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Whole Chicken

I'm going to cook a 2lb chicken on the Egg tomorrow. Few questions, do I go direct or indirect? If indirect, what dome temp do I want and about how long for the cook? If direct, what dome temp and for how long? I'm going to be making the grill grate extender with the carriage boots, so it will be about 5" taller.. I also have that fancy porcealin sittin turkey vertical roaster that I will fill up with beer..
XL bge, Mini max & 36 BS Griddle.

Comments

  • Mickey
    Mickey Posts: 19,669
    edited April 2013
    Just a suggestion. First are you sure you have a 2 lb chicken (I am a fan of small chickens)? Cut the back out (Spatchcocked), cook it direct at 375/400 raised. If this chick is really 2 lbs I haven't got a clue on time, but if 3.5 to 4 a little under an hour. No tray, drink the beer.
    Salado TX & 30A  FL: Egg Family: 3 Large and a very well used Mini, added a Mini Max when they came out (I'm good for now). Plus a couple Pit Boss Pellet Smokers.   

  • Mickey
    Mickey Posts: 19,669
    This is on aMini. Just to show you what it looks like. image
    Salado TX & 30A  FL: Egg Family: 3 Large and a very well used Mini, added a Mini Max when they came out (I'm good for now). Plus a couple Pit Boss Pellet Smokers.   

  • six_egg
    six_egg Posts: 1,110
    The best advice I can give you about this cook or any other is use temperature not time. Most know time but cook by temp. I have seen Mickey post about temp over time before. He knows what he is doing.

    XLBGE, LBGE 

    Fernandina Beach, FL

  • berndcrisp
    berndcrisp Posts: 1,166
    2 lbs. sounds more like a large Cornish game hen, which are also great on the egg.
    Hood Stars, Wrist Crowns and Obsession Dobs!


  • I cooked a 2 pounder last week at 350 and reached temp in 35 mins. Started cold. Large egg.
  • Sorry, it's a little over 4lbs.
    XL bge, Mini max & 36 BS Griddle.
  • Little Steven
    Little Steven Posts: 28,817

    I like to do them indirect and inverted on the stand

    photo 7724528e-65b2-4b10-8a30-d4e49045c751.jpg

     

    Steve 

    Caledon, ON

     

  • Mickey
    Mickey Posts: 19,669

    THis is large Cornish game hen about 2 lbs.

     

    image
    Salado TX & 30A  FL: Egg Family: 3 Large and a very well used Mini, added a Mini Max when they came out (I'm good for now). Plus a couple Pit Boss Pellet Smokers.   

  • SaltySam
    SaltySam Posts: 887

    I'd like to ask a couple follow-on question to this thread.   For a whole bird, where are you taking the temps?  Breast or thigh?  My last spatchcocked chicken was cooked to 160 breast temperature, and the white meat was fantastic.  However, there were portions of the darker meat that didn't seem as done.  I've cooked another one with the probe in the thigh, and cooked to 170.  The dark meat was spot on, but the breasts were a little overcooked and mealy.

    Any tips?

    LBGE since June 2012

    Omaha, NE

  • Eggcelsior
    Eggcelsior Posts: 14,414
    edited April 2013
    SaltySam said:

    I'd like to ask a couple follow-on question to this thread.   For a whole bird, where are you taking the temps?  Breast or thigh?  My last spatchcocked chicken was cooked to 160 breast temperature, and the white meat was fantastic.  However, there were portions of the darker meat that didn't seem as done.  I've cooked another one with the probe in the thigh, and cooked to 170.  The dark meat was spot on, but the breasts were a little overcooked and mealy.

    Any tips?

    white- 160 finished

    dark - 180 finished

    I pull at 5 degrees below finish for the rest.

    I have not spatchcocked on the Egg; only the oven. I stick the probe in a thigh and then spot check once it gets to 160 with the Thermapen.

    Did you rotate the bird? Mine usually finishes at the same time.(Egg can have hot spots)
  • SaltySam
    SaltySam Posts: 887

    I've done the beer butt (minus the beer) method, where the chicken sat up, with legs pointed down.  I've also spatchcocked it, but didn't rotate it, since it was indirect. 

    I see that @Little Steven does his inverted.  Does that help even out cooking time?  It would make sense, since you're getting the dark meat higher up in the dome. 

