First cook on the Weber kettle

MrDsmoker · Jul 15, 2013

I did smoked chicken leg quarters. They came out beautiful! I smoked for about 2 hrs at about 325-375 on my kettle. The large piece was a little pink around the bone. Does anyone have suggestions or techniques that have worked for smoking leg quarters.

JS-TX · Jul 15, 2013

Was it blood or just pink colored meat? Smoked chicken meat can be a little pink which is normal. If those temps are accurate, your chicken should be done- plenty done IMO. I can cook spatchcocked chicken in about 1hr 10min or so with temps around 325* in a kettle. I also like to trim a little of the skin/fat off the bottom of the leg/thigh joint. Gets more heat this way.

davefan360 · Jul 15, 2013

what he said.

Ron_L · Jul 15, 2013

As mentioned, pink colored meat is normal. You can tell if the meat is done by using a white paper towel and touching it to the meat. The juice from the meat should be clear, not pink.

Also, and good meat thermometer will help with chicken. You want the internal temp for dark meat to be at least 165. I prefer closer to 180 for legs and thighs.

Bludawg · Jul 15, 2013

What if you have pink paper towels

Where poultry is involved I exersize caution and use a thermo 175 all is good on dark meat.

martyleach · Jul 15, 2013

Glad you had a successful first cook! Chicken is great BBQ'd. Next time consider brining the chicken quarters for a couple hours before cooking. Keeps them really moist.

Packmanjim · Jul 15, 2013

My wife has reservations about eating my slightly pink smoked chicken too. I just cook it to probe 165 on the breast and the dark should be good to go. Just be sure and move your probe around so 165 is the lowest temp.

chriscw81 · Jul 15, 2013

i've always liked the pink middle.......

VoodoChild · Jul 15, 2013

JS-TX said:
Was it blood or just pink colored meat? Smoked chicken meat can be a little pink which is normal. If those temps are accurate, your chicken should be done- plenty done IMO. I can cook spatchcocked chicken in about 1hr 10min or so with temps around 325* in a kettle. I also like to trim a little of the skin/fat off the bottom of the leg/thigh joint. Gets more heat this way.

What He said ! Good work ,Kettles are great chicken cookers.

First cook on the Weber kettle

MrDsmoker

Knows what a fatty is.

JS-TX

is One Chatty Farker

davefan360

Take a breath!

Ron_L

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Bludawg

somebody shut me the fark up.

martyleach

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Packmanjim

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chriscw81

is Blowin Smoke!

VoodoChild

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