Introduction
That craving hits: succulent, smoky grilled chicken. The aroma, the slight char, the juicy tenderness—it’s a culinary experience many yearn for. But perhaps the weather isn’t cooperating, you lack a backyard grill, or the thought of firing up the grill for a small meal seems like more trouble than it’s worth. Enter the multi-purpose cooker, a kitchen appliance darling known for its versatility. Instant Pots, Ninja Foodis, pressure cookers with air fryer lids – these appliances promise a world of culinary possibilities. But can they deliver that quintessential grilled chicken experience?
The question, “Can a multi-purpose cooker be used to grill chicken?” is one many home cooks are asking. While these appliances offer a convenient route to preparing delicious meals, achieving truly authentic grilled chicken results hinges on understanding their capabilities and limitations. Let’s delve into whether you can indeed satisfy your grilled chicken desires using your trusty multi-purpose cooker.
Understanding What Makes Chicken “Grilled”
Before we jump into the capabilities of our multi-purpose friends, let’s break down what truly constitutes “grilled” chicken. At its core, grilling is a cooking method that relies on direct, high-intensity heat. This intense heat sears the surface of the chicken, creating those coveted char marks and trapping the juices inside. It’s also the interaction of the heat with the chicken’s natural fats that produces that smoky, almost primal flavor we associate with grilled food. The dry heat is essential for developing that delicious, slightly crisp skin.
Why is grilled chicken so universally loved? It’s more than just convenience. The flavor is unique, the texture is satisfying (tender inside, slightly crisp outside), and the visual appeal of those grill marks adds to the overall dining experience. This is what we aim to emulate, even if we don’t have a traditional grill.
The Challenges of Replicating Grilling in a Multi-Purpose Cooker
While multi-purpose cookers excel at many things, replicating the exact conditions of a traditional grill presents some challenges. One of the primary hurdles is the nature of the heat source. Most multi-purpose cookers, even those with air frying capabilities, don’t consistently deliver the same level of direct, intense heat as a grill. They often circulate hot air or rely on a heating element that’s further away from the food surface. This means it’s more difficult to achieve that rapid searing that’s essential for true grilling.
Another challenge lies in moisture retention. Multi-purpose cookers are often designed to retain moisture, which is great for certain dishes, but not ideal for grilling. Excess moisture inhibits browning and charring. While air frying functions help mitigate this, it’s still a factor to consider. Finally, achieving that signature smoky flavor can be difficult. Without the charcoal or wood chips of a traditional grill, you need to get creative to impart that smoky essence.
Exploring the Multi-Purpose Cooker Functions for Chicken
Let’s explore the specific functions within a multi-purpose cooker that might help us achieve our grilled chicken dreams.
The Air Frying Function
The air frying function, found in many multi-purpose cookers, is probably the most promising contender for mimicking grilling. Air frying works by circulating hot air rapidly around the food, which can lead to a crispy exterior. The result is chicken that is often significantly crispier than oven-baked chicken.
But can it truly mimic grilling? The answer is a qualified yes. Air frying can certainly produce crispy skin and some browning, but it rarely achieves the same level of char that you’d get from a traditional grill. The flavor profile is also slightly different, lacking the smoky depth that comes from grilling over an open flame.
To maximize your air frying results, ensure your chicken is well-seasoned, preheat the air fryer adequately, and flip the chicken halfway through cooking to ensure even browning. You may also want to pat the chicken dry before seasoning to remove excess moisture and encourage crisping.
Pressure Cooking Followed by Air Frying
This two-step process is popular for a reason. Pressure cooking quickly tenderizes the chicken, while air frying provides the crispy exterior. This combination offers a balance of speed and texture.
The benefits are clear: faster cooking time and incredibly tender chicken. Pressure cooking ensures that the chicken is cooked through and incredibly moist. The subsequent air frying step then focuses on browning and crisping the skin.
However, there are drawbacks. Pressure cooking prioritizes moisture retention, which, as we discussed earlier, can hinder charring. Also, while you’ll get crispy skin, the flavor profile will be more akin to roasted chicken than grilled chicken.
Broiling (If Your Cooker Has It)
Some multi-purpose cookers include a broiling function. Broiling uses intense heat from above to brown the food. If your cooker has this function, it can be a useful tool for achieving that top-down browning that’s characteristic of grilling.
However, broiling requires close monitoring to prevent burning. It’s also crucial to position the chicken correctly to ensure even browning. Consider using a rack to elevate the chicken closer to the broiler element.
Other Functions and Considerations
While sauteing and steaming might be available in your multi-purpose cooker, they are not ideal for “grilling” chicken. They are better suited for cooking chicken with specific flavor profiles like steamed ginger and scallion chicken or chicken sauteed with vegetables. You can use these functions to prepare delicious meals, but they won’t deliver that grilled chicken experience.
Recipes and Techniques to Emulate the Grill
Let’s explore some specific recipes and techniques to maximize your chances of achieving “grilled” chicken in a multi-purpose cooker.
