Hanging Chicken

[Alan F]

If you have not tried hanging chicken (ala pit barrel cooker style) over an open pit, you need to! The rubbed half was very good. This was among the best I've had. Here is my take using a wsm.

Started with a ring 3/4 full of used kb (so there would be no igniter smoke).

Poured a half chimney over the top. Even though the temps were perfect next time I'll use 3/4 chimney to get an even layer of coals.

Cut a chicken in half, rubbed one, marinated the other.

Hooked them up, inserted a probe, and attached them to the grate.

Temps on a wsm are so easy to dial in and remained solid.

No wood was used, and the cook got smokier as it went on.

...continued...

 

[Alan F]

Chicken done (or so I thought)

Unfortunately an old probe went bad and these needed to go back on for 15 more degrees.

The chicken was fantastic.

Now I need to find an elevated hanger for turkeys...

 

[Mike Cosgrove]

Nice post, I can imagine your neighborhood smelled pretty good with the chicken juice bouncing off the coals.

 

[George Curtis]

i like it ! might be a better way for some reason or another.

 

[Ray Crick]

Had not seen this technique before - looks like I will have to try it. Thanks.

Ray

 

[Gary S]

Alan, have a look at this. I think it would work for turkeys. I have 3 packages of chicken halves in the freezer. I'm going to try your idea.

http://tvwbb.com/showthread.php?40035-WSM-Smoke-Rack

 

[Tony R]

Very cool for sure...

 

[NeilH]

Nice looking birds.

 

[MattP]

Yeah, those look fantastic!

 

[Alan F]

Alan, have a look at this. I think it would work for turkeys. I have 3 packages of chicken halves in the freezer. I'm going to try your idea.

http://tvwbb.com/showthread.php?40035-WSM-Smoke-Rack

Yes, that's exactly what I need. How would you like to use your considerable skills to make another so I can buy it?

 

[Gary S]

p/m sent to Alan F

 

[JimmyE]

Pretty cool!

 

[Vince]

Darn cool idea!

I'm definitely going to try this. What I'd like to know is, where did you get (or make?) those hooks? In your pictures they look like stainless steel, or are they aluminum? I'll freakin use a coat hanger if I have to! Please let me know! YUM!

 

[j biesinger]

I'm guessing you'll need to do something to your lid to be able to hang a turkey which will be a pita to set up and unload. I hang full sides of belly, but I stack up two middles.

 

[Chris Allingham]

Just a follow-up to this thread...Weber now offers expandable smoking racks for the 18.5" and 22.5" WSM:

http://tvwbb.com/showthread.php?45650-NEW-Weber-7472-Expandable-Smoking-Rack

 

[Bill Schultz]

Great looking Bird Alan, what do you think is the difference from cooking on the rack versus the hooks?

 

[Alan F]

I'm definitely going to try this. What I'd like to know is, where did you get (or make?) those hooks? In your pictures they look like stainless steel, or are they aluminum? I'll freakin use a coat hanger if I have to! Please let me know! YUM!

You can get them on the pit barrel cooker website.

 

[Alan F]

Great looking Bird Alan, what do you think is the difference from cooking on the rack versus the hooks?

A few things. On the hook the chicken's fat renders fantastically and seems to baste itself. The dark meat is closer to the fire. Also, there's a fire roasting flavor that gets all the way into the meat. For some reason I get the best results cooking until the breast is 178. You need to try it. Just salt/pepper each side, put a little oil on and you're good.

You can use a regular grate. I cut one up by removing two opposite quarters of the bars to make it easy to get the chicken in and out.