Expert: BBQ Woman - 7/11/2010

Question
ive never cooked nor bbq, but i bought a gas grill.  its intimidating.  i bought a gas grill that has 4 burners, each burners heat-wise goes from level 1 - 4.  i want to bbq chicken, i only like dark meat so chicken legs and thighs and wings.  how do i do it?  so i turn on the 2 side burners and leave the middle 2 OFF and bbq it that way - leave the chicken pieces in the middle two burners where its off?  so like the what they call indirect heat method?  

how often do i turn/toss n turn the meat?  

do i close the lid during this process?

what LEVEL heat on each burner should i set it on during the cooking process, should it be 2 or 3 or even 1 or 4?

so its ok to marinade the chicken first then dust with spices, then bbq correct?  the bbq sauce app goes at the end?

thx

Answer
Hi West,
I would check with your user manual to determine what the temperatures are for 1 through 4 on your grill. For cut up chicken you want to cook using direct heat method. This means you put the chicken directly over the heat source. The ideal cooking temperature would be about 250 degrees. Legs tend to take about 30 minutes to cook. Buy a meat thermometer and check the chicken when its at 170 degrees its done. You can turn your chicken as it browns. If one side seems to be getting done faster than the other move it around the grill.
Only light the burners you need to cook with. Wait until the grill is hot and then run a rag dipped in oil over the grates before sticking the chicken on. Some people also brush the chicken lightly with oil so that it doesn't stick to the grill as well. Buy a decent set of tongs. I love tongs for moving meat around on the grill its so much easier than a spatula or fork.
You can prep your chicken any way you want. Some people will dry rub spices on and let the chicken sit overnight. Others will marinade it. The latest fad is brining the chicken over night. I usually just brush mine in olive oil and then sprinkle on Cajun seasoning and grill.
If you want a bbq sauce on it brush it on right before it gets done and it will stick right to the cooked meat without worrying about it burning.
I would remove the wing tip and discard it and separate the wing at the joint for easier cooking. Wings take about 15 to 20 minutes to cook. Thighs will take about 30 minutes.
It sounds like you purchased a decent size grill so you probably can cook all the chicken at once. Just have your platters ready or nearby to put the done chicken on. If you cant find it in your manual just let me know and I can look on the web for you and see what temperatures 1 through 4 could be. Otherwise just turn your grill on and adjust it until you feel its at 250 degrees. You can always raise or lower the temperature as you cook with a gas grill.
Once you are used to your grill it wont be so complicated. It will be fun. You can experiment with different recipes and flavors and there are also commercially made products you can purchase as well to make your cooking experience easier. I hope I have answered your question. Feel free to give me a follow up question if you would like.
Happy Grilling,
Regards,
Misty