Chicken / how long to cook chicken on a grill etc.

Chicken rubbed with Knox's Yummy Chicken dry rub and a couple slabs of excellent ribs. Photo submitted by: Chris Iron Pig Competition Cooking Team, SC

Cooking chicken on a grill is a great way to make an easy and tasty meal. There are a couple of simple rules for cooking chicken on a grill listed below. If you follow these suggestions and your recipe you should be able to grill chicken like a pro.

Suggestion #1
Grill chicken over lower heat (230 degrees F. - 250 degrees F.) for a longer amount of time (45 minutes to an hour or longer depending on your ability to know how hot your grill is).

• This will allow you cook your chicken on a grill so it is cooked thoroughly
  without as much worry about flames charring the chicken.
• You will not have to spend as much time moving chicken around while waiting for it to cook through.
• Possibility of it being cooked on the inside and not burning the outside before this happens.

Suggestion #2
If you have an iron grate on your grill, brush it with olive or vegetable oil before grilling.

• This aids in preventing chicken from sticking to grill.
• Mixing a little liquid smoke in the oil you brush on grill is not a bad thing either.

Suggestion #3
Learn to properly prepare charcoal for your grill.

• Even cooking surface.
• Evenly cooked chicken.
• Everybody is happy.

Suggestion #4
Buy a meat thermometer

• Boneless chicken is done when the internal temperature is 170 degrees F. and bone in chicken is done when the internal temperature is 180 degrees F. A meat thermometer will accurately tell you this without slicing into chicken on the grill and releasing moisture.
• Never under or overcook chicken cooked on a grill when using a meat thermometer.
• No guess work

Suggestion #5
Do not baste with thick sugary sauces, like BBQ sauce, while cooking. Baste with barbecue sauce after cooking is complete.

1. This prevents fires from starting because of excess sauce.
2. Reduces the chance of bitter and burned chicken on the grill cause by sugars burning in sauce.
3. barbecue sauce really does not have to cook anyway.
4. After chicken cooks. Baste with BBQ sauce and allow to glaze chicken on the grill for a couple of minutes before removing.

Suggestion #6
Use a recipe for cooking chicken on a grill

• Will give you approximate cooking times.
• Takes a lot of guesswork out of cooking chicken on a grill.

Suggestion #7
Allow chicken to rest after you are finished cooking it on the grill

• This allows fluids to evenly distribute through chicken before eating
• If you cut into hot chicken off the grill the fluids will run out of meat and the chicken will be less moist and succulent. Resting stops this from happening.

Using the above suggestions will make cooking chicken on a grill much simpler. Below is a summary.

• Cook over lower temperatures for longer times.
• Oil the grate before cooking chicken on a grill
• Properly prepare charcoal before cooking
• Use a meat thermometer
• Do not baste with BBQ sauce until cooking is complete
• Use a recipe for approximate times and temperatures
• Allow chicken to rest after cooking on a grill.

Not rocket science, more of a lesson in patience . The more you cook chicken on a grill the better you will become. Follow these guides and experiment. Have fun and eat well.