Cooking Time of Different Foods

The common problem encountered by aspiring cooks is on how to properly handle and cook meat, fish, and vegetables. They don't want to overcook or under-cook any of the ingredients in their menu since it will definitely affect the taste and presentation of the dishes.

To avoid these scenarios, it is a must to know the cooking time of each ingredient. The cooking tips below will help you prepare sumptuous and perfectly cooked dishes:

 
Cooking time for Meat and Fish:

Broiled
Bacon....................... 3 to 5 min.
Chicken.................... 20 to 25 min.
Fish....................... 15 to 20 min.
Fish, very small............ 5 to 10 min.
Fish, slices............... 10 to 15 min.
Lamb chops.................. 6 to 8 min.
Quail or squabs............. 8 to 10 min.
Steak, thin................. 5 to 7 min.
Steak, thick............... 10 to 15 min.
Veal chops.................. 6 to 10 min.

Boiled
Beef, corned................ 3 to 4 hr.
Chicken, 3 lb............... 1 to 1-1/4 hr.
Fish, bluefish, cod, or bass, 4 to 5 lb.......... 20 to 30 min.
Fish, small................ 10 to 15 min.
Fish, slices, 2 to 3 lb.... 20 to 25 min.
Fowl, 4 to 5 lb............. 2 to 3 hr.
Ham, 12 to 14 lb............ 4 to 5 hr.
Mutton, leg of.............. 2 to 3 hr.
Tongue...................... 3 to 4 hr.

Roasted
Beef, rib or loin, 5 lb., rare....................... 1 hr. 5 min.
Beef, rib or loin, 5 lb., well done.................. 1 hr. 20 min.
Beef, rib or loin, 10 lb., rare....................... 1 hr. 30 min.
Beef, rib or loin, 10 lb., well done.................. 2 hr.
Beef, rump, 10 lb., well done.. 2 hr.
Beef, rump, 10 lb., rare... 1 hr. 30 min.
Chicken, 4 or 5 lb........ 1-1/2 to 2 hr.
Duck, 5 to 6 lb........... 1-1/4 to 1-1/2 hr.
Fish, small............... 20 to 30 min.
Fish, 3 to 5 lb........... 45 to 60 min.
Goose, 10 lb.............. 2 to 2-1/2 hr.
Lamb, leg of.............. 1-1/4 to 1-3/4 hr.
Mutton, saddle............ 1-1/4 to 1-1/2 hr.
Pork, rib, 5 lb........... 2 to 2-1/2 hr.
Turkey, 10 lb............. 2-1/2 to 3 hr.


Cooking time for Vegetables:

Boiled
Asparagus.............. 20 to 30 min.
Beans, string.......... 30 to 45 min.
Beans, lima or shell.... 40 to 60 min.
Beets, old............... 4 to 6 hr.
Beets, young........... 45 to 60 min.
Brussels sprouts....... 15 to 25 min.
Cabbage................ 35 to 60 min.
Cauliflower............. 20 to 30 min.
Carrots............... 3/4 to 2 hr.
Green corn............... 8 to 12 min.
Macaroni................ 30 to 40 min.
Onions.................. 45 to 60 min.
Peas.................... 25 to 60 min.
Potatoes................ 30 to 45 min.
Rice.................... 20 to 30 min.
Spinach................. 20 to 30 min.
Turnips................ 1/2 to 1-1/2 hr.
Vegetable oysters...... 3/4 to 1-1/2 hr.

Cooking time for Baked Foods:

Beans..................... 6 to 8 hr.
Biscuits, yeast........... 10 to 25 min.
Biscuits, baking powder ... 15 to 25 min.
Bread, loaf............... 40 to 60 min.
Bread, ginger............. 20 to 30 min.
Cake, corn................ 20 to 30 min.
Cake, fruit............ 1-1/4 to 2 hr.
Cake, layer............... 15 to 20 min.
Cake, loaf................ 40 to 60 min.
Cake, sponge.............. 45 to 60 min.
Cake, pound............ 1-1/4 to 1-1/2 hr.
Cookies.................... 6 to 10 min.
Custard................... 20 to 45 min.
Muffins, baking powder.... 15 to 25 min.
Pastry.................... 30 to 45 min.
Potatoes.................. 45 to 60 min.
Pudding, rice (poor man's). 2 to 3 hr.
Pudding, Indian............ 2 to 3 hr.