Are you planning to grill chicken wings on the gas grill, but you are wondering how long it will take? If yes, then today, you have clicked the right page. Most people prefer using their gas grill for cooking chicken because it is convenient, fast, and cooks very delicious chicken wings. In this post, we will tell you how long to grill chicken wings on a gas grill.
How long to grill chicken wings on a gas grill
If you are thinking of grilling chicken wings on a gas grill for the first time, then the question that you may be asking yourself right now is: how long does it take to grill chicken wings on a gas grill? Grilling chicken wings on a gas grill takes between 20-25 minutes, depending on your grilling temperatures and how you grill your chicken (whole or in parts).
Step by step tips on how to grill chicken wings on a gas grill
Prepare the Wings
Chicken wings comprise three sections. They include the drumette, wingtip, and the middle joint. When you buy chicken wings from your local food store, the chances are that it will come whole. You can grill the wings full if you like, but most people prefer to subdivide the wings into small sections to make the grilling process easier and faster.
Season the Wings
Once you have prepared the wings, the next process is seasoning the wings with a fry run or wet marinade. The best way to marinate the chicken wings is to place them on a large plastic bag. When you marinade, ensure that the entire chicken wings are covered. Allow the marinade to soak for at least one hour before you start grilling. If dry rubbing, apply your favorite barbecue rub to the chicken wing before grilling.
Preheat the Gas Grill
Preheat your gas grill to medium (420-450 degrees F). Please avoid putting too much heat as it can char the outer part of your chicken wings, leaving the inner side undercooked. Preheating is important because it allows your chicken wings to cook faster. It also prevents them from sticking on the grate. Placing your chicken wings on cool grates also reduces the chances of it creating flavorful sear marks. Preheat your gas grill for about 15 minutes before you place your chicken wings.
Place your Chicken Wings on the Grates.
Place all the chicken wings on the grill, then reduce the grill temperature from medium to medium-low (about 350 degrees F). Flip the chicken wings after every 5 minutes. This will allow both sides to cook evenly. Some parts tend to cook faster than other regions due to hot spots on the grill. If you note that some parts of the chick wing cook faster than other parts, place them on a slightly cooler part of the grill. Continue flipping the chicken wings until it is well browned.
Remove the Wings from the Grill and Let Them Cool.
Before you remove the chicken wings, check the internal temperature. If the internal temperatures are 165 degrees F, then it is clear that your chicken wings are well cooked. Remove them from the gas grill and let them rest for about 5 minutes to allow carryover cooking before serving.
How can I grill chicken wings without drying it up?
One common problem that most people face when grilling chicken wings is that they often come out dry. An over dry, stringy chicken wings are far from perfect. This section will give you tips on how to prepare perfectly moist, evenly cooked, and flavorful chicken wings on a gas grill.
Ensure that you Purchase High-Quality Chicken Wings.
The quality of chicken wings that you purchase will determine the outcome. Therefore if you want to grill perfectly moist chicken wing, you need to buy high-quality chicken wings from a trusted local store. The better the quality of the chicken wings, the better the quality of chicken wing s you will prepare.
Brine Before Grilling
Brining simply means submerging the chicken in a salt-water solution before you start grilling. This technique helps to prevent overcooking, thus keeping the chicken wings moist and juicy. It also helps the chicken wings get grill marks, increasing surface moisture, keeping the interior of the chicken wings juicy. If you want to get the best results, it is recommended that you bring at least 2 hours before grilling. Please don’t over brine because it will give the chicken a rubber texture and make it over salty.
Pound the wings into broad, thin sheets
Another great way to prevent your chicken wings from drying is by pounding them into broad, thin sheets of about 1/4 inch thick. This process will reduce grilling time to about one minute per side, thus ensuring that chicken wings don’t have time to dry out. This technique is important, especially if your chicken wings have irregular thickness. Pounding the wings will ensure that your chicken wings cook evenly, thus reducing the chance of drying.
Add Salt to the Chicken Wings.
Salt not only helps to add flavor to your grilled chicken wings, but it also helps to boost moisture, making you chicken wings moist and juicy. Before you start grilling, coat the entire wings with salt. The salt will add flavor as well as seal in moisture, making your chicken wings moist.
Prepare your gas grill well and keep the temperature medium-low
Before you start grilling, ensure this your grill is completely clean and free of debris. This will help prevent the chicken wings from sticking on the grates. It will also ensure that the flavor of your chicken wings is not altered. Also, don’t grill with high temperatures. Unlike meat, chicken wings don’t cook well under high temperatures. High heat will burn the wings on the outside, leaving the inside part raw. By the time the inner side is cooked, the outer part will have dried. To avoid this, ensure that you set grill temperature to medium-low to allow the wings to cook evenly.
