Beer-Can Chicken (Revised Edition): Foolproof Recipes for the Crispiest, Crackliest, Smokiest, Most Succulent Birds You’ve Ever Tasted (Revised)

by Steven Raichlen

Revised, redesigned, and beautifully photographed, this updated classic from America's barbecue guru offers 50 recipes for the ultimate chicken grilling technique-on a beer can-plus brilliant recipes for birds off the can, perfect sides, and even desserts!

Chicken on a beer can? You bet! When Steven Raichlen, America's barbecue guru, says it's the best grilled chicken he's ever tasted, cooks stop and listen. An essential addition to every grill jockey's library, Beer-Can Chicken presents foolproof recipes for the ultimate poultry grilling technique, plus the perfect sides and desserts-more than 50 recipes in all. The results? The perfect bird, crackly crisp, succulent within-the most flavourful chicken you've ever tasted. Beer-Can Tandoori with yogurt, warming spices, and of course, India's Kingfisher Lager. Sake Chicken with a wasabi-sesame rub. Truffled Chicken and Cousin Rob's Cajun Chicken. Other birds on the can: Root Beer Game Hens and Beer-Can Turkey (perched on a 32-ounce can of Foster's). "Beerless birds" (Ginger Ale Chicken, Black Cherry Soda Chicken), and birds cooked off the can in clever ways-like Stoned Chicken (grilled under a brick) and Welder's Chicken (wrapped in foil and turned with welder's gloves). Whether on a can, under a brick, or in the embers, each grilling technique is explained in easy-to-follow steps, with recipes that guarantee no matter how wild the process, the results are always outstanding. Includes sides, desserts, and all new instructions for beer-canning on a pellet grill-with full-colour step-by-step and beauty photography throughout.

• ISBN10: 1523526211
• ISBN13: 9781523526215
• Publish Date: 9 May 2024
• Publish Status: Active
• Publish Country: US
• Publisher: Workman Publishing
• Imprint: Workman Adult
• Format: Paperback (UK Trade)
• Pages: 208
• Language: English

Reviews

[annieb123]

Originally posted on my blog Nonstop Reader.

Beer-Can Chicken is a tutorial guide with recipes by Steven Raichlen. Originally published in 2002, this reformatted, revised second edition is out 23rd April 2024 from Hachette on their Workman Publishing imprint. It's 208 pages and is available in paperback format. 

The basic idea is that supporting chicken on a beer can while cooking will end up with a bird which is crispy on the outside, well moistened and tender and flavorful on the inside. A simple internet search will turn up thousands of recipes. It's become a favorite all around recipe from the jaunty presentation to the no-fail tenderness and flavor.

The book's introduction covers basics such as grill options, tools, supplies, ingredient choices, and general instructions. The following chapters contain the recipes, arranged thematically: beer-can chicken (multiple recipes), beerless birds (coke and other canned drinks), other bird options (surprisingly many), non-can chicken prep methods, sides (lots of options), and desserts.

Recipes contain a description and background introduction, ingredients in a bullet list, and step-by-step cooking instructions. Ingredient measurements are supplied in imperial (American) measurements. The nutritional information is not included. Extra tips or recipe alternatives are listed in text boxes in the recipes. The recipes themselves are fairly straightforward and are made for the most part with easily sourced ingredients.

The photography is well done and abundant; many, but not all, of the recipes are illustrated with photographs which are clear easy to understand.

This is a nice collection of recipes and even allowing for the fact that some of them are very similar to others in the same category, this will keep grilling fans going for ages. These are simple "everyday" recipes which are anything but boring.

Four stars. This is a solid recipe book which will be used. It would make a superlative housewarming gift to a friend or family member who enjoys grilling.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.