UDS first burn. Whole chicken

[LouisianaSmokesman]

What's up you guys, I will be doing my first cook on my UDS! I figure I would get cheaper meat and do a whole chicken instead of a brisket.

I had a couple of questions...

1. Should I use a water pan?
2. Time and temps that you guys recommend
3. Do I wrap in foil after completion

Thanks again in advance! I will post if I can! :-o

 

[Bludawg]

No waterpan
No foil
pit temp 325 or higher

I shoot for 185 in the thighs

 

[LouisianaSmokesman]

Thanks for the response! Really appreciate it

 

[Victory]

No waterpan
No foil
pit temp 325 or higher

I shoot for 185 in the thighs

pretty much this, I take it off around 160 though.

if your temps are under 300 you are not going to be able to get crispy skin. same goes if you wrap with foil, it will kill the skin.

 

[krex1010]

No waterpan
No foil
pit temp 325 or higher

I shoot for 185 in the thighs

What he said

 

[jemezspring]

No waterpan
No foil
pit temp 325 or higher

I shoot for 185 in the thighs

Ding, Ding, Ding... Question answered.

For the first cook keep it simple. Learn to control your temps. If you don't have a thermo consider getting one. It really helps to know what temp you are cooking at. This will let you know the effects different temps have on different meats.

The UDS is an excellent chicken grilling machine. I mostly do legs/thighs and spatchcocked birds. No water, no foil, 350+/-. The smell of that chicken fat hitting the coals will bring out the neighbors.

 

[Big-Joe]

What Bludawg said. Put on a good rub and let her go

 

[Wesman61]

No waterpan
No foil
pit temp 325 or higher

I shoot for 185 in the thighs

I agree with the 185° idea. Most people say 160° but I find that the thigh/body joint can be a little bloody when it gets pulled at that temp with whole birds.

 

[jjjonz]

I keep telling folks that in my opinion 160 degrees is not enough .