Don’t Overcook the Wings.
Another way to prevent your chicken wings from drying is by ensuring that you don’t overcook them. Typically, chicken wings take between 20-25 minutes to cook on a gas grill. If you grill them more than this time, then they are more likely to dry out. Also, flip them over after every five minutes to ensure even cooking. Use internal temperature to check the cooking status of your chicken wings. The FDA suggests that your grill should attain a grilling temperature of 165 degrees F when grilling chicken wings. If you don’t want your chicken wing to dry out, remove it from the grill when the internal temperature is about 160 degrees. The chicken wing will continue to cook for about five minutes without drying.
Let the Chicken Wings Rest.
Most people like to jump at their chicken wings the moment they get them off the gas grill. However, that is not a wise idea. Don’t start eating your chicken wings the moment you get them out of the grill. Instead, let them rest for about 10 minutes before you serve. The resting period will allow the cooking process to complete. It also helps seal in the juices, thus ensuring that your chicken wings remain juicy and moist when you serve.
Should I Put on Oil Before Grilling?
Yes, it is recommended that you oil your grill grate with vegetable oil before you start grilling chicken wings. Oiling your grates before you start grilling helps prevent the chicken wings from sticking and drying when cooking. However, you need to be careful not to overuse too much oil because it may start flare-ups, altering your wing’s taste.
Does Grill Temperature Affect Chicken Wings Cook time?
Yes, grill temperature affects chicken wings cooking time. For instance, when you grill your chicken wings at medium temperature (between at 420-450 degrees F), it will take about 20 minutes to cook the wings. On the other hand, if you grill at medium-low temperature (between 350- 400 degrees F), it will take about 30 minutes to grill the wings. However, if you want an evenly cooked, juicy chicken wings, then it is recommended that you cook it at medium-low temperature. Chicken wings cook well under low temperatures.
Mistakes to Avoid When Grilling Chicken Wings on a Gas Grill
Even though gas grills are designed to cook chicken wings, the technique that you use will determine the results. If you want to grill mouthwatering chicken wings on your gas grill, below are mistakes to avoid.
Forgetting to season the wings
This is a common mistake that many people make when grilling chicken wings. Your chicken wings will have a terrible test if you forget to season them. Note that season needs to be done before you start grilling, not after. If you season after your wings have cooked, then it will not be effective as it would if you reason before you start grilling. So make sure you season your chicken wings with salt and other suitable additives at least 2 hours before you start grilling.
Not using a thermometer.
This is a very important thing that most people usually overlook. Even though there are many ways of knowing if your chicken wings have cooked, using a meat thermometer is one of the most effective ways of getting precise results. The internal temperature that indicates that your chicken wings are cooks is 165 degrees F. Using a meat thermometer, the surest way to know if your chicken wings are ready.
Drying your chicken wings
Chicken wings are more flavorful and delicious when they are moist. Therefore, when cooking chicken wings, it is advised that you don’t let them dry completely. You can achieve this by bringing your chicken wings before you grill and cooling it at a medium-low temperature. Remove the chicken wings from the grill a minute before it is fully cooked and let the remaining part cook while it is coloring. The carryover cooking will not only complete the cooking, but it will also leave your chicken wings juicer and moist.
Grilling at high temperature
Another mistake that people make when grilling chicken wings is grilling at high temperatures. If you cook your chicken wings at high temperatures (above 450 degrees F), the wings’ skin will char before the inner flesh cooks. When cooking chicken wings, it is recommended that you grill at medium-low temperature. This will allows all parts of the wings, including the flesh, to cook evenly.
Not checking on your chicken wings
Not checking on your chicken wings while they are cooking is a huge mistake. As much as gas grills are good at cooking chicken wings, they need your input to give great results. Therefore, once you place your chicken wings on the grill, you need to check them often to know if they are cooking well. You have to flip and move them around until they all cook evenly. Keeping an eye on the chicken while grilling will also help you monitor the temperature and adjust accordingly to get the best results.
Should I Grill Chicken Wings with the lid Closed or Opened?
When grilling chicken wings, you need to cook with the lid closed to allow the wings to cook evenly. Chicken wings have much more depth for the heat to penetrate. Closing the lid while the wings are grilling will enable the head to sink in and cook the chicken wings fast and evenly. Leaving the lid open is not recommended because it lowers the cooking temperature, thus slowing down the cooking process. It also increases the chance of the flesh, not cooking completely as it should.
