How to Cook Chicken on a Grill

Chicken is cooked using various methods, like baking, frying, brining, poaching, sauting and grilling. All these cooking methods enhance the taste of the chicken and reduces the risk of bacterial contamination. Many people relate grilling directly to picnics, which is partly true. Grilling is the favorite 'summer task' of many people, who are just crazy about cooking and relishing new recipes every time. When the chicken is cooked on grill, it provides many rewards that includes low fats, less time and also the natural flavor. Grilling also becomes a mean of social gathering when you organize a 'barbecue outing'. All this is correct, but what about those who don't know how to cook chicken on a grill? You need not worry, as I am here with the simple procedure of grilling the chicken.

Cook Chicken on a Grill

• Get rid of the giblets from the cavity and wash the chicken thoroughly with cold water. Dry the chicken with the help of a paper napkin.
• Season the chicken inside out with some pepper and freshly minced basil or any of the herbs like, rosemary, thyme and cilantro.
• For the charcoal grill, create a hot coal bed on one side and make sure you keep the chicken for grilling near the coals and not on the coals. When you are using the gas grill, cook the chicken on only one burner of your grill.
• Clean the grill grate with the help of a wire brush. As the grate will be hot, use tongs to hold the cleaning towel.
• Keep the covered chicken by positioning it breast side down, on the less heated side of the grill and cook it for about 25-30 minutes. Now turn the chicken around by cooking the other side for 30 more minutes.
• To see if the chicken is cooked fully, make a small cut in the thickest part of the meat, if clear juice runs down, then you have successfully learned how to cook chicken on a grill.

It is important to add salt to the grilled chicken recipe, just before serving. Always make it a point to clean the grill, when you are done using it.

Tips for Grilling Chicken

Chicken is one of the most popular choice of grilled food. Grilled chicken served in any form can prove a great feast for the taste buds. It may be skinless whole chicken or any part of a chicken, it is suggested to trim out the excessive fats this will prevent the dripping of fats directly on the fire. All this will help in cooking the chicken perfectly; without the chances of it being overcooked. The unavoidable difficulty that comes across while grilling the chicken is, maintaining the perfect moisture in the chicken. Many times, the chicken just dries off in the process of grilling which kills the taste part. To avoid this:

• Marinade the chicken a few hours before grilling; with a thick marinade sauce or a faint coat of regular cooking oil, will do just do fine.
• Put the chicken breast in an aluminum foil bag and then put it on the grill, this method helps keeping the moisture intact.
• Use correct utensils when grilling chicken, like a long handled tong and a metal spatula, which will help you in turning the chicken.
• If possible, use boneless chicken with the skin removed. If you are grilling the chicken pieces with their skin on, then cook the skin side first and then the other side of the meat.

Cooking chicken on a grill, is an art that is mastered one step at a time, the more you practice the more efficient you will get and we don't mind practicing for such a 'noble' cause. Do we? All you have to do is keep on improving your grilling skills! Buen provecho!!