Welcome to the EGGhead Forum - a great place to visit and packed with tips and EGGspert advice! You can also join the conversation and get more information and amazing kamado recipes by following Big Green Egg to Experience our World of Flavor™ at:
Facebook  |  Twitter  |  Instagram  |  Pinterest  |  Youtube  |  Vimeo
Share your photos by tagging us and using the hashtag #BigGreenEgg.

Want to see how the EGG is made? Click to Watch

Cook time - 1 vs 2

Matt86m
Matt86m Posts: 471
in EggHead Forum
How much difference on average (if there is one) will there be between cooking 1 chicken vs 2. 1 Tritip vs 2. Etc.

Using a recipe; Spatchcock chicken, 375* for 35 - 40 min (though I have never had a chicken cook in just 35-40 min)

How much time would you add for 2 spatchcock chickens?

Note: this is a Traeger recipe, but I figure 375* is 375* in most grills/oven. I did cook 2 in my Traeger.

I realize there are differences in air circulation, efficiency, etc 

Is there a general, rule of thumb, average amount of time to add for 2?
XL aka Senior, Mini Max aka Junior, Weber Q's, Blackstone 22, Lion built in, RecTec Mini 300, Lodge Hibachi, Uuni, wife says I have too many grills,,,,how many shoes do you have?
 
IG -->  matt_86m
· Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Comments

  • littlerascal56
    littlerascal56 Posts: 2,110
    I can cook 1 or 2 spatchcock chickens on my XL in about 75 minutes.  It took longer on my Traeger grills, up to 2 hours.  I always blamed it on all the airflow thru the Traeger, which also dried out the food.  Sold all my pellet grills because I tired of using water pans to keep food moist.  They do work great for making jerky.
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • GregW
    GregW Posts: 2,678
    If you believe Aaron Franklin, and I do, he says more meat in a smoker causes longer cooking times. Now he's talking about his large offset smokers, but the same should apply to a smaller type such as the BGE.
    I think it's really about airflow, if the egg is not loaded to a point that leads to airflow restriction, I think the cook time increase would be minimal.
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • GregW
    GregW Posts: 2,678
    littlerascal56 said:
    I can cook 1 or 2 spatchcock chickens on my XL in about 75 minutes.  It took longer on my Traeger grills, up to 2 hours.  I always blamed it on all the airflow thru the Traeger, which also dried out the food.  Sold all my pellet grills because I tired of using water pans to keep food moist.  They do work great for making jerky.
    I have a Cookshack FEC 120 pellet smoker. When I bought it I was worried that the really high airflow would result in dry meat. 
    I was pleasantly surprised, I haven't had any problem with dryness, I I don't use any water pans. Ribs turn out moist and tender.
    If you can justify a smoker that can smoke 150 pounds of butts at a time I highly recommend the Cookshack FEC 120. It makes cooking simple. 
     
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Lit
    Lit Posts: 9,053
    I have noticed it takes longer to do 2 Chuck roasts for pulled beef than just one. There’s too many variables to say how much longer but the times I have cooked the Costco 2 packs it has taken forever. Chicken isn’t a long cook anyways so if it adds 15 minutes it’s not a big issue.
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Categories