Do y’all find there is a better turkey for a smoker versus the oven? Pre-brined or brine yourself? Brand? Makes no difference? Needing to do one in smoker and one in oven this Thanksgiving (big family get together) and looking for any thoughts before I go out buying two this weekend.

3 ...

Report Post

Posted by Saskwatch

Member since Feb 2016

17951 posts

Posted on 11/18/25 at 11:49 am to Jetstream 2000

For smoker I just buy the cheapest. Generally they freeze it in the bag with brine like solution. Defrost, pat dry, season, stick in fridge for a day to dry out the skin.

If I am smoking it just to make a gumbo I remove the skin before smoking.

If I am cooking in oven I could see getting a nicer quality turkey

0 ...

Report Post

Posted by gumbo2176

Member since May 2018

19285 posts

Posted on 11/18/25 at 2:26 pm to Jetstream 2000

I'm smoking one this year and just like any other time I smoke a turkey I'll brine it myself for a couple days before it hits the smoker.

For me, a good option for all ways to cook a turkey is to just get a Butterball.

Winn-Dixie has lesser known brands of turkeys for $.49 a lb. and their Butterball's are selling for $.99 a lb. Not a bad price for a whole turkey and cheaper than a damn chicken right now. I'm picking me up a 15 lb. bird tomorrow and it will take about 3 days in my beer fridge to thaw so I can put it in my brine to get ready to smoke.

0 ...

Report Post

Posted by AlwysATgr

Member since Apr 2008

20031 posts

Posted on 11/18/25 at 6:18 pm to Jetstream 2000

There are several online videos from Chud, Franklin, et al on smoking turkeys.

What little I can add is that for smoking a turkey, you do not want a large bird in order to minimize the time between it being safe-cold to safe-warm.

Page 1