Chicken breast with potatoes on plate, toned
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Chicken wins again and again for its versatility in preparation and the seemingly infinite recipes in which it appears. Grilling is a healthy and easy way to cook the original white meat. However, determining proper cook times for chicken on a grill is tricky, but doable.

Contact Models

Contact electric grills operate by direct contact of an electrically heated grilling plate to both sides of the food. Your food will be done quickly as contact grills cook from both sides at once. Unfortunately, most contact grills cannot accommodate meats thicker than one inch, so will not be suitable for larger portions of chicken.

Contact Model Cooking Time

Many electric contact grills come with adjustable temperature controls. The standard and preferred temperature for cooking chicken is 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Grills that cannot adjust temperature are generally set at 400 degrees Fahrenheit. At standard temperature, cook chicken for about 10 to 12 minutes per pound without bones, or 15 to 18 minutes with bones. Poke a fork into the center or thickest part of the chicken. If clear fluid runs from the holes, it is done. If the fluid is still pink or bloody, cook for three to five minutes more.

Open Models

Electric grills modeled on outdoor grills operate by electrical heating coils which radiate heat up to cook the food. The kettle design allows accommodation of larger cuts of chicken up to and including whole chickens. Cooking times will be comparable to cooking on an outdoor charcoal or propane grill.

Open Model Cooking Time

If adjustable temperature control is a feature of your electric grill, set it to 350 degrees Fahrenheit, or on high. Otherwise, most grills are set at 400 degrees Fahrenheit. Boneless chicken generally cooks in 8 to 10 minutes per side. Bone-in chicken takes longer to cook, from 12 to 15 per side. If your grill has a cover, closing it will speed up the cooking time. Use a fork to test for doneness. If not quite done, cook for one to three minutes more per side.