, whether it’s chicken, beef, rice, or sausage. You’ll be able to tell when they’re done because the outsides of your empanadas will be golden brown on all sides. One great thing about making empanadas is that you can also make them ahead of time and put them in the fridge or freezer; just add a few minutes to the bake time or set your oven a bit higher if you’re cooking them from frozen.