Smoked chicken is probably one of the most delicious meals that can be easily prepared. With the good quality electric smoker, you can cook it like a pro and enjoy this amazing food. It will smoke the meat exactly as it should, so it won’t compromise a tasty, tender cooked chicken.
The best thing about electric smoker is that you don’t have to check your food all the time. Just set the right temperature and relax; let the smoker do the job for you. It is also very easy to clean and maintain it.
Following these basic tips, we will help you to prepare this meal like a chef! If you love smoked food, this is a great recipe to try out!
First Tip: Chose the right wood chips
For a perfect chicken, it is crucial to choose the best smoke. Always pick the one that will complement the meat. As for the most popular flavors look for an apple, cherry, hickory and maple wood.
The wood chips will add great flavors to the food.
• As a fruity wood, apple is an ideal choice for a chicken. Its smoke will take a few hours to permeate the meat.
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• You can combine hickory and cherry wood chips, which will give the chicken a perfect flavor. They both burn hot and relatively slow. Hickory has both sweet and strong taste, so you make sure to be light with it, you don’t want to create a bitter flavor. Cherry is mild and sweet, so when combined, these two wood chips will give the pleasant taste.
• Maple wood also burns hot and slow. As the sweetest heavy wood, it has a lighter taste than hickory.
• Peach wood has that perfect sweet flavor, that goes great with the chicken. Note: If you want to use it, always pick a fresh cut wood. They usually lose their flavor quickly after being cut, so it is best to use it immediately.
Second tip: Cut the chicken in half
When you smoke the chicken, it is best to cut it so that it lays flat. This way it will be evenly cooked for a less time. For this process, that is called spatchcocking, you need a sharp knife, poultry shears, and a hard-cutting surface.
The first thing you need to do is to remove the birds’ backbone. With the sharp knife, cut it all the way from the neck to the tail. It should be a half an inch from the side of the backbone.
When your chicken is spread out remove its breastbone. Now, it can lay flat, so it will be easier to prepare.
Third Tip: Brine it before you cook it
You should always brine chicken. It is very important for keeping your meat juicy and tender. Use one cup of salt to one gallon of water for a basic brine recipe.
To add more flavors to your meat, it is best to use more seasonings. For example, you could add rosemary, honey, fresh herbs, citrus or anything you prefer. You know what you like, so choose your own ingredients to give the bird that perfect taste.
The rule is that one pound of meat you need to let it rest for one hour. If you do it longer, your chicken will be too soft. You can also try dry brining.
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Rub a seasoning and salt directly into the skin of the bird. Use the ½ tsp of salt per pound of meat. You can also put the chicken, seasoning, and salt in a plastic bag, and refrigerate it overnight or for 24 hours.
When it’s ready for cooking, remove the brine and let it rest for about two hours before you smoke it. This way you will have a better flavor and texture.
Make sure that you cover all the areas of the chicken with the seasoning. This will enhance the flavor.
Fourth tip: Set the right temperature
What is the most important thing when smoking a meat? Temperature, of course. Setting it right can make a big difference.
The main thing you need to make sure is that your meat is fully cooked. With the Char Broil Deluxe Digital Electric Smoker, you don’t have to worry about your food at all. Just set the right temperature and relax.
Put the probe on the meat and set the thermometer to 165 degrees F. When it reaches that temperature, it will automatically turn on warm mode and the smoker will stop cooking. It is best to smoke the meat on 250 degrees F.
Depending on the size of the bird the cook time will vary. It will take about 2 to 4 hours to smoke it. After the chicken is done, let it rest for about 20 minutes before carving.
That way all the juices will be drawn back into the meat.
Bonus tip: After an hour and a half of cooking, spray the meat with some orange juice. You can also use apple or pineapple juice, whatever you prefer. This will help to keep the outside of the chicken nice and moist.
You can spray it again after another hour. If you and your family prefer a red meat, you can try a delicious smoked ribs recipe.
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Conclusion
This is the easiest way to smoke your chicken. With the right electric smoker, cooking it will be easier and healthier. If you are new to this method, make sure to avoid this beginners’ mistakes.
This recipe is a great choice if you have a big family or when you have guests coming over. The meat has that wonderful smoky flavor and it is very juicy and moist. So, it’s a perfect choice for anyone who likes meat.
The best thing is that you set the smoker on the right temperature and you don’t have to think about it all the time. You can do your chores around the house or just sit and relax, while the electric smoker is doing the job for you.