Is it necessary to add liquid or other ingredients to the oven bag when cooking cornish hens?

How to Cook Cornish Hens in Oven Bag

Cornish hens are small game birds and are a popular choice for those seeking a unique and flavorful meal. These birds are tender and juicy; however, cooking them in an oven bag ensures that they are more flavorful and moist.

Here’s how to cook cornish hens in an oven bag:

Ingredients

• 2 Cornish hens
• 1 tablespoon of olive oil
• 1 teaspoon of salt
• ½ teaspoon of black pepper
• 1 tablespoon of dried thyme
• 1 tablespoon of dried rosemary
• 1 tablespoon of dried sage
• 1-2 tablespoons of all-purpose flour
• 1 oven bag

Directions

1. Preheat your oven to 350°F (176°C).
2. Clean the Cornish hens and pat them dry with paper towels.
3. In a small bowl, mix together olive oil, salt, black pepper, dried thyme, dried rosemary, and dried sage.
4. Brush the oil mixture over the hens and ensure that they are fully coated.
5. Add one or two tablespoons of all-purpose flour inside the oven bag and shake it until coated with flour.
6. Place the hens carefully inside the oven bag.
7. Close the oven bag and insert it into a baking dish. Poke a few slits in the oven bag to allow steam to escape.
8. Bake in the oven for about 1 hour and 30 minutes or until the internal temperature of the thickest part of the hen reaches 165°F (74°C).
9. Remove the oven bag carefully, cut open and transfer the hens to a platter or a serving dish and allow them to rest for about 5 minutes before carving.

Tips

• If you’re serving a vegetable, you can put it in the oven bag with the hens.
• Ensure the oven bag is closed tightly to prevent any liquid from escaping and making a mess in your oven.
• Use an instant-read thermometer to check the internal temperature of the hens to prevent overcooking them.

Now that you know how to cook Cornish hens in an oven bag, you can use this recipe to impress your friends and family with an exquisite and flavorful meal.