14lb Thanksgiving Turkey

[nittanyfans]

I have a MES 30 and I want to smoke a turkey for thanksgiving.

I'm going to brine the bird overnight. My biggest decision is to spatchcock it or not.

I need to have dinner ready around 430. So I'm not sure if I should leave it while or spatchcock it.

Thoughts on how long each method would take???

Thank you!!

 

[mdboatbum]

I'm all for spatchcocking chickens, but I like to leave turkeys whole. It's just a nostalgia thing.
If you smoke yours at 275° it shouldn't take too much over 6 hours. Get it in the smoker by 9am and you should be ok.

 

[SmokinAl]

I agree on the 6 hours, but if you spathhcock it, you will cut the time in half.

Al

 

[dirtsailor2003]

Once you spatch you'll never go back! Just imagine if Norman Rockwell had illustrated a spatched bird. No one would be cooking them whole! There are plenty of great ways to present a spatched bird that look as good or even better than a whole bird.

 

[mdboatbum]

After all my preaching about wanting a whole bird, the damn thing wouldn't fit in the smoker!! So I had to part it out. I boned and rolled the breasts and made "Swansons" out of the legs. Boned, tied and bacon wrapped the thighs, leaving them attached to the legs.

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• mdboatbum
• Nov 23, 2016