Tips on Grilling Chicken

Grilling tips for making succulent chicken abound. Here are some classic pointers.

 1. Choose the best quality chicken you can afford.

 Many supermarket quality cuts of chicken contain hormones, synthetic elements, preservatives, and other nasty stuff that you don't want going into your body or the bodies of your friends and family.  Organic, free range chickens may cost slightly extra, but they provide better taste and fewer health risks.

 2. Warm up meat before using outdoor grills.

 Too often, amateur chefs light up their barbeque grills and throw on chicken fresh from the refrigerator or - heaven forbid - the freezer.  This can result in some very succulent looking chicken - on the outside. On the inside, you will find pink and cold areas that have not had a chance to cook thoroughly.  To remedy this problem, remove your meat from the refrigerator prior to grilling and let it naturally come up to room temperature.  Note: Don't let the chicken sit out too long before cooking it or the meat can go bad.

 3. Wait until the very end of the grilling process to add sugar-containing marinades or sauces.

 Whether you're slow roasting a hen at 250 degrees for an hour, or you're flash grilling a few wings, wait until the last possible moments before adding any sugary marinades; sugar can over-caramelize or even burn if applied too early.

 4. Add non-sugary spices and rubs early when using barbecue grills.

 Bath your birds in an elaborate concoction of chilly salts, peppers, and other sundry seasonings. Or simply rub them with salt and oil. But whatever you do, add the savory stuff before applying heat from outdoor grills.

 5. Trim fat before putting chicken on BBQ grills - or keep the chicken far enough from the flame so that the fat doesn't catch on fire.

 Even if you have done everything properly according to protocol for barbecue grills, If the chicken catches fire, all your hard work can be ruined.  If this happens, next time keep your rack farther away from the heat. Or cook the chicken for longer on lower heat.

 6. Clean your grill after every use.

 The charcoal and other organic residue that accumulates on barbecue grills is said to be carcinogenic.  At the very least, it doesn't taste very good.  Good BBQ grilling hygiene can ensure the longevity of your equipment and the tastiness of your meals.

Written exclusively for PetesOutdoorGrills.com

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Tips on Grilling Chicken