Secrets for Cooking Rotisserie Chicken on an Open Fire Grill

Watching rotisserie chicken being cooked on a grill to tender perfection is like watching some kind of magic unfold. Each turn of the spit leaves it crispier, and in turn, your mouth watering. But there are a number of ways to perfect this open-fire cooking technique, and we’re here to let you in on a few secrets. In South Africa, cooking meat this way is called a ‘spit braai’ - for obvious reasons. With our roots in the country, we have a couple of tricks up our sleeve. Keep reading and we’ll let you in our secret guide to cooking the perfect chicken on your rotisserie grill.

What is a Rotisserie Chicken?

Wise ol’ Google will tell you that a rotisserie chicken is ‘a chicken dish that is cooked on a rotisserie by using direct heat.’ Well, no offense to Wikipedia, but KUDU Grills (and the whole of America) knows this dish is so much more than that. This meal is better known as one of the most convenient - and possibly delicious - buys at your local grocery store. To put it in simple terms, this is because it's a whole roasted chicken - a full main course - that you don’t have to put in the effort to cook yourself. Supermarkets have exploited the vision of the idealized American dinner and wrapped it up in low-priced bags of rust-colored birds. However, as outdoor cooking enthusiasts do, we like taking things into our own hands. So for us, making a rotisserie chicken is one of the most exciting outdoor cooking experiences. And it involves all the processes that make food delicious, such as smoking, grilling, roasting and basting.

Fine Dining in Your Backyard: Secrets to Making a Delicious Rotisserie Chicken

There are many reasons why you should make your own rotisserie chicken on an open fire grill. For one, it takes a while to cook - but don’t stop reading, this isn’t a bad thing! In fact, it gives you an excuse to spend more time around the fire with friends and family. But if you want to make it extra special, you have to get in on a few of our rotisserie chicken secrets.

Secret 1: The Best Way to Cook Poultry is On An Open Fire

If you’ve never cooked a rotisserie chicken before, you’ll be happy to know that it can hardly ever go wrong. Spit-roasting is not only better than using your oven, but it’s just about the best way to cook a bird. The slow rotation over the open flame allows the chicken skin to brown evenly, allowing it to get nice and crispy - just the way you want it.

Secret 2: Rotisserie Grilling Gives you the Best of Both Worlds

This cooking technique offers the advantages of dir4ect grilling without the flare-ups of your flames. In most rotisserie setups, the food is next to the fire and not on it, so the exterior is browned and crisped without charring. The fat collects in a drip pan, making rotisserie grilling cleaner than direct grilling, or oven roasting. And it’s much easier to add that smokey flavor you’re after by putting some wood chips on the fire.

Secret 3: You’ll Know When it’s Ready

Cooking your rotisserie chicken on an open fire grill will never leave you guessing whether it’s ready to be eaten or not. Thanks to the rotation of your spit, you can be confident that your chicken is thoroughly cooked after at least an hour or two. But if you’re new to this and need specifics, you’ll know it’s cooked when the internal temperature sits at 175 degrees.

Secret 4: Your Chicken Will Always Come out Moist

No matter how delectable your chicken skin is, if the meat is dry on the inside, it’s just not as enjoyable. The best part about rotisserie chicken is that it is self-basted. The rotation keeps juices moving around the bird, holding the moisture in place. Ultimately, your chicken is better off on an open fire grill than it is in the oven.

Knowing How to use Your Rotisserie Grill

Okay, now you’ve got the secrets, but what about the method? To make a success out of your rotisserie chicken, you need to have a good understanding of how to use your open fire grill. You don’t want something to go wrong while you have your chicken on the spit. If you’re new to using a rotisserie grill - or have never used one at all - we’ve got you covered. Check out our ‘How To’ video on successfully setting up your rotisserie equipment on your KUDU below.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5ZMFa49GOpo

Now That The Secret’s Out…

Give rotisserie chicken a go and create a feast suitable for a king, right in your backyard. Not only is it the best way to cook your chicken, but it’s also a great way to spend time with friends and family. So get those coals going, your spit turning, and chicken crisping. Contact us if you have any questions about the KUDU and we’ll be happy to help meet your grilling needs. Here’s to many happy memories made around the open fire!