    LBGE since June 2012

    Omaha, NE

  • Little Steven
    Little Steven Posts: 28,817
    That was the reason I started doing them this way. I consistently get 15* to 25* difference between the white and dark meat. Another benefit is that the fat from the back end bastes the front

    Steve 

    Caledon, ON

     

  • SaltySam
    SaltySam Posts: 887

    Awesome.  I look forward to trying that method now.  Thanks for the help!

    LBGE since June 2012

    Omaha, NE

  • Little Steven
    Little Steven Posts: 28,817
    You need a narrow neck on the stand. The BGE stand works well. You may still have to clip out a bit of the backbone to get it started.

    Steve 

    Caledon, ON

     

  • I think my first chicken turned out awesome. 2.5 hrs at 380deg. The dark spots are the rub. She was moist I must say
    XL bge, Mini max & 36 BS Griddle.
  • Skiddymarker
    Skiddymarker Posts: 8,522
    edited April 2013
    @EggHeadinFlorida - are you sorry you asked? 
    Point is there are lots of ways, all good, go with your gut and enjoy!
    I like 'em spatched direct at 350-375 and indirect at 400-425. 
    Cook time is around an hour for 3-4#. 
    Delta B.C. - Whiskey and steak, because no good story ever started with someone having a salad!
  • billyray
    billyray Posts: 1,275
    SaltySam said:

    I'd like to ask a couple follow-on question to this thread.   For a whole bird, where are you taking the temps?  Breast or thigh?  My last spatchcocked chicken was cooked to 160 breast temperature, and the white meat was fantastic.  However, there were portions of the darker meat that didn't seem as done.  I've cooked another one with the probe in the thigh, and cooked to 170.  The dark meat was spot on, but the breasts were a little overcooked and mealy.

    Any tips?

    Ice the breasts for about 20 minutes before you put them on. I usually end up with thighs @ 180 and breasts @165.
    Felton, Ca. 2-LBGE, 1-Small, PBC, PK360, Genesis Summit, Camp Chef Flattop, Smokefire 24, Traeger Pro Series 22 Pellet with a Smoke Daddy insert, Gateway 55 Gal. drum, SNS Kettle w/acc.
  • Mickey
    Mickey Posts: 19,669
    I think my first chicken turned out awesome. 2.5 hrs at 380deg. The dark spots are the rub. She was moist I must say

    Sorry but I am not grasping something. You are saying you cooked a 2lb bird for 2 1/2 hours at 380? I cook 13lb turkeys at 380 for 1&1/4 hour. And 3&1/2 lb chickens 50 to 55 min. All spatchcocked, all direct. Is you temp been tested?
    Salado TX & 30A  FL: Egg Family: 3 Large and a very well used Mini, added a Mini Max when they came out (I'm good for now). Plus a couple Pit Boss Pellet Smokers.   

  • burr_baby33
    burr_baby33 Posts: 503
    My "go to" method for chicken is spatchcock. I cook the thighs to 175 + rest and it is consistently excellent. BUT, when I feel a little creative I love to debone and stuff the bird using the Pepin technique. I sit the iPad by the cutting board starting and stopping as I go. Pepin can debone a chicken in two or three minutes...takes me about ten. I like to serve it to guests, it has a WOW factor. Tastes great and looks fantastic on the platter.
  • Eggcelsior
    Eggcelsior Posts: 14,414

    My "go to" method for chicken is spatchcock. I cook the ths to 175 + rest and it is consistently excellent. BUT, when I feel a little creative I love to debone and stuff the bird using the Pepin technique. I sit the iPad by the cutting board starting and stopping as I go. Pepin can debone a chicken in two or three minutes...takes me about ten. I like to serve it to guests, it has a WOW factor. Tastes great and looks fantastic on the platter.

    +1
    I love doing this. Never on the egg yet. I do it like he does and stuff it then wrap in the skin. My favorite way to do chicken.
  • Sry. A few posts up I said it was a little over 4lbs. I don't think their would be much bird left at 2lbs for 2.5 hrs lol
    Mickey said:
    I think my first chicken turned out awesome. 2.5 hrs at 380deg. The dark spots are the rub. She was moist I must say

    Sorry but I am not grasping something. You are saying you cooked a 2lb bird for 2 1/2 hours at 380? I cook 13lb turkeys at 380 for 1&1/4 hour. And 3&1/2 lb chickens 50 to 55 min. All spatchcocked, all direct. Is you temp been tested?

    XL bge, Mini max & 36 BS Griddle.