Smoke 3 chickens a the same time ???


 
J

John Furdyn

TVWBB Pro
Just came home with 3 whole chickens about 3 3/4 lbs ea.

Want to smoke them tomorrow all at the same time.

Question, should I cook all 3 on the top cooking grate, rotating half way thru?

Or cook 2 on top and 1 on the bottom cooking grate. Rotating How ??

Will be useing water in the pan and cooking around 225 -250.

Any info tips or pointers appreciated.

Thanks
 
I have a third grate, and I really like the way chickens come out after butterflying.

I'd likely butterfly (spatchcock) them and put one on each grate.

With water in the pan, it would't be a bad idea to rotate three grates twice during the cook if that makes sense, but I'd only do it if I had an extra pair of hands available so I could get it done quickly, otherwise I wouldn't worry about it.

If butterflying isn't an option I do all three vertically on the top rack. Rotating them a couple times during the cook would be a good idea.
 
i have cooked 4 at once for dinner party on my wsm and they came out fine without shifting em around. i dont think there is a large enough difference between top and bottom grates to make any real difference on such a short cook as you do with chicken. but i would just put the lightest weight ones on the bottom.

and i also open em down the breast bone and lay em flat rib side down. i do turkey the same way
 
I'd cook all 3 vertically on the top rack.

I've never been a big fan of rotating meat, etc. I'd just as soon leave the cooker closed as much as possible. If you did want to rotate, a simple 180 degree spin halfway through the cook should be fine.
 
I'm with you Lee. Leave the lid closed as much as possible, unless you need a "sample"!!
icon_biggrin.gif
 
<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">I've never been a big fan of rotating meat, etc. I'd just as soon leave the cooker closed as much as possible. If you did want to rotate, a simple 180 degree spin halfway through the cook should be fine. </div></BLOCKQUOTE>Yeah, leave them in place, rotate the outside of the bird into the center is what I meant too.
<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content"> ...Leave the lid closed as much as possible, unless you need a "sample"!! </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

It's just that even if the birds aren't touching in the middle you can pretty much be assured the portion of the bird facing the middle will still be white for a good while after the the part facing the outside of the cooker has started to brown due to the way heat travels up the water pan edge vertical and the fact there is a concentrated mass of cold meat in the middle of the grate.
 
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