vest pockets

[mgwerks]

This isn't so much a recipe as a technique. Just a little trick I came up with to help with cooking and presentation on whole birds - from roasted Cornish game hens to deep-fried turkeys. The one on the right is ready to go, and the one on the left is just being prepared.



Note the right bird all nicely tucked in. The knife in the left one shows the location of one of the two ‘vest pockets’ I make in the skin of the bird, not too big. Then I tuck the wingtips into these, and since the slots are snug, the wings are retained for the duration of the cook. This keeps the wings from flying around all over, and makes a nicer presentation (see last photo). I do this for anything from game hens to turkeys – works like a charm!

Oh yeah, here's what they looked like just out of the smoker. Now they really look like 'vest pockets'!

[JamesB]

Great idea. I normally just tuck the wings back, but I like this way too... Only problem might be in presentation if you cut the bird into the normal eight pieces for serving... not a big deal to me.

[Papa Tom]

Really good lookin' birds there and I like the technique too... Thanks
I usually tuck the wings behind too however if you go look at the Throwdowns under "Things With Wings" and look closely you will notice that some bird shots I turned in really were not "Things With Wings" at all cause the tucked behind wings stuck to the grate and pulled off.......so I had to eat them.....

[Southern Pride BBQ]

Thats one handy tip !!! i like it !!

[NewBQ]

Looks like it works just fine.

[tex_toby]

...as handy as a pocket on a shirt.

tex

[JaCK2U2]

May have to try that, if for nothing else than to give my guests something to talk about!