Beer can chicken

[el_carpo]

Hi again,

I just bought some of those beer can chicken holder dealies for my dad for a Christmas present. I have heard that it is supposed to be a great way to cook chicken and duck in the grill. I was just wondering if anyone here has tried this yet and has anything pro or con to say or advice on them. Also, if you have a dry rub recipe that you really like (and are willing to share.)

Of course, we're now getting into the heart of winter here in the U.S. (it's supposed to be a high of 5 degrees farenheit Christmas Eve ) so I won't be doing much grilling any time soon, but it never hurts to be prepared.

Thanks in advance.

E.C.

[Derek Bullock]

Ummmmmmmmmmmmm whats one of them. Never heard of it.


Derek

[baldyhead]

hi e.c would like to try a chook done like that, when you do one let us all know what it tastes like. Never seen one in aussie yet thou. My dry rub for the chook is all ground in a pestle:
3x fennel seeds
6x mustard seeds
teaspoon of sesame seeds
1/2 teaspoon mixed herbs
a good pinch of the following:coriander,tumeric,chinese 5 spice powder, curry powder,ginger and black pepper.
1/2 teaspoon rock salt
1 teaspoon granulated garlic which you grind also.
mix it all together and rub in well.
cook chook in camp oven for best results.

I actually make the above mix in bulk then freeze in small cliploc bags 3"x2". will last for years without losing any flavour in the freezer and when going camping put a few into my bush freezer.
cheers baldy

[el_carpo]

Derek,

I found this web page. It isn't the exact same model that I bought but it is close enough to give you a good idea what the whole thing is about.

http://www.beercanchickenroaster.com/

Thanks Baldyhead for the recipe. Sounds good. I'll be sure to give that a try.

The whole concept of the beer can chicken cooking method is to put a mostly full can of beer inside of the bird as you grill it. You apply a dry rub to the outside and inside and just set it onto the can of beer (which can be flavored too). It is supposed to be a good way to go about cooking a chicken. The big thing is it is suposed to keep the chicken meat moist and adds flavor. I have no first-hand experience with it but have heard nothing but good things so I thought I'd try it.

Truthfully, I think making one of these can holders would be pretty easy so if anyone wanted to try it, you probably could. If you have any strong wire and the ability to bend it to shape, you'd be all set.

Like I said earlier though, it's absolutely freezing here so I can't give a report for about another five months.

My biggest problem (aside form the cold) is probably going to be to convince my Dad to sacrifice a perfectly good beer to cook a chicken. Heheh! If that chicken doesn't taste good, I may be in trouble!

Thanks again for the recipe. I hope I introduced something good to you guys to try.

E.C.

[fishsmith]

Blokes world on tv last night, had a segment on cooking a chook by inserting a can of beer into the back end and wacking it onto the webber,got my mouth watering "the chook would'nt be bad either".....

[Derek Bullock]

Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmm.

I find a chicken slowly roasted in a camp oven is moist and tender anyway so why waste a can of good beer.


Derek

[major-defect]

I agree with ya there derek

[DNO40]

I would certainly rather drink the beer whilst my bird cooks !

[el_carpo]

Now that Christmas is over and all the gifts are given, I got a chance to take a better look at the things. It says it works well in a regular old oven too so I think my report will be coming within the next week or so. I have to eat a few more turkey leftover sandwiches and soup to make room in the fridge first. I have a trip to the store to make for some chicken and beer. If you don't hear from me in the next two weeks or so, you can safely assume the experiment failed and my Dad killed me for the dastardly crime of beer "beer-ruining." Wish me luck and stay tuned!

[Derek Bullock]

Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm. I hope he opens the can of beer before he puts it in the oven. [smiley=bomb.gif] [smiley=oops.gif]


Derek

[el_carpo]

No worries there Derek! You get to drink half the can before the chicken gets it. I usually cook two chickens at a time so that makes one for me one for them in total! Although, I bet my post would be a lot more fun to read if I did forget to open it. KA-BOOOOOOOOOM! A new dish, " 'sploded chicken a la carpo " Coming soon to classy restuarants everywhere! -----Well, maybe not.

[Derek Bullock]

........ and a new oven for Dad ...............

[el_carpo]

SUCCESS!!!

I cooked up a couple of chickens with some mashed potatoes and greenbeans with mushrooms. Wooo-hoo-hooo! I was a little skeptical at first but I really wanted to try it. Boy, am I glad I did! It was the most tender chicken I've ever had and the flavor was very good too. I would recomend trying this. It's very easy and fast. Just coat the inside and out with a rub, pop a small potatoe or onion in the neck cavity to seal in the vapors, put it on the beer can, bake in the oven (350 degrees farenheit) or grill for as long as needed (hour and forty-five minutes) over a drip pan and that's it. Here are a few pics.

[baldyhead]

Reminds me of a camping trip some time ago. One of the lads had a brainwave and decided to have a can of baked beans with his steak. When he got himself a beer he got the baked beans and used a can opener to partly open the tin. He had a few more beers and when we cooked tea he put the tin in the coals to heat up. The problem was that he put the wrong unopened tin onto the coals and the seam was facing him as well. He was sitting in front of the tin when it exploded and showered him with boiling beans and we all laughed like hell as he dived into the croc infested water hole, but in the morning, he was covered with bean size blisters and then it was not that funny.

[el_carpo]

Finished...