Grillet Chicken: Aromatic, Tender, And Juicy Perfection

The Aroma Grillet is a 3-in-1 electric indoor grill with a temperature range of 212°F to 450°F, making it suitable for grilling, slow cooking, steaming, simmering, and serving. It has a non-stick cast aluminium pan for even heat distribution and simple cleanup. The raised grill surface allows excess fat and oil to drip away while leaving attractive grill marks on meats and vegetables. In this article, we will discuss how to grill chicken in an Aroma Grillet.

Characteristics and Values Table for Grilling Chicken in an Aroma Grillet

Pounding the chicken to an even thickness

Firstly, trim any membranes or fat from the chicken breasts with a knife. This will ensure a neat and tidy finish. Then, place the chicken breast inside a large zip-top bag, such as a gallon-sized one, and seal the bag, pressing out as much air as possible. This will ensure the meat doesn't stick to the mallet and make it easier to pound.

Now, it's time to pound the chicken. Use the flat side of a meat mallet, a rolling pin, or even a small skillet to pound the chicken breast. Start with the thickest part of the breast and work your way outwards towards the edges. Use controlled force to avoid tearing the meat. Continue pounding until the chicken breast reaches an even thickness of about 1/4 to 1/2 an inch. Flip the chicken breast over and repeat the process until the other side also reaches an even thickness.

If you don't have a meat mallet, you can use other heavy, flat objects such as an empty wine bottle or even the bottom of a mason jar, depending on the size of the chicken.

By pounding the chicken to an even thickness, you'll not only ensure even cooking but also help tenderize the meat, resulting in juicy and flavorful grilled chicken.

Marinade ingredients

To grill chicken in an Aroma Grillet, you'll need to prepare a marinade. Here are some common ingredients used in marinades:

Olive Oil

Olive oil is the base of the marinade and helps to keep the chicken moist and juicy. It's a good idea to use extra virgin olive oil for the best flavour.

Lemon Juice

Lemon juice, preferably fresh, is used to add flavour and tenderize the chicken. It breaks down the fibres in the meat, making it more tender. Bottled lemon juice can also be used if necessary.

Balsamic Vinegar

Balsamic vinegar adds loads of flavour to the marinade and is a key ingredient. It can also be substituted with other types of vinegar.

Soy Sauce

Low-sodium soy sauce is preferred to regular soy sauce in marinades. It adds a salty depth of flavour to the chicken.

Worcestershire Sauce

Worcestershire sauce is a must-have ingredient, packed with flavour. It adds a complex umami component to the marinade.

Brown Sugar

Brown sugar adds a rich sweetness to the marinade and helps form a nice crust on the grilled chicken. Some recipes may omit or reduce the amount of brown sugar.

Dried Rosemary

Adding an herbaceous flavour, dried rosemary is a nice touch to round out the marinade.

Dijon Mustard

Dijon mustard, spicy brown mustard, or plain yellow mustard can be used in the marinade. It adds a tangy flavour.

Salt and Pepper

Salt and ground black pepper are used for seasoning the chicken. Be careful not to overdo the salt, as soy sauce and Worcestershire sauce already add saltiness to the marinade.

Garlic

Garlic powder is preferred over fresh garlic because fresh garlic can burn on the grill. However, fresh garlic can be used if you like its stronger flavour.

Italian Seasoning

Italian seasoning, including herbs like oregano and thyme, adds a delightful savoury flavour to the chicken.

These ingredients can be adjusted to your taste preferences, and you can always experiment with additional ingredients to make your marinade unique.

How long to grill for

The Aroma Grillet has a temperature range of 212°F to 450°F, which is great for grilling, slow cooking, steaming, simmering and serving. It is recommended to preheat your grill for at least 2-3 minutes or until the unit shows that the input temperature has been reached.

When grilling chicken, it is important to ensure that the meat is of even thickness, as this will allow it to cook evenly. The recommended thickness for boneless, skinless chicken breasts is ½ inch. Pounding the meat to an even thickness will also help to tenderize it.

Once your grill is preheated, you can place the chicken on it. For chicken breasts, grill for 5 minutes on each side or until the internal temperature reaches 165°F. This should result in chicken that is cooked through while still juicy and flavorful.

If you are using the Aroma Grillet to cook chicken wraps, the cooking time will be slightly different. Place the wraps on the preheated grill, seam-side down, and cook for approximately 5 minutes on one side. Then, carefully flip the wraps and cook for another 5 minutes until both sides are crispy and have grill marks.

Resting the chicken

Allowing the chicken to rest gives the juices time to redistribute throughout the meat. This process takes longer for larger pieces of meat. For example, a steak should rest for around 5 minutes, whereas a turkey should rest for 15-20 minutes.

As a general rule of thumb, the resting time for meat is half the cooking time. So, if a chicken breast is grilled for 7 minutes, it should rest for 3-4 minutes. This also gives the chicken time to finish cooking, as it will continue to cook while off the heat.

Freezer tips

Freezing grilled chicken is a great way to save money and time. It also ensures you have tasty grilled meat ready to go whenever you need it. Here are some tips for freezing grilled chicken:

• After grilling the chicken, allow it to cool completely before placing it in the freezer.
• Divide the chicken into meal-sized portions. You can slice, chop, or leave the chicken whole, depending on how you plan to use it later.
• Use freezer bags or freezer containers to store the chicken. Be sure to remove as much air as possible from the bags before sealing them.
• Label the bags or containers with the date and contents.
• Frozen grilled chicken can last for up to 3-4 months in the freezer if stored properly.
• To defrost the chicken, thaw it overnight in the refrigerator. Do not leave frozen meat to thaw on the kitchen counter.
• You can reheat the chicken or serve it cold, for example, on top of a salad.

Frequently asked questions