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Smoked Turkey

Posted on 10/22/21 at 7:54 pm
Posted by wildcat3
Member since Jul 2011
147 posts
Posted on 10/22/21 at 7:54 pm
I’m thinking about smoking one on my offset smoker for family for Thanksgiving. Never done one before. Anyone have tips on time and temp? TIA
Posted by Athis
Member since Aug 2016
11637 posts
Posted on 10/22/21 at 8:03 pm to
I wet brine the night before.. Season and form a heat shield of tin foil on the coal side.. I turn it to the other side about half way keeping the shield on coal side. 13lb bird takes about 4 hours or so. Having a constant read thermometer helps a great deal..
Posted by ruger35
Baton Rouge, LA
Member since Feb 2009
1589 posts
Posted on 10/22/21 at 8:23 pm to
If you do a whole turkey run the heat high enough to crisp up the skin. But my suggestion would be to skip the whole turkey and do some turkey breasts.
Posted by calcotron
Member since Nov 2007
8294 posts
Posted on 10/22/21 at 8:54 pm to
With a side smoker it will be hard to focus the heat more on the dark meat than the breast so I suggest separating them and cooking each with its own temp sensor to make sure you don't dry out the breast. Or just do whole chickens because it's easier and will be so much more tender either way.
Posted by LSU Tiger Bob
South
Member since Sep 2011
3002 posts
Posted on 10/22/21 at 9:08 pm to
spatchcock...turn breast away from heat....
Posted by Tiger4Life
God's Country
Member since Jan 2004
551 posts
Posted on 10/22/21 at 9:20 pm to
Inject with 3:1 ratio Cajun butter and Dale’s low sodium marinade. Season outside with favorite poultry rub. Smoke to 165 inside temp
Posted by Gris Gris
OTIS!NO RULES FOR SAUCES ON STEAK!!
Member since Feb 2008
47398 posts
Posted on 10/23/21 at 12:47 am to
I love smoked turkey. I don’t smoke them myself. My advice is to use a wood you’d want to flavor gumbo made with turkey. If no leftovers, smoke two.
Posted by Whatafrekinchessiebr
somewhere down river
Member since Nov 2013
1582 posts
Posted on 10/23/21 at 9:22 am to
quote:

ruger35


Do you have any tips on smoking turkey breasts?

Do you buy whole birds and break them down yourself or just buy the breasts?
Posted by ThreeBonesCater
Baton Rouge
Member since Dec 2014
488 posts
Posted on 10/23/21 at 11:02 am to
Spatchcock and dry brine overnight. Smoke at 350 until the dark meat is 175 and breast is 160, then let it rest for 30 minutes. If you quarter the turkey you can hit the temps better, and if you cut slits in the skin it will help to crisp it up.
Posted by RockyMtnTigerWDE
War Damn Eagle Dad!
Member since Oct 2010
105415 posts
Posted on 10/23/21 at 12:23 pm to
I do smoked spatchcock turkeys that are damn good. Maple bourbon

Will be doing this one for a while.

This is the one that I use but I have done a few custom touches. I actually add the thyme and Rosemary to the maple butter basting sauce and I make double the amount. I use half to inject.

It’s a Traeger recipe

My daughter did it using an oven for her family and friends and everyone loved it. I also add a smoking tube to add extra smoke flavor. It cooks a lot faster and you need to stay on top of the temp. Best turkey I have had.
This post was edited on 10/23/21 at 1:10 pm
Posted by unclejhim
Folsom, La.
Member since Nov 2011
3703 posts
Posted on 10/23/21 at 12:24 pm to
quote:

I do smoked spatchcock turkeys that are damn good

Ditto.
Posted by shawnlsu
Member since Nov 2011
23682 posts
Posted on 10/23/21 at 3:35 pm to
I'm going to spatchcock one this year. I'm done fighting dry birds.
Posted by 4orlsu
garden district New Orleans
Member since Dec 2008
352 posts
Posted on 10/25/21 at 2:08 pm to
I purchase 2 12/14 lb birds and cut in half. indirect grill with Pecan chunks ONLY. my Webber ranch grill ( 37 inch )can handle that amount,indirect, with ease . cook time is about 2 hours . soooo good , people want to pay me to do birds for them.....
Posted by Saskwatch
Member since Feb 2016
16577 posts
Posted on 10/25/21 at 3:09 pm to
quote:

my Webber ranch grill ( 37 inch )


