Smoked chicken wings are delectable. The smoky yet moist and tender meat is simply amazing.
The trick to restaurant-quality smoked wings is smoking them for the correct amount of time at the right temperature. Smoke chicken wings at 225°F for 3 hours.
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What To Look For When Buying Your Wings
The type of wings you use drastically affects the final product. If you start with low-quality chicken wings, you will end up with low-quality smoked chicken wings.
In contrast, if you use high-quality chicken wings, you will have delicious chicken wings.
Choose large wings that have a lot of flesh on them. Large wings are harder to overcook than small wings. Using large wings will ensure they remain moist and juicy when they are finished cooking.
Additionally, the fat from the chicken wings will render as the wings cook. It prevents the wings from drying out and gives the wings crispy skin.
Should You Flip Chicken Wings When Smoking
You do not need to chicken wings flip chicken when smoking. The chicken will be cooked for a short time compared to other cuts of meat like pork shoulder.
Some people like to flip chicken when smoking because it helps the chicken cook evenly.However, the chicken will cook evenly if it is spaced a few inches apart.
Should You Spritz Chicken Wings?
Yes, you can spritz chicken wings during the smoking process. However, proceed with caution if you are spritzing chicken.
If you spritz the chicken too many times, it will have a soft rubbery texture. Spritz the chicken with apple juice, apple cider vinegar, or your desired spray once during the cooking process.
Tips For Smoking Chicken Wings
Purchase party-style wings. Party-style wings are precut into the flap and drumstick.
If you cannot buy party-style wings, you can buy whole wings and cut them into sections.Simply use a sharp knife to cut each wing at the joint.
Pat the wings dry with paper towels to remove excess moisture.
Coat the wings with oil before you season them. The oil will be the BBQ rub stick to the chicken wings.
Let the chicken wings marinate. It takes time for the chicken wings to soak up the marinade or rubs flavor. Let the chicken wings marinade overnight in the fridge uncovered for best results.
Typically smoked chicken does not have crispy skin. The wings are smoked at 225°F for a long time.
Therefore, do not expect crispy wings. You can crisp the wings by grilling or broiling the chicken wings for a few minutes.
Smoke the chicken wings with mild wood. Apple and cherry wood are ideal for smoking chicken wings.
Smoking the chicken with bolder woods, such as oak, could overpower the chicken wing’s flavor. These woods can give the wings a smoky butter flavor.
Do not smoke frozen chicken wings. Yes, you can technically smoke frozen chicken wings.However, it’s better to thaw the chicken wings first.
The frozen chicken wings will take 50% longer to cook than thawed chicken wings.Additionally, the chicken wings will cook unevenly.
The outside of the wing will cook faster, while the inside of the chicken will be raw. By the time the inside of the chicken meat cooks, the outside will be dry. So, if you are using frozen chicken wings, thaw them in the fridge overnight.
You can smoke boneless wings. However, be careful as the wings can dry out easily since they don’t have a bone. You can also use drumsticks if you cannot find party-style wings.
Remember, the goal is to cook the wings low and slow. Make sure your smoker maintains a consistent temperature of 225°F.
If your smoker doesn’t have a water pan, add a small bowl of water to the smoker. The water will help the chicken wings stay moist during the long cooking period.
Let the chicken marinate in the fridge. Chicken wings cannot sit at room temperature for over 4 hours. After 4 hours, the chicken wings will become infected with so many bacteria that it is unsafe to eat.
If you have leftover smoked chicken wings, place them into an airtight container.Place the leftover chicken in the fridge. It will last for 3 days.
To reheat your leftover smoked chicken, place them onto a wire rack set on top of a cooling rack.
Place the smoked chicken wings into the oven. Cook them for 10-15 minutes until they are hot and crispy.
Coat the smoker’s cooking racks with oil before you heat the smoker. The oil will prevent the chicken wings from sticking to the cooking grates.
How Long To Smoke Chicken Wings At 225
The cooking time of smoked chicken wings depends on the size of the chicken wings. It also depends on the smoker as well. For example, it will be harder for your smoker to maintain a stable temperature if it is windy.
Chicken wings will take 3 hours to cook at 225°F. Check the chicken wing’s temperature after 1-1 1/2 hours to, and adjust the cooking time if necessary.
How Much Chicken Wings Per Person
You must know how much meat per person to plan accordingly. Each person can eat up to 10 wings. Yes, this seems like a lot of wings; however, some people have big appetites.
You can also serve 1/2-3/4 pounds of wings per person. This works if you have other sides, such as BBQ baked beans and mac and cheese. However, if the smoked chicken wings are the main dish, estimate 1 pound of chicken for 4 people.
How ToTell When Smoked Wings Are Done
Chicken wings are done cooking when they have an internal temperature of 165˚F.
Chicken wings are small. It’s best to use an instant-read thermometer when measuring the chicken wing’s temperature. You can point it at the wings instead of inserting the probe into the wings.
Final Thoughts
Smoked chicken wings are so delicious. Now that you know how long to smoke wings at 225, you have all the motivation to pull out your smoker and smoke some delicious chicken wings.
I have been smoking and grilling meat from an early age and enjoy sharing my knowledge and expertise through the hundreds of articles I have written about BBQ. I hope to make everyone’s BBQ journey that little bit easier.