Rotisserie Grilling: Cooking With a Spit

Rotisserie grilling is a relatively simple method of cooking over an open fire, in which meat is skewered with a spit, and slowly rotated to expose each side to heat. This method is popular with poultry in the US, and is typically how whole chickens are prepared for retail sale at grocery stores. It is also used to prepare various other dishes, such as gyro meat, from Greece. Using this type of grill is relatively easy to learn, and can be left to cook without much interference.

There are a myriad of options when considering a rotisserie grill, so it's important to keep in mind its intended usage. If it is only going to be used for the winter holiday season's turkeys, then something large and collapsible would be preferred. However if this is your cooking method of choice, many more attractive counter top options are also available.

Fire based rotisseries are available, but since these take a while, electric is going to be the better option. Another thing to consider is whether to have an open air model, allowing easy access to the bird on the spit- which makes basting less of a chore, and more of a fun activity. However the open air model will let most of the heat pass right by the bird, and result in a much longer cook time. A closed, oven like model is your other option. These will cook the dish much faster, but would require opening, and removing the bird for basting if you chose to do it. Also keep in mind that if cooking turkey, it is expected to take several hours to cook, and having an open air model may not be a bad thing. Also look for an easily removable drip pan. This is a pan underneath the bird that collects and stores drippings from the bird. You want it to come away easily in either model choice for cleaning, or better yet, for gravy.

You've also got to contend with lost counter space. They are large, unwieldy beasts. If you do not anticipate regular use, get something you can break down and store easily. The added time assembling (usually only a few minutes, depending on your model) will be a blessing compared to the lost real estate otherwise. Collapsible models will only be available in the open air type. The thing to remember here is that poultry takes a while to cook, so don't be too easily swayed by promises of speedy cook times. Slow, even cooking is the way to go.