How much charcoal do you load that thing up with? Looks like it would need a lot if you wanted to use the entire surface area.
Posted by GeauxTigers0107
South Louisiana
Member since Oct 2009
9738 posts
Posted on 10/25/21 at 3:21 pm to
quote:

spatchcock...turn breast away from heat....



Exactly. You can put a split on the grate next to the bird to use as a heat shield too. When you need to add wood to your fire, take that one and replace it with another.

I like doing a wet brine. I know dry works well too but I just prefer the wet one. I use Oak Ridge Game Changer or Kosmo's Bird Soak. Butcher BBQ makes a good soak as well.
Posted by 4orlsu
garden district New Orleans
Member since Dec 2008
352 posts
Posted on 10/25/21 at 9:05 pm to
Webber ranch takes a lot of coal, BUT you can do a LOT of food . 19 burgers only filled 1 side . in truth I think it is too big, so I use a 24 most of the time. $ 1,700 is an insane price, but the wife gave it to me so..... i gotta use it lol . 2 birds will take about 15 lbs of coal,so i buy at least 6-8 18 lb bags at time on sale.
This post was edited on 10/25/21 at 9:10 pm
Posted by blacykaty
Katy, Texas
Member since Nov 2009
480 posts
Posted on 10/26/21 at 11:00 am to
Easy to do.

Wet brine overnight. I love to use crawfish boil. Gives it a good flavor. Rub a mixture of butter and seasoning (your choice) UNDER the skin.

Love smoked turkey! Easy and flavorful!
Posted by Ash Williams
South of i-10
Member since May 2009
18147 posts
Posted on 10/26/21 at 11:40 am to
Spatchcock for sure.

I dry brine it over night and a few hours before I put it on I make a butter mix with Herbs de Provence and spread it all over under and on top of the skin.

Put in the smoker and put a catch pan underneath it to catch all the juices that come off of it. I serve the turkey with said juices.

Everyone loves it.
Posted by im4LSU
Hattiesburg, MS
Member since Aug 2004
32011 posts
Posted on 10/26/21 at 11:51 am to
BRINE BRINE BRINE


Brine it for 18-24 hours before you cook.

I use a 5 gallon bucket do do mine.

Gallon of Apple cider over medium heat, dissolve a cup of kosher salt and a cup of dark brown sugar in the apple cider. Only takes a couple of minutes.

Smash up about 10 cloves of garlic, slice up a handful or so of fresh ginger, quarter up 4-5 oranges, cut up some fresh rosemary, sage, and thyme. Once all that is done, dump the apple cider with the dissolved kosher salt and brown sugar into the bucket. Add the rest of the ingredients to the mixture (you can squeeze the oranges if you want). Add about a third of a cup of apple cider vinegar to the mix. Give it a little stir to mix it up. At this point I go ahead and put the turkey into the bucket. Add some cold water to the bucket just so the turkey is covered. Helps to add some ice to the bucket as well just to go ahead and cool it off from the warm apple cider mixture. Cover the bucket and let it sit for 18-24 hours before you smoke it.

I normally dry it off once I take it out of the brine and coat it with a little olive oil. Use whatever seasoning or rub you would like. Get that good stuff under the skin too!

Put it on for about 30 minutes or so per pound at 225°-250°. Just make sure you have a good temp probe or thermometer.

This will make it damn near impossible to dry your bird out. Adds a LOT of really good flavor. This is how I do ours every year and they are always spot on.
This post was edited on 10/26/21 at 11:56 am
Posted by TigerBait2008
Boulder,CO
Member since Jun 2008
32446 posts
Posted on 10/26/21 at 6:05 pm to
Don't do this..
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