Just finished my first smoked turkey...

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azbertman

Newbie
Original poster
Nov 17, 2014
23
13
So I just finished smoking my very first turkey (and very first smoking anything). Bought an MES30 a week ago and used it for the first time today. Used it with the AMNPS I picked up after reading some posts here. I followed the Smoked Maple BBQ Turkey that came out in the newsletter as close as I could. I did fight temp issues all day but I think I figured out why. Today it was 79 degrees here in Phoenix and the smoker was in the sun at the start. Had to keep the temp setting low on the MES to keep the temp at 240. Then as the sun set and it dropped into the 50s I had to adjust. All in all it was a great learning experience. I'm sure I will have many more of those. This was my practice bird, 9.5 lbs and took about 7 hours to smoke. I let the internal probe in the breast get to 167 before taking the turkey out to rest for 30 minutes and I think it is just a bit over done but still very very tasty. 

Can't wait to do it again for Thanksgiving.

Gotta say thanks to the posters on this board. I spent hours searching and reading. Tons of good info here.

First pic is the bird all prepped ready for the smoker.


This is the bird when I pulled it from the smoker.


Sliced. I attempted to fillet off a breast. 

 
Grats! Nice first bird, hard to go wrong with anything smoked - even a "mistake" is usually good eating.

I highly suggest you try brining your next bird, really a good chance to add flavor and moisture to the final product.
 
Thanks Jl. I actually did brine it for 12 hours. Going to try longer next time though.
 
I used Cabela's brand pecan pellets. There's a Cabela's a mile from my home and I picked up a 20lb bag for $15. Took two tries to keep it lit but I think I found the trick.
 
Very good , Azbertman . You have a great first ever smoke... Keep going and practice every chance toy get. Soon you will achieve your Smoking Nervana
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Have a great Thanksgiving and a Merry Christmas...

Have fun and . . .
 
Congrats That is a fine looking bird. Are you using the meat probe and the control panel to check temps?

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