At El Pollo Norteño, we know about grilled chicken. And while or delicious northern Mexican marinade remains a well-kept secret, today we share some tips to make the best grilled chicken at home.
1. Marinate Your Chicken
Sure, you can grill your chicken without marinating it. However, experts and food lovers seem to agree: the best grilled chicken is marinated. Ideally, you should marinate your chicken five to six hours before grilling it. If time is tight, 30 minutes may provide satisfactory results.
2. Be Careful
When handling chicken is important to avoid cross-contamination. Use warm water and soap to wash all the surfaces that come in contact with the raw chicken and its juices. This includes, without being limited to:
- Dishes
- Containers
- Utensils
- Tables and counters
- Cookware
- Cutting boards
3. Clean and Oil Your Grill Grate
A clean grill grate is the equivalent of a blank canvas. Remember: we are making the perfect grilled chicken, so you want an immaculate surface to create your masterpiece. To clean your grill, warm it ip to burn any residue attached to the metal. Then let it cool and scrub it thoroughly using your grill brush. Once your grate is clean, it’s time to oil it — just hold a napkin soaked in cooking oil with your tongs and rub it against the metal.
4. Use a Thermometer
Finally, remember that chicken must be cooked at a safe temperature of 165°F. Before removing the chicken from the grill, use a meat thermometer to ensure that your chicken has reached that mark.
More Interesting Facts About Mexican Food
If you are hungry for more stories and facts about Mexican food, then check out these previous posts:
- Mexican food in space: 3 facts you probably didn’t know
- Which is the best part of the Chicken?
- 8 Interesting facts about tacos
- What is the best taco topping?
El Pollo Norteño: the Best Grilled Chicken
Looking for the best grilled chicken? Contact El Pollo Norteno today!
Visit any of our four locations (Anaheim, Santa Ana, and Garden Grove), order online, get in touch through Facebook, or call 866-MI-POLLO to enjoy our authentic Mexican dishes: amazing chicken grilled to perfection over real Mesquite charcoal, caldo de pollo, flan, carnitas, carne asada, and more!