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Here's How I.... => Cook Chicken/Turkey/Fowl => Topic started by: LowSlowFoShow on September 27, 2017, 01:39:29 PM

Title: Smoked whole chickens
Post by: LowSlowFoShow on September 27, 2017, 01:39:29 PM
My wife is not a big red meat eater so I cook a lot of chicken... probably 6 or so birds a month.  I normally buy a 2 pack of Foster Farms birds from Costco for around $12-14.  I add 1 cup of white sugar and 1 cup of kosher salt into a bucket and will let the birds brine for a minimum of 2 hours and up to 24 hours.  I dry the birds off with paper towels then truss them. 

I apply a generous coat of Tony Chachere's:
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Then they go into the smoker at 225:
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for about 3 hours:
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I then foil them and let them rest in the cooler for 1-2 hours:
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Very moist, great taste, super easy!
Title: Re: Smoked whole chickens
Post by: Free Mr. Tony on September 27, 2017, 01:41:26 PM
Looks great. Easily my number 1 most used off the shelf seasoning mix.
Title: Re: Smoked whole chickens
Post by: Queball on September 27, 2017, 03:01:35 PM
Tony Chachere's ..... Way too salty! .... but that's what makes America great. ..... everyone can use what they want. ..... But, Once you wein off the salt fix, you won't believe it. .... But, The birds do look gorgeous! LSFS.
Title: Re: Smoked whole chickens
Post by: Brushpopper on September 27, 2017, 03:16:05 PM
Those are some fine looking birds LSFS!  :clap:  I like to use Tony Chacheres to inject into a boneless turkey breast.  I grind it up to a fine powder in a little coffee grinder and mix it with water to inject as a slurry.  Don't open the grinder right away or you can take it outside.

The first time I tried it I didn't grind it up.  Plugged up my injector needle.  DOH!

BP
Title: Re: Smoked whole chickens
Post by: Quadman750 on September 27, 2017, 06:24:33 PM
Good lookin birds, how was the skin.
Title: Re: Smoked whole chickens
Post by: Bentley on September 27, 2017, 06:48:37 PM
Why the Chicken Bondage? What does that do?
Title: Re: Smoked whole chickens
Post by: bregent on September 27, 2017, 06:49:10 PM
>probably 6 or so birds a month.

I heard on the news yesterday that the US consumes 9 billion chickens per year. Looks like you're doing your part :)

Those look great.
Title: Re: Smoked whole chickens
Post by: LowSlowFoShow on September 27, 2017, 06:53:11 PM
Why the Chicken Bondage? What does that do?

When you truss a bird, the wings and legs stay close to the body; the ends of the drumsticks cover the top of the breast and keep it from drying out. Trussing helps the chicken to cook evenly, and it also makes for a more beautiful smoked bird.
Title: Re: Smoked whole chickens
Post by: pz on September 28, 2017, 10:39:36 AM
Sure looks good  ;)
Title: Re: Smoked whole chickens
Post by: Maineac on September 29, 2017, 08:48:39 AM
Beautiful birds.  Never considered Tony's for this.  Now I need to try it.  Thanks.

For those who find Tony's too salty -
From Tony's cookbook, his Creole Seasoning is:

26 oz salt
1.5 oz ground black pepper
2 oz ground red pepper
1 oz garlic powder
1 oz chili powder

The recipe used to have an ounce of Accent in it.  I use 1/4 of the salt and put the Accent back in.  I don't know for sure but I don't think this recipe is in the newer printings.
Title: Re: Smoked whole chickens
Post by: Ralphie on October 03, 2017, 09:47:17 PM
Beautiful birds!

My grocery store (Harris Teeter in NC) carries the salt free version of Tony Chacheres seasoning. It's also available on Amazon. I've never tried it but I'm a huge fan of the regular version.
Title: Re: Smoked whole chickens
Post by: Queball on October 04, 2017, 06:30:28 AM
Maineac,
Is that 26 oz of salt or 2.6 oz of Salt?
Title: Re: Smoked whole chickens
Post by: Maineac on October 04, 2017, 06:44:55 AM
Maineac,
Is that 26 oz of salt or 2.6 oz of Salt?

That is 26 ounces!  In fact, it's written, "26-ounce box free flowing salt (Morton's)"
It's easy to see why many think it's too salty.  He also says, "If too peppery for children, add more salt to mixture..."
Title: Re: Smoked whole chickens
Post by: Queball on October 04, 2017, 08:11:48 AM
Sounds like a "Blood Pressure Rocket" to me. ..... 26oz?
Title: Re: Smoked whole chickens
Post by: bregent on October 04, 2017, 04:23:20 PM
We use Tony's a lot as a seasoning. A light sprinkle here and there is good, but I made the mistake of using it as a rub on a bird last year and it made it mostly inedible. Looking at the recipe Maineac posted it's easy to see why. If you use it, sprinkle it on at the same rate you would add salt.
Title: Re: Smoked whole chickens
Post by: Bobitis on October 04, 2017, 07:03:58 PM
>probably 6 or so birds a month.

I heard on the news yesterday that the US consumes 9 billion chickens per year. Looks like you're doing your part :)

Those look great.

OR... a bit shy of 2-1/2 birds per month for every person. Sounds reasonable, but someone is helping take care of my allotment.
Title: Re: Smoked whole chickens
Post by: urnmor on October 05, 2017, 11:06:43 AM
very very nice looking birds :cool:
Title: Re: Smoked whole chickens
Post by: imahawki on October 06, 2017, 12:23:20 PM
Was the skin leathery at 225?  I've heard its better to either just cook it at normal oven temp (basically using the pit as a wood fired oven which still imparts flavor) or at least to finish at a higher temp to avoid leathery skin.
Title: Re: Smoked whole chickens
Post by: LowSlowFoShow on October 08, 2017, 02:20:56 PM
Was the skin leathery at 225?  I've heard its better to either just cook it at normal oven temp (basically using the pit as a wood fired oven which still imparts flavor) or at least to finish at a higher temp to avoid leathery skin.

The skin is leathery when I first take them off but after an hour in foil its perfect.
Title: Re: Smoked whole chickens
Post by: imahawki on October 25, 2017, 12:18:30 PM
Was the skin leathery at 225?  I've heard its better to either just cook it at normal oven temp (basically using the pit as a wood fired oven which still imparts flavor) or at least to finish at a higher temp to avoid leathery skin.

The skin is leathery when I first take them off but after an hour in foil its perfect.

Good to know.
Title: Re: Smoked whole chickens
Post by: TLK on October 25, 2017, 02:08:35 PM
looks good.  I usually do 6-8 at a time.  I split them in half which makes for easier freezing and reheating.
Title: Re: Smoked whole chickens
Post by: bregent on October 25, 2017, 05:49:50 PM
Sounds like a "Blood Pressure Rocket" to me. ..... 26oz?

It's not a rub - you use it like salt.  The nutrition info on the box says 350gm sodium per 1.1oz serving, which translates to about 80% salt.