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Cornish Hen Delivery or Pickup
The Instacart guide to Cornish hen
About Cornish hen
Cornish hen is a delicious and tender chicken variation suited for individual servings. Also known as a broiler-fryer chicken, Cornish hens are between ages 7-13 weeks old, ranging from 1-2 pounds. Cornish hens take their name from a nineteenth-century English and Indian variation, and despite being labeled as "hens," they can be either male or female. The Cornish hen is often reserved for fancy occasions or holidays because they tend to be more expensive than regular chicken meat. However, these tiny birds are perfect for smaller families.
Cornish hen is a healthy food containing high-quality, complete protein with all of the essential amino acids. Eating protein is necessary for healthy internal organs, muscles, bones, and blood. Most of the fat in a Cornish hen is "heart-healthy," with less than 1 gram per 100 grams of unhealthy saturated fat.
Cornish hen tastes similar to chicken with a more grassy flavor. The succulent meat of a Cornish hen is ideal for roasting and makes for a versatile dish that tastes wonderful paired with a variety of sides, including:
- Roasted potatoes
- Peas, corn, and other veggies
- Squash
- Garlic mashed potatoes
- Rice
- Green salads
- Caesar salads
Cornish hen cooking tips
Because there is a small amount of meat with Cornish hens, you can plan on cooking one for each person. If you like to split them in half for two servings, the best way is to turn them over, so they're breast-side down.
For crispy skin, refrigerate the hen overnight allowing the skin to dry out, which helps to seal in the juices and make the meat moister. You can also remove the skin after cooking if you prefer.
You can roast Cornish hen uncovered, basting with butter often for about an hour. If the hen weighs over 1 pound, cook for an additional 15 minutes. The internal temperature should always reach 180 degrees Fahrenheit when checked at the inner thigh. To brown the chicken, raise the temperature to 400 degrees Fahrenheit for the last 10 minutes of cooking.
Whether you're cooking a fancy dinner for the family or preparing a feast for the holidays, it's easy to shop for exactly what you need via the Instacart app. Our shoppers will get your order together, and you can have Cornish hen delivered to your door in as little as 2 hours!
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Buy your favorite Cornish Hen online with Instacart. Order Cornish Hen from local and national retailers near you and enjoy on-demand, contactless delivery or pickup within 2 hours.
FAQs about Cornish hen
While chicken meat contains many of the same healthy vitamins and minerals, Cornish hens are younger and contain less fat and fewer calories. They are also composed of primarily white meat, which is high in niacin. All poultry have plenty of protein and B vitamins which protect against skin disease, heart disorders, and cataracts. Cornish hens have high vitamin D for strengthening bones, while their vitamin A content is essential for healthy eyesight.
Cornish hens are a variety of chicken, though there are distinct differences between the two. First, Cornish hens are much smaller than other poultry and weigh just 1-2 pounds compared to a chicken's 5-6. Secondly, because Cornish hens are much younger, the meat is more tender when cooked.
Another notable difference is the fat content. Cornish hens are primarily white meat, which is lean and contains plenty of niacin, a nutrient that may help lower cholesterol and improve brain function. Cornish hens are also too small to sell without bones.
The same as chicken, raw Cornish hen can contain bacteria like salmonella and listeria. Be careful when handling to prevent any cross-contamination, and try to make hens the item you pick up in the store. Bag any poultry securely, so the juices don't leak onto other food items, and refrigerate at 40 degrees Fahrenheit. Cornish hens can store in the fridge for 1-2 days before cooking. Leaving uncooked poultry on the counter to thaw can cause bacterial growth, so you should defrost in the refrigerator. Any cooked meat should go directly into the fridge rather than sitting around on the counter or in the pan.
While there are many ways to prepare Cornish hen, one of the most popular is roasting. These hens are easier to roast because of their smaller size and take less time to achieve the perfect combination of crispy skin and succulent meat. Cornish hens' small size makes them a fast-cooking bird, with most needing only 20-25 minutes in an oven set to 450 degrees Fahrenheit.