How long should it take to bbq half a chicken?
I know how to tell if a chicken is cooked, but has anyone got any idea of approximately how long it would take to bbq half a chicken in an uncovered barbecue?
To clarify: I'm thinking of cleaving a 1.5kg (maybe slightly smaller) chicken in two, and putting each half on the bbq. The chicken will be between fridge and ambient temperature.
The chicken will possibly be the first thing on the bbq after it's ready to cook on (I use charcoal).
I'm just looking for a ballpark figure.
In addition if anyone has any reasons for why this isn't a good idea then let me know :).
Best Answer
Way too many variables. If you knew how warm the chicken was before cooking, how hot the cooking area is (and whether that will change during the cooking time), how thick the chicken is, whether you're cooking white or dark meat, and more, you might be able to make a good guess.
I would not recommend cooking just thawed, thick pieces of chicken on an uncovered grill. Too easy to make it hard on the outside and dry on the inside.
I wouldn't estimate lower than 20 minutes, but it will almost certainly be longer.
Edit: Here's a "Good Eats" video about doing chicken on a grill. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aAvy4YksJgM&feature=related It's better to go ahead and cut the chicken up the rest of the way for grilling so that each type and size of meat can be on it's own cooking schedule.
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How long does it take to cook chicken on the BBQ grill?
Chicken breast, boneless, skinless \u2014 6 to 8 ounces will take between 8 and 12 minutes over direct medium heat (350 \xb0F) Chicken breast, bone-in \u2014 10 to 12 ounces \u2014 30 to 40 minutes over indirect medium heat (350 \xb0F) Leg or thigh, bone-in \u2014 30 to 40 minutes over indirect medium heat (350 \xb0F)How do you grill half a chicken on a gas grill?
InstructionsHow long does it take to bbq half a chicken breast?
Place chicken breasts on grill, bone side down and cook for 10\u201315 minutes, depending on the thickness of the breasts. Carefully flip the chicken, grill for 5\u20137 minutes on breast side.How long does it take to BBQ chicken on a gas grill?
Cook chicken breasts on medium-high heat (425 degrees Fahrenheit) for 5-7 minutes per side (until your internal temperature hits 157-160 degrees) Turn chicken frequently to cook evenly on both sides and pay attention to \u201chot spots\u201d on the grill\u2026you may see some pieces of chicken start to blacken.More answers regarding how long should it take to bbq half a chicken?
Answer 2
Like Tim Gilbert pointed out, even if you follow a recipe perfectly you should expect variations in cooking time. Differences of 30% in baking time are common. When I barbecue whole chicken breasts, I have them out of the fridge for 30 minutes and they take 20 minutes with the burners on medium. I use the finger test, refined over many attempts with a thermometer.
Answer 3
I usually spatchcock them. Cut out the spine, and lay the entire bird flat, folding the wings and legs over top. Then press down enough to break the breast bone.
Generally, it takes about 20 minutes. 5 minutes of grilling/searing, and then 15 more, bone side down, with the lid closed over low heat. (although I usually leave a burner on high on the other side of the grill.
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