Smoker temperature – 250°F. Smoking time – 30 to 45 minutes/pound. Finished temperature – 165°F.
Look no further if you’re wondering how long to smoke chicken at 250 degrees. You can use our comprehensive guide to make an educated guess as to how long your chicken will be smoking by using it.
How Long to Smoke Chicken Breast at 250 Degrees
250 degrees is actually a nice temperature for chicken breast, despite what we said earlier about smoking chicken at a higher temperature. The lean meat will cook more quickly than a whole bird would, and it will remain juicy and tender.
Try to select cuts of chicken breasts that are roughly the same size when smoking several. They should be able to achieve the ideal serving temperature simultaneously thanks to this. In fact, no matter the type of cut you have, you should adhere to this general principle.
How Long to Smoke Chicken at 250 Degrees
When you set the smoker temperature to 250 degrees, a whole chicken should cook at a rate of approximately 45 minutes per pound. A 4-pound chicken should be prepared to be removed from the heat in 3 hours. Smaller cuts will cook faster; a batch of chicken wings may be finished in just one hour.
We prefer to set the temperature slightly higher when smoking chicken than when smoking ribs and brisket. That’s because the meat is leaner and doesn’t need to be cooked as slowly as cuts with more fat.
A good smoker temperature range for chicken is between 300 and 325 degrees. It permits the skin to become nicely crispy without significantly reducing the smoke flavor. Given that 325 degrees Fahrenheit is the recommended temperature for roasting, the cooked meat ought to be tender as well.
But it’s okay to set the smoker to 250 degrees if you really want your chicken to take in a lot of smoke. The meat will take longer to reach the proper temperature, but you’ll be rewarded for your perseverance with plenty of savory smoke flavor.
When poultry products, including chicken, have been cooked to 165 degrees Fahrenheit, they are deemed safe to eat.
The bacteria that cause food poisoning are eliminated in a matter of seconds at this temperature. Lower temperatures will also cause them to die off, but it may take several minutes. It is safer to hold off on eating the meat until it reaches a temperature of 165.
We advise removing chicken breasts from the heat when they reach 160 degrees because the meat will continue to cook as it rests. By doing this, you can be sure that the meat won’t cook past the ideal serving temperature.
However, it’s important to note that while 165 degrees is ideal for chicken wings and breasts, the dark meat doesn’t get quite hot enough at that temperature. If you allow the drumsticks and thighs to finish cooking to a temperature of 180 degrees before resting, they’ll have a better texture.
How To Tell When Smoked Chicken is Done
The only surefire way to determine whether smoked chicken has reached a safe temperature is to use a meat thermometer to test it.
Other telltale signs of cooked chicken include opaque rather than translucent meat, a change in color from pink to white or brown (depending on the cut), and clear juices. But a thermometer will give you a clear result.
Because undercooked meat, especially poultry, can be dangerous to consume, it is crucial to check the temperature. The flesh may harbor bacteria such as salmonella and campylobacter. Thorough cooking is the only way to destroy these bacteria.
You also want to avoid overcooking the meat. As we’ve seen, when chicken breast spends too much time on the smoker, it doesn’t taste nearly as good. If cooked past 200 degrees, even the thighs and drumsticks can become dry and stringy.
Most importantly, the visual signs can’t always be trusted. Even when the meat is fully cooked, the color of the meat may occasionally remain pink. Other times, it might become opaque and white, but it hasn’t reached a safe temperature yet.
Purchase a dependable instant-read meat thermometer, and be sure to regularly calibrate it. You’ll be happy to have your smoker on hand even if you only use it occasionally.
FAQ
Is it better to smoke a chicken at 225 or 250?
The best smoker temperatures for chicken are around 225 degrees. Preheat your smoker for even cooking. To get that skin to crisp up, we’ll start low and later turn the heat up.
How long does it take to smoke chicken breasts at 225?
Smoke the chicken breast at 225 degrees Fahrenheit until it reaches a temperature of 165 degrees. This should take about one hour total.
How long does chicken breast take on 250?
Estimate 45 minutes for every pound of chicken when using a smoker at 250 degrees. Therefore, a 4-pound chicken would require approximately 3 hours on the smoker. Trim the chicken’s excess skin and fat before smoking it. You want the bird to have a fairly uniform appearance.
How long does it take to smoke chicken breast at 275 degrees?
It will take 55 to 65 minutes for your boneless chicken breast to cook through if you are smoking it at 275 degrees. Your boneless chicken breast will finish cooking in 35 to 45 minutes if you smoke it at 325 degrees.
