17 pound turkey first smoke

[Njpmoose]

Morning all, I have a 17 pound turkey to smoke today. Never smoked one before and looking for some advice on temp and a rough idea of time (so I can have it done around dinner time, I know I need to cook to temp). I was thinking 325-350 cause it’s a bigger bird on my camp chef pellet. Any help would be great. I was hoping not to spatchcock but will if it’s necessary.

 

[Sven Svensson]

You won’t like hearing this but I always spatchcock birds on the pellet smoker. In fact, I’ve now taken to parting out the bird and pulling when each chunk is done. I also inject and brine the night before.

If you want more smoke flavor then put the temp low for at least 30 minutes, like 160 degrees. Higher temps on a pellet smoker generate very little smoke flavor.

If you keep the bird whole I’d not go over 325.

 

[SmokinAl]

I part my big turkeys out like Sven. Did a 21# in 3 1/2 hours @ 375.
Al

 

[rdknb]

That is a big bird to smoke, I would also part it out and smoke.

 

[thirdeye]

I butcher turkeys and chickens like this because I pull the breast at 157° (and hold for 1-minute) but take the dark meat to 180°ish.



The article below is one of the best how-to for cooking a turkey I've seen.

How to Cook a Turkey: Turkey Temperature & Doneness

Learn the importance of your turkey temperature and how to get the perfect turkey by knowing what temperature to cook a turkey.

blog.thermoworks.com

 

[SmokingUPnorth]

Like others have said I always spatchcock turkeys. I use a mix of apple and Nicky, but I only use 3 maybe 4 chunks of wood depending on the size. They tend to pick up a lot of smoke and easy to overdue it.