When cooking chicken on the barbecue, a common question that arises is whether or not you need to cover the chicken while it cooks. There are pros and cons to both uncovered and covered chicken that need to be considered when BBQing poultry. In this article, we will examine the key factors involved in the covered vs. uncovered chicken debate to help you decide which method is best for your needs and preferences.
Reasons to Cover Chicken on a BBQ
Here are some of the main benefits of covering chicken when cooking it on a barbecue:
Retains Moisture
One of the biggest challenges of cooking chicken on a BBQ is keeping it moist and tender. Chicken breast especially tends to dry out quickly when exposed directly to the grates and open flame. Covering the chicken helps trap steam and moisture close to the meat, slowing down evaporation. This helps ensure juicy, tender chicken even after grilling over high heat.
Cooks Faster
Covering chicken cuts down on cooking time in two ways. First, it brings the chicken up to temperature more quickly by enveloping it in heat. Second, the retained moisture helps the meat cook faster than dry heat alone. Covered chicken can cook in as little as 30 minutes, while uncovered chicken often takes closer to 1 hour.
More Even Cooking
Trapping heat and moisture around the chicken helps it cook more evenly across all sides and sections. Uncovered chicken is more prone to drying out on the outside while remaining undercooked on the inside. The indirect ambient heat under a cover minimizes hot spots and flare-ups that can lead to burnt outsides.
Juicier Skin
While uncovered chicken skin may get crisper, it also tends to get leathery and dry. Covered chicken allows the skin to render and become juicy while still getting nicely browned and caramelized. The results is juicier, more tender and flavorful skin.
Minimizes Flare-Ups
Uncovered chicken is more prone to fat drippings hitting the flames or coals below, creating flare-ups that can char the meat. Covering contains many of the drippings, minimizing flare-ups for more controlled, even cooking.
Reasons to Uncover Chicken on a BBQ
Here are some of the advantages of leaving chicken uncovered while grilling:
Crispier Skin
Direct exposure to the flames or hot grill grates will make the chicken skin noticeably crisper and crunchier. Many BBQ fans prefer the texture of uncovered chicken skin.
Smokier Flavor
Cooking uncovered allows the chicken to absorb more smoke flavor from the grill. The smoke adheres directly to the meat instead of escaping out the sides of a cover. Uncovered chicken often has a deeper, smokier taste.
Better Browning
The Maillard reaction happens more quickly when chicken cooks directly over the heat source. Uncovered chicken browns faster, creating rich caramelized flavors on the outer meat and skin.
Lower Chance of Steaming
Covered chicken runs the risk of steaming from enclosed moisture rather than searing directly on the grates. Uncovered chicken avoids this steaming effect for better browning.
Better Crust
The high heat on uncovered chicken produces a crisper, crunchier, more flavorful crust or char. Covering can make the crust soggy.
Faster Cooking
For small or thin cuts like chicken breasts or wings, cooking uncovered may actually be faster. The direct heat sears and cooks through these quicker than ambient heat under a cover.
Other Factors to Consider
Beyond the main pros and cons above, here are some other factors that can help inform your decision on whether or not to cover BBQ chicken:
Chicken Thickness
Thicker cuts like bone-in chicken legs and whole chickens do best when covered, as the interior takes longer to cook through. Thinner breasts and wings can go either way.
Barbecue Type
Covering is more beneficial on gas grills where flavor from smoke is minimal. Charcoal and wood pellet grills impart more smoke flavor when uncovered.
Temperature Control
Covering makes it easier to control and adjust cooking temperature. Uncovered cooking gives more variability based on weather conditions.
Marinades and Sauces
Covered chicken better retains marinades and prevents sauces from burning. Uncovered is better for charring sauces and glazes on.
Watching for Doneness
It can be harder to see if uncovered chicken is fully cooked, whereas you can peek under the cover. Use a thermometer for uncovered.
Preventing Flare-Ups
If your grill is prone to bad flare-ups, covering can help tame the flames somewhat.
General BBQ Chicken Cooking Guidelines
Follow these tips for the best results when cooking chicken on a barbecue:
Heat Level
Use medium-high heat between 350-450°F. Avoid excessive flare-ups from too high a heat.
Leave Skin On
Always grill chicken skin-on and bone-in for moisture and flavor. Crisp up the skin at the end.
No Peeking
Don’t lift the lid frequently, which lets heat escape. Use a thermometer so you don’t need to peek.
Rotate Periodically
Rotate chicken every 5-10 minutes for even cooking especially if uncovered.
Rest Before Serving
Let chicken rest 5 minutes after grilling for juices to redistribute through meat.
Use A Drip Pan
Put a disposable foil drip pan under uncovered chicken to minimize flare-ups.
Brine First
Soaking chicken in a saltwater brine ensures juicy, seasoned meat.
Recommended Chicken Cooking Times and Temperatures
Refer to this table of approximate grilling times and internal temperatures when BBQing chicken:
| Chicken Cut | Uncovered Time | Covered Time | Minimum Internal Temperature |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chicken Breast | 8-12 minutes per side | 6-10 minutes per side | 165°F |
| Chicken Thighs | 18-22 minutes per side | 14-18 minutes per side | 165°F |
| Chicken Legs | 22-26 minutes per side | 18-22 minutes per side | 165°F |
| Whole Chicken | 60-80 minutes total | 50-60 minutes total | 165°F in breast, 175°F in thighs |
Conclusion
There are good arguments on both sides of whether to cover or uncover chicken on the barbecue. In general, bone-in chicken pieces and whole chickens tend to benefit more from being covered for moistness and even cooking. Smaller boneless breasts and wings can go either way depending on if you prefer crispy skin or added moisture.
The most important things are to use the right heat level, don’t overcook the chicken, allow it to rest before serving, and use a thermometer for doneness instead of relying on cook times. If you follow these best practices, you can get juicy, tender and flavorful backyard grilled chicken regardless of whether you cover it or cook it uncovered. Experiment to find what works best for your particular barbecue setup and preferences.