Doing Chicken Legs this weekend.

[mike65]

1st time I did chicken it was awful - no taste , rubber skin etc.  

Will be attempting chicken legs this weekend on the smoker.   Any tips I should follow so it comes out good?

 

[bobank03]

As far as the rubbery skin all you can do is finish them on the grill at higher heats to crisp up the skin. Good luck and keep us posted!

 

[hardwater]

Brine them.  Something like 2 tbls vinegar, 3 tbls kosher salt, maybe some onion and garlic powder,  then some kick, red pepper, cayenne or tabasco, heck all three if you really like fire.  Mix it in a gallon of water, soak chicken 3-5 hours.

I've been doing them at 250, but I'm going to go up to 275-300 next time I do them, still looking for that perfect skin.  

 

[mike65]

Thanks for the ideas - nap won over smoking chicken legs.

     Maybe a next weekend smoke.

 

[hardwater]

Oh yeah, skip the water pan completely!

 

[flash]

Oh yeah, skip the water pan completely!

That will allow you higher temps. Pretty much will be just grilling then though. I like to put them thru a lower temp to take on some smoke, then raise the temps if you can into the 290º to crisp up the skin.

Chickenmoist019.jpg

• flash
• Sep 3, 2012

 

[hardwater]

That looks like some good chicken!

I've been doing okay just holding 250ish.  But the skin doesn't quite have the snap I'm looking for.  When I bite into it, it breaks, but I get much bigger chunks than a bites worth.  

I like your idea of smoking then raising the temps up.  I'm definitely going to give that a whirl next time I do chicken.  

 

[flash]

That looks like some good chicken!

I've been doing okay just holding 250ish.  But the skin doesn't quite have the snap I'm looking for.  When I bite into it, it breaks, but I get much bigger chunks than a bites worth.  

I like your idea of smoking then raising the temps up.  I'm definitely going to give that a whirl next time I do chicken.  

 If the smoker cannot reach the proper temps fire up the charcoal grill or gasser if need be.

Chickensmoker0009.jpg

• flash
• Mar 19, 2013

Out of the smoker

ChickenGrill0010.jpg

• flash
• Mar 19, 2013

After the grill.

 

[hardwater]

Perfection!