Summertime is almost here, which means that it's time to fire up the grill and come up with some creative sauces and marinades for barbeque chicken. To get it right and to do a good job of it there are some tried and tested rules you should follow before you start the cooking process. Following are some ideas for preparing your chicken, and some tips for cooking it to perfection.
One of the best ways to come up with ideas for seasoning your chicken is to take a look at some of the ingredients that you already have in your own pantry. You can use items like garlic and onion to flavor the chicken before you put it on the grill, and this will add savory flavor to the meat while it is cooking. You may want to combine garlic and onion with citrus for barbeque chicken that has more of a Cuban or Latin taste to it, or add a number of flavored vinegars to give your main dish a bit of a salty bite that will go well with sweeter side dishes.
Barbeque sauce is wonderful on chicken, but wait until the meat is totally cooked before adding it. This will make the chicken tender with a great taste. This also means there will be no flare ups, since the sauce is the true culprit in these cases. The sugar in the sauce is what causes the burning. In order to keep your chicken moist you can baste it with apple juice over a slow heat. You can use almost anything, except wine. Wine will do nothing save for two things. First of all it will dry out the meat, and depending on what type of wine is used, it can cause a bigger fire.
The best way to barbeque chicken is to cook it long and slow. Set your smoker to a temperature of 225 degrees and let it spit and sizzle for at least four hours if you've got half of a bird. If you're using a charcoal grill rake the coals to one side and cook the chicken on the other. Start grilling it with the skin side down and after three quarters of the cooking time has elapsed, turn it over.
Always use a meat thermometer! This is the most important thing to remember when barbeque chicken is on the menu. If your guests eat raw or undercooked poultry it can be dangerous. Get one of those voice alert remote thermometers so you know the chicken is cooked perfectly. Then get ready to enjoy a juicy, flavorful meal.
Barbequing makes us think of sunny days, tantalizing aromas and good food enjoyed with great company. For some great tips and advice on the art and science of BBQ, from BBQ wood chips to competition BBQ tips, visit the BBQ Tips site.