Beer Can Chicken: what about the paint?

Bama Egger

Do y'all cook chicken on a normal beer can? Does the paint on the can have any effect on the taste or safety of the food?

The Other Dave

Paul, Good question. I haven't found the answer yet myself. I tried this method and in my opinion, it's better to throw in an onion or an orange and not worry about the HOT beer spilling in the egg or on you. It wasn't easy for me to get the can out.[p]

Kelly Keefe

Paul,
I use a regular beer can and have seen no evidence (visually or taste) that the "paint" comes off. I think the key is to use a name brand beer and not some off the wall cheapy brand. If you're still uncertain, then get yourself a ceramic chicken stand. My 2 cents.[p]Kelly

JSlot

Getting the can out shouldn't be a problem if you rub it with olive oil or spray it with Pam, Dave.[p]Jim

mad max beyond eggdome

Paul,
i do beer butts all the time. . ..what i do is take two empty coke cans (or any other 12 oz can for that matter), and i cut the top completely off of them. . .then i split a beer between the two cans, and add a teaspoon or so of the same rub i'm putting on the chickens. .. .cutting the tops off like this allows for two things. . ..one, i can add rubs, etc. much easier to the liquid, and two, it is easy to "pinch" the tops of the cans for easier insertion into the bird (careful of the sharp edges though). . .[p]and i've never had any problem with paint burning off, etc. . .[p]good luck.

JimE

Paul,
Though I don't want to ruffle any feathers with my friends here, I would not split a can of beer as mad max described. One should drink the half of each beer used for the chicken. My two cents.

WooDoggies

Paul,[p]Cook's Illustrated addressed this question in their Nov/Dec 2000 #47 issue.
According to CI the cans are sprayed with FDA approved coatings that are baked at 400 degrees which "permanently bind the substances to the can."
The article goes onto say, "...the lacquer and ink will not be disturbed unless the can comes into direct and continued contact with the flames. As the recipe directs, the grill itself should get no hotter than 375 degrees and the chicken no hotter than about 175 degrees. During our tests, the can, semi protected in the chicken's cavity, never registered more than 260 degrees." [p]I think you can now ream away with a clear conscience! :~)[p]John

Unknown

WooDoggies,[p]Phew.... Good thing I don't need to buy another BBQ toy. Plus, you don't have to clean up an old beer can... I was afraid I was getting more brain damage...

WooDoggies

Scottie,[p]Brain damage? From the can or the beer? :~)