I woke up at 0400 and started a fire in my firebox. It was 35°, with a windchill of 28° outside. I decided to get the smoker to 300°, so I could get a crispy skin. I got a charcoal chimney full of Kingsford briquettes going, and dumped them in the firebox. I then placed 3 smallish-medium liveoak logs in the firebox, along with 2 mesquite chunks. I placed my turkey in the smoker, breast side down. The smoke is going good, I put in another mesquite chunk, and I go into the house to get a can of Dr Pepper. I come back out, and the thermos on the smoker door are reading 400°! I was like, "Crap!". I opened the door for a bit to let out some heat, and then it happened: Some grease in the bottom of the smoker lit up like hell. So I shut the door and run to the kitchen and get my aluminum roasting pan I planned on putting the turkey in after i carved it up. I run outside and place the bird in it, breast side down. I then run back inside and get a fire extinguisher and put out the fire in the smoker. It will not stay out, so I blast the fire I got going to.
I put the bird in the oven, set at 250°, with my melted butter and Jeff's rub (I had in a bowl for basting) poured into the pan. It was in the smoke for about 3 hours altogether. It had a nice crispy skin, good smoke flavor, and had a nice smoke ring. It was juicy too. I didn't brine it, as I read on here that, as it was a butterball with the solution in it, it didn't need it. It tasted excellent, so said my wife- and she doesn't really like turkey. Here's a couple of pics she took just before I carved it up.
I put the bird in the oven, set at 250°, with my melted butter and Jeff's rub (I had in a bowl for basting) poured into the pan. It was in the smoke for about 3 hours altogether. It had a nice crispy skin, good smoke flavor, and had a nice smoke ring. It was juicy too. I didn't brine it, as I read on here that, as it was a butterball with the solution in it, it didn't need it. It tasted excellent, so said my wife- and she doesn't really like turkey. Here's a couple of pics she took just before I carved it up.