Air Fryer “Grilled” Chicken Recipe
This recipe focuses on maximizing the air frying function to create a flavorful and visually appealing chicken dish.
- Ingredients: Bone-in, skin-on chicken pieces (thighs, drumsticks, or breasts), olive oil, your favorite grilling seasoning blend (salt, pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, etc.), optional: liquid smoke.
- Instructions:
- Pat the chicken pieces completely dry with paper towels.
- Lightly brush the chicken with olive oil.
- Generously season the chicken with your grilling seasoning blend. If desired, add a tiny amount of liquid smoke to the seasoning blend for a more authentic smoky flavour. Be careful with liquid smoke, as a little goes a long way.
- Preheat your air fryer to 400 degrees Fahrenheit (200 degrees Celsius).
- Place the chicken pieces in the air fryer basket, ensuring they are not overcrowded. Cook in batches if necessary.
- Cook for 20-25 minutes, flipping the chicken halfway through, or until the internal temperature reaches 165 degrees Fahrenheit (74 degrees Celsius).
- Check for doneness using a meat thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the chicken. The juices should run clear.
- Let the chicken rest for a few minutes before serving.
Pressure Cooker/Air Fryer Combo Chicken Recipe
This recipe combines pressure cooking for tenderness with air frying for crispness.
- Ingredients: Bone-in, skin-on chicken pieces, chicken broth or water, your favorite grilling seasoning blend, olive oil.
- Instructions:
- Season the chicken pieces generously with your grilling seasoning blend.
- Place a trivet in the multi-purpose cooker pot.
- Add the chicken pieces to the pot on top of the trivet.
- Pour in enough chicken broth or water to reach the minimum liquid line specified by your cooker manufacturer.
- Secure the lid and set the cooker to pressure cook on high for 8-12 minutes, depending on the size of the chicken pieces.
- Release the pressure naturally or quickly, according to your cooker instructions.
- Carefully remove the chicken from the pot and pat it dry with paper towels.
- Lightly brush the chicken with olive oil.
- Preheat your air fryer to 400 degrees Fahrenheit (200 degrees Celsius).
- Place the chicken pieces in the air fryer basket, ensuring they are not overcrowded.
- Air fry for 5-10 minutes, or until the skin is golden brown and crispy.
Tips for Enhancing “Grilled” Flavor
Beyond specific recipes, here are some general tips to enhance the “grilled” flavor of your chicken:
- Liquid Smoke: As mentioned before, a tiny amount of liquid smoke can add a significant smoky flavour. Be cautious and add it sparingly.
- Smoked Paprika and Smoky Spices: Experiment with smoked paprika, chipotle powder, or other smoky spices in your seasoning blends.
- Grilling-Style Marinades: Marinate your chicken in grilling-style sauces like barbecue sauce, teriyaki sauce, or a vinegar-based marinade.
- Grill Marks (Visual Appeal): Use a grill pan or a spatula to create grill marks on the chicken after it’s cooked. This will enhance the visual appeal, even if the flavour isn’t quite the same.
The Tradeoffs: Advantages and Disadvantages
Using a multi-purpose cooker for chicken offers both advantages and disadvantages compared to traditional grilling.
Advantages:
- Convenience and Ease of Use: Multi-purpose cookers are incredibly convenient and easy to use. Simply add the ingredients, select the appropriate function, and let the cooker do its job.
- Faster Cooking Times: Pressure cooking, in particular, can significantly reduce cooking times.
- Versatility: You can often cook side dishes simultaneously in the multi-purpose cooker, making it a one-pot meal solution.
- Less Mess: Multi-purpose cookers typically create less mess than traditional grilling, as the cooking process is contained within the pot.
Disadvantages:
- Inability to Replicate True Grilling Flavor and Char: Despite your best efforts, it’s difficult to perfectly replicate the smoky flavor and charred exterior of traditionally grilled chicken.
- Potential for Dry Chicken: If not cooked properly, chicken in a multi-purpose cooker can become dry. Careful monitoring and adjusting cooking times are essential.
- Learning Curve: Achieving optimal results with a multi-purpose cooker requires some experimentation and understanding of its functions.
The Verdict: Can You Grill Chicken in a Multi-Purpose Cooker?
So, can a multi-purpose cooker be used to grill chicken? The answer is yes, but with a caveat. You can certainly cook chicken in a way that resembles grilling, but it’s not a perfect substitute for traditional grilling. While you can achieve crispy skin, tender meat, and even some smoky flavor enhancements, you won’t quite replicate the authentic grilled chicken experience.
The key takeaways are to understand your cooker’s functions, use appropriate techniques, manage your expectations, and have fun experimenting! Don’t be afraid to try different recipes, flavor combinations, and cooking methods until you find what works best for you and your appliance. The journey to “grilled” chicken in a multi-purpose cooker can be a rewarding one, leading to delicious and convenient meals.
Now, it’s your turn! Share your experiences with using multi-purpose cookers for chicken in the comments below. What are your favorite tips and tricks? Do you have a go-to recipe? We’d love to hear from you! Let’s explore the possibilities of multi-purpose cooking together!
