From the category archives:

Outdoor Cooking

Beer Can Chicken with the Vertical Chicken BeeRoaster

When I make beer can chicken I feel very sorry for the chicken.  The whole process just seems so wrong, but the end result is so worth it.  The chicken is so incredibly flavorful and moist, no other cooking method even comes close.  One thing I have a problem with is the beer can itself.  Basically you’re shoving this beer can in the chicken and there is paint on the can and the can is getting really, really hot.  Too me, in a freaky health conscious kinda way, I’m thinking that probably isn’t very good for us.  Hot paint, in direct contact with my food.  I mean you wouldn’t dump the contents of a one gallon can of paint, then make chili in that can, would you?  So, what’s the difference?  OK, maybe that’s not apples to apples, but you get my drift.

And I haven’t even gotten into the precarious balancing act of keeping the chicken upright on the beer can.  I love beer can chicken as much as the next guy, but I liken the process to cooking with a 25 year old pressure cooker.  It’s scary and exciting, and the end results are worth it, if nobody gets injured.

In my opinion, the Vertical Chicken BeeRoaster is great solution to the paint and stability issue.  The roaster is made of 18/10 stainless steel and has a sturdy base so the chicken stays safely upright.  Use it in the oven or on the grill and toss it in the dishwasher when you’re done for easy cleanup.

OK, call me a freak on the paint issue, I’m OK with that, because I probably got you thinking…now didn’t I?

$24.99 from Chef’s

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The Big Easy Oil-Less Infrared Turkey Fryer by Char-Broil

Deep frying turkeys has been the rage for a few years now, and why not, as there’s nothing quite as exciting as putting a partially frozen turkey into propane heated pot of oil to cause a bit of excitement on Thanksgiving Day.  The flame ball created by the overflowing oil onto the propane flames is about ten times the size of that giant Snoopy balloon in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. Giant flame balls are like the Bat Signal for the fire department.  And, unless I invite the local fire department over for Thanksgiving dinner, I don’t want them dropping by unexpectedly, if you know what I mean.

But if you are bound and determined to cook your turkey outdoors, there is a better way.  The Char-Broil Big Easy Oil-Less Infrared Turkey Fryer uses propane powered infrared technology to cook a turkey  on your deck without the hot oil, messy cleanup, and possible giant fire ball. Simply place the seasoned turkey or other large cut of meat, like chicken, pork tenderloin, or beef roast, into the roasting basket, lower into the heating chamber (Remember, no oil, so no fire ball.  Have I hammered in the fire ball thing enough?) and ignite the burner.  The high intensity infrared energy evenly sears the outside locking in juices and cooks the inside to moist perfection.

So, unless you like hanging out in emergency rooms and chatting with your insurance agent—forgo the deep fried turkey and opt for this infrared turkey fryer–for a more high tech and safer alternative this year.

Buy from Amazon

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