Cooking a delicious chicken on the grill on the weekend with friends could be amazing, almost as amazing as the taste of the chicken! However, there are many arguments about which one is better regarding beer can chicken and rotisserie chicken, and it could be next to impossible to choose one for your next event. So what are the differences, and which one is best?
Beer can chicken is a popular barbecued dish. This cooking method allows you to insert your favorite beer, juice, water, etc., into the chicken’s cavity. Then it sits vertically on the can while it cooks.
Rotisserie chicken is a chicken dish cooked on a rotisserie where the chicken sits directly next to the heat source.
If you’re a meat fanatic, you may constantly be looking for the next best thing to make your chicken taste better than ever. Continue reading as we discuss what beer can chicken and rotisserie chicken is and which one would be your tastiest option!
Beer Can Chicken Vs. Rotisserie Chicken
Beer Can Chicken
Beer can chicken, also known as a barbecued chicken dish as well as a method of indirect grilling. An open can of beer or canned beverage is inserted into the chicken. The can holds the chicken vertically while it cooks in an oven or grill.
Before cooking, remove some of the beer, so the can would only be partially full in the cavity of the chicken.
Usually, a standard 12-ounce beer works best, while other food fanatics would use a tallboy beer can, which is much larger.
The chicken will also be coated with a spice rub before cooking, while some purchase pre-marinated chicken.
During the cooking process, the goal of the beer is to steam, which may add extra moisture to the chicken, and many people think as the beer vaporizes, it will add more flavor to the final product.
The chicken remaining vertical would drain any excess fat and allow it to cook more evenly.
Rotisserie Chicken
On the other hand, rotisserie chicken is a chicken dish cooked on a rotisserie. To cook the chicken, truss the legs and place it on an appliance that uses a direct heat source.
You can use gas-powered or electric heating elements by using adjustable infrared heat. These two rotisseries are the most functional for any rotisserie-style chicken.
On top of this, any leftover rotisserie chicken can be placed in your fridge and used in a wide variety of new dishes, such as sandwiches, tacos, chicken salad, or soup! If you heat it correctly, you can eat it for up to three days!
The chicken will be spit-roasted on a rotisserie, a spit specially designed to rotate constantly. This will make sure the meat is evenly cooked slowly from the outside. A well-prepared chicken will develop a caramelized and crispy outside while remaining moist and tender inside.
Rotisserie chicken is prepared with its skin intact, and much of the fat drips out during the cooking process.
This allows the meat and skin to become brown. In addition, when using a grill to prepare a rotisserie chicken, the meat will develop a smoky and complex flavor that requires no additional seasoning.
Beer Can Chicken Vs. Rotisserie: Which Is Better?
While some people are enthusiastic about beer can chicken, others feel the dish and the process that comes with it are overrated. Overall, rotisserie chicken is the the winner between the two, and when looking at the facts, it’s clear why.
Let’s see why rotisserie chicken is generally regarded as better when compared to beer can chicken:
The Beer Never Comes Into Direct Contact With The Chicken
Many die-hard beer can chicken fans believe that the remaining beer in the can will start to percolate on the grill, injecting the chicken with the beer-flavored steam, but this is not the case.
For instance, you take the beer and stick it up the cavity of the chicken.
However, the beer cannot penetrate through the sides due to the metallic can. In addition, the metal can that goes far into the chicken’s body remains protected from the beer by its can.
If the water evaporates, the beer may only come into direct contact with the chicken’s shoulders, not the rest of its body.
Beer Can Chicken Can Quickly Become Dry And Overcooked
The beer can inside of the chicken is not only proven ineffective, but it could make your meal taste worse instead of better.
As the beer can closes the cavity of the chicken, no warm heat can enter it, which means you run the risk of overcooking your chicken.
If you remove the beer can and cook the chicken whole, warm air and heat can seep through the chicken cavity and cook it from both sides. When there is sufficient airflow, you won’t run the risk of overcooking the chicken’s interior.
No Steam Results In No Extra Moisture
As most people insert an ice-cold beer into a cold chicken before placing it on the grill, it becomes impossible to turn this cold beer into a kind of steam that will significantly affect the chicken’s flavor.
If a chicken comes out of the fridge, it will have an approximate temperature of 38 degrees Fahrenheit.
The cold beer can then goes into the chicken, cooling it even more. You can grill your chicken as long as you want, and even if the temperature is raised to 160 to 165 degrees Fahrenheit, it won’t make any difference.
The beer won’t start to boil until 212 degrees Fahrenheit, and the beer won’t become hotter than the chicken to evaporate, which means there is no extra juiciness or flavor.
Final Word
When looking at the differences between beer can and rotisserie chicken, it becomes clear that beer can chicken involves more preparation with the same or worse result.
So when you’re planning your next grilling session with friends? Try grilling a rotisserie chicken instead!
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- Why Is Rotisserie Chicken So Greasy?
Sources
https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/is-rotisserie-chicken-healthy#ingredients