Smoking Turkey and Pork Butt together

raa171 · Aug 31, 2011

Hi All,

I'm new to smoking and have been going through this forum for a little while now. This weekend will be my first attempt at smoking a turkey and pork butt. I'm using a chargriller with the side firebox. However, since I'm new to this I'm trying to uderstand how you would work the temperature of the two different meats. One time and temperature chart that I was viewing online showed turkey at 240 degrees and pork butt at 225 degrees. How do you adjust for time and temperature? Looking for any help I can get, my wife has been bragging about smoking these two items to friends and family that are coming over on Monday to eat.

terry colwell · Aug 31, 2011

Get some oven thermometers and find the places on the grill that giv e you your temps,, Closer to the box will be warmer, put the turkey there and put the Butt on the far end,

alblancher · Aug 31, 2011

With a side car you will be lucky to keep your smoker in that temp range. Shoot for 240 but be happy with 220 to 250. You will get warmer temps near the fire box and higher verticaly in the smoke chamber. I wouldn't not do it because of the difference in recommended temperatures. What is important is the internal temps of the meat and don't forget to brine the bird!

SmokinAl · Sep 1, 2011

Glad to have you with us!

You picked a hard combination to cook together.

We usually cook pork butt at 210, and chicken at 325.

If you cook both at 225-250, then you will have to crisp up the skin on the chicken on a grill or in the oven.

Like the other guys said put the chicken next to the firebox & the butt on the other end.

Good luck & don't forget the Q-view!

alblancher · Sep 1, 2011

Hey Al,

He's cooking Turkey! Do you run Turkey at the higher temps also? I always keep Turkey at the lower temp and just raise the temp toward the end to crisp up a bit!

SmokinAl · Sep 1, 2011

alblancher said:
Hey Al,

He's cooking Turkey! Do you run Turkey at the higher temps also? I always keep Turkey at the lower temp and just raise the temp toward the end to crisp up a bit!

Yes, we cook turkey at 325 just like chicken. It seems to be juicier at the higher temp for some reason.

alblancher · Sep 1, 2011

I can see less time on the smoker will make it a moister bird when cooking at the higher temps. I'll have to give a try. Now that I brine and inject during the smoke I haven't had a problem but between traditional baked and fried, I don't do smoked turkey very often. I'll give the 325 a try. Thanks for the tip

also Al

mdboatbum · Sep 1, 2011

I think I'd do them separately. I'd do an overnight smoke on the butt and try to time it (I said TRY, I know he should cook to temp) so it's done 6-8 hours before the meal is to be served. Foil it, wrap in a towel and put in a preheated cooler. Crank up the temp as high as you can get it and put the bird on. It shouldn't take more than 5-6 hours at that temp, and the butt should be resting nicely for as long as you'll need it.
OR
Take the butt to 160 in the smoker, then foil and transfer to the oven @ 225˚. Proceed with bird in smoker--should get pretty close to being done at the same time.

roller · Sep 1, 2011

Welcome !!!!1

raa171 · Sep 1, 2011

Hi Al,

I noticed that you recommend cooking at 325. Is that what will give me the crispier skin on the outside? I just found out from my wife that the turkey is 17#, what would you recommend for cook time on a bird that size? Everything I've been reading recommends a turkey of 12# or less. I'm looking at putting the turkey in a brine prior to smoking. However, I was wondering if I should be looking at putting a rub on the turkey also? Sorry for all the questions.........

Bob

SmokinAl · Sep 1, 2011

raa171 said:
Hi Al,

I noticed that you recommend cooking at 325. Is that what will give me the crispier skin on the outside? Yes I just found out from my wife that the turkey is 17#, what would you recommend for cook time on a bird that size? You have to cook it to temp not time, if you put a temp probe in the thigh next to the breast the turkey will be done when it reads 175. An estimated time would be about 1/2 hour per pound or 8 1/2 hours. Everything I've been reading recommends a turkey of 12# or less. Yes, this is a size that you can get to 135 in 4 hour easily, you are pushing the envelope with a 17# bird, but at 325 you should make it. I'm looking at putting the turkey in a brine prior to smoking. However, I was wondering if I should be looking at putting a rub on the turkey also? I always use olive oil & Montreal Chicken Seasoning for a rub even if I brine the turkey, you may also want to put some MCS in the brine too. Sorry for all the questions.........

Bob

alelover · Sep 2, 2011

I have a Chargriller with side fire box. You'll be really hard pressed to keep that thing at 325 for a long period of time. You will need a big fire and a lot of charcoal. If you haven't done all the usual mods on the Chargriller 325 will almost be impossible.

SmokinAl · Sep 2, 2011

alelover said:
I have a Chargriller with side fire box. You'll be really hard pressed to keep that thing at 325 for a long period of time. You will need a big fire and a lot of charcoal. If you haven't done all the usual mods on the Chargriller 325 will almost be impossible.

You should listen to Scott.

He has your smoker and knows it's limitations.

If it won't hold the higher temps, then you can either finish it on a grill or discard the skin.

Since it's such a big bird & you won't be able to maintain the higher temps, then I would suggest you spatchcock the bird to get it

through the danger zone safetly.

alelover · Sep 2, 2011

Spatchcock it. Great idea Al. That will get him through the danger zone much quicker. It may take up most of the cooking surface though. That be a big bird.

raa171 · Sep 2, 2011

Hi Scott & Al,

Thanks for the information. I just looked up what spatchcock meant so I understood what you were discussing. I know you had mentioned before about achieving the 175 degree temperature in the meat between the breast and thigh. Is that the temperature I'm still looking for and should I still plan on 1/2 hour per pound for the turkey, which would be a cook time of 8 1/2 hours. I guess what my question is by spatchcocking the turkey does that cause the cook time to be faster?

Scott, I'm defering to you for this question since you've got experience with the chargriller. What temperature should I be looking at for the smoker?

Thanks to everybody for your help. 3 days and counting to turkey day............

Bob

SmokinAl · Sep 2, 2011

raa171 said:
Hi Scott & Al,

Thanks for the information. I just looked up what spatchcock meant so I understood what you were discussing. I know you had mentioned before about achieving the 175 degree temperature in the meat between the breast and thigh. Is that the temperature I'm still looking for and should I still plan on 1/2 hour per pound for the turkey, which would be a cook time of 8 1/2 hours. I guess what my question is by spatchcocking the turkey does that cause the cook time to be faster?

Scott, I'm defering to you for this question since you've got experience with the chargriller. What temperature should I be looking at for the smoker?

Thanks to everybody for your help. 3 days and counting to turkey day............

Bob

Yes the 175 degree temp in the deepest part of the thigh is what you are looking for no matter how you cook it. The cook time on a spatchcocked turkey will be much faster. I would estimate around 5 hours for a turkey that size. If it gets done later just feed everyone more appetizers. If it gets done early wrap it in foil until your ready to eat.

raa171 · Sep 6, 2011

Hi Guys,

I wanted to thank everybody for their input on smoking a 17lb turkey and pork shoulder together. The turkey and pork shoulder turned out good. Everybody enjoyed and within an hour the turkey and pork shoulder were gone. No pictures this time after smoking.......Will get some next time and post.

SmokinAl · Sep 6, 2011

Glad to hear everything came out good for you!

Smoking Turkey and Pork Butt together

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