BBQ chicken - on the BBQ!

[Depome]

We're having a family of 5 over for a BBQ this weekend, so I thought cooking a whole chook would give me a head start in the protein department. I have never cooked a chook on the BBQ before, however, so I thought I'd ask here for:

1. info about how to, dos and don'ts
2. a suitable marinade/glaze

Any tips?

[gertbysea]

BBQ chicken is my thing. Grab a can of beer. Drink half. In the half filled can of beer pop some herbs of your choice. Now shove the beer can up the chooks bum  spreading the legs so it stands up in a small pan or oven dish. Place the chook on the BBQ and use indirect heat. One or two ourside burners and none under  the bird. Put it on high for about 15 minutes then turn down to medium and leave it for about an hour or less. It cooks really quickly. You will find when you lift the lid a luscious moist chicken with crispy  skin and brown all around. You won't need a glaze for this one.It will look beautiful. I have also cooked turkeys and ducks this way. I have cooked four chickens all in a row like this. Really impressive when you lift the lid. Never had a failure.

If you like you can use any old can that fits and half fill it with wine. I have used wine and cider but I think beer is best. For a duck or Turkey you will need a taller can like a Guinness can . I have resorted to a dog food can in the case of a very large turkey just for balance.

Good luck.

Gretchen

[achookwoman]

I have never cooked a chook on the BBQ.   Tomorrow night we are having visitors so will certainly try Gerts "tin up the bum " method.
Today I was looking at some sauces in the Australian WW...'.Light and Luscious Summertime cookbook'. Pineapple and mandarin sauce looks good for conversion.   Had better do the right thing and post under sauces!

[judydawn]

I was only thinking yesterday Gretchen that I haven't had a belly laugh from something you've written for a while.  Well, I've just had it, the description was hilarious  (wonder what isi will make of it?).  I have seen it done and knew what you were going to suggest when I read 'grab a can of beer' but what followed cracked me up.

Depome, you can also cook a split chicken on the BBQ (get your butcher to do it if you don't know how to) and this method will cook pretty quickly too.  But, for effect and to impress your visitors I'd go for Gretchen's idea this time.

[Babymaker]

Beer can up the chooks bum must be an aussie thing my parents do it all the time!

[cookie1]

OMG I have lived in Australia since I was born and I have never come across that before. I think I had better try it. Think DH will have to drink the half can of beer though.

[Thermomixer]

They do it in Canada too http://www.foodnetwork.ca/recipes/Main/Chicken/recipe.html?dishid=9640  It does work - but I prefer to drink the beer and just put water and herbs in an old can. 

[gertbysea]

Thermomixer, I Love me beer bum chook so much that I bought a "you  beaut" beer bum chook cooker from BBQ's Galore for about 35 bucks.

I still use a lot of beer but less cans for me chooks.


Gertbysea

[cookie1]

Gretchen, that is awesome. Someone has cashed in a an aussie tradition.

[gertbysea]

Clever isn't it cookie 1?

Gretchen

[judydawn]

If my dad was still alive, he would have been able to knock one of those up for me lickety split