Step 1

Preheat oven to 400 degrees with rack set in upper third.

Step 2

Remove giblets from chicken and rinse chicken inside and out with cold water. Set chicken, cavity-side down, in a colander to drain for 2 minutes. Pat chicken dry with paper towels and place breast-side down in a medium roasting pan fitted with a rack; pour lemon juice all over chicken, inside and out. Season chicken, inside and out, with salt and pepper.

Step 3

Pierce whole lemons three times with the tines of a fork; place pierced lemons inside cavity. Using kitchen twine, truss chicken to enclose. Transfer roasting pan to oven and reduce temperature to 350 degrees; roast for 15 minutes.

Step 4

Remove roasting pan from oven and, using tongs or two wooden spoons, turn chicken breast-side up. Return chicken to oven and cook until a thermometer inserted into the thigh reaches 180 degrees and juices run clear when thigh is pierced with a fork, 1 hour to 1 hour 15 minutes.

Step 5

Let chicken stand 15 minutes before carving. Transfer carved chicken to a serving platter and pour juices from roasting pan over chicken. Garnish with lemon slices and fresh herbs; serve.