A Question on Smoking Turkey From Someone New to Whole Concept of Smoking

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rcote

Newbie
Original poster
Dec 20, 2010
2
10
Hello all,

I am new to smoking and had planned on using my smoker to smoke my 22.5 lb. turkey for Christmas; however, we are having rain so that is now not possible.  So, here is my question.  I have a convection oven indoors that dehydrates and that can be set at a temp equivalent to the required temp for smoking in the outdoor smoker.  Would it be possible to put a pan of water on the bottom shelf along with a small tray of soaked cherry wood chips and cook my turkey in the oven indoors for approximately 13 hours and get similar results to that of smoking outdoors?
 

richoso1

Gone but not forgotten. RIP
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SMF Premier Member
Jun 21, 2007
8,432
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Your main concern would be to get a bird that size up to 140° within the safe amount of time allowed. Be sure and use a meat probe to know your internal temps. I'll let some others chime in on this. Play it safe. BTW, I moved your thread to roll call so that others can welcome to the SMF.It's all good my friend.
 
Last edited:

SmokinAl

SMF Hall of Fame Pitmaster
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Jun 22, 2009
50,949
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Yep, 40 - 140 in 4 hours. Your turkey can't stay in the 40-140 range for more than 4 hours, so your going to have to crank up the heat a little for the first hour or so to move it along, then you can bring it down to 225-250 for the rest of the smoke. Most will say it's better to smoke 2 - 11 lb. birds than 1 - 22 pounder. I suggest taking the E-course, it's free & will cover all the basics of smoking. Good luck and welcome to the SMF.
 

smoke 2 geaux

Smoking Fanatic
Mar 18, 2010
419
18
Denham Springs La.
Does the door on that oven have a gasket seal?  I'd be worried about filling the house up with smoke.  As far as the heat is concerned, poultry doesn't benefit from the really low and slow temps like other cuts of meat.  I run my smoker pretty much wide open (275 - 300).  You are going to need plenty heat to get that big rascal up to temp in time.
 

rbranstner

Smoking Guru
OTBS Member
Oct 18, 2007
5,700
39
West Fargo, ND / Northern MN
Yea that is a pretty big bird. You can get through the danger zone in 4 hours if you do like SmokingAL said and crank up the heat in the beginning to get it over the hump. Another suggestion would be to Spathcoch the bird. Google it and you will find directions on it but for the most part it is removing the backbone and then the bird is laid flat and open on the smoker which will make the bird cook faster.
 

wylie

Fire Starter
Oct 13, 2010
32
10
Moorhead, MN
Smoking in the house sounds really scary to me. Way too many things could go wrong. I would either smoke it ahead of time and reheat or just cook it in the oven with no smoke. If your house starts filling with smoke or you start a fire it would ruin Christmas alot more than having a plain baked turkey. Whatever you decide, be safe.
 

rcote

Newbie
Original poster
Thread starter
Dec 20, 2010
2
10
Thanks everyone.  You've been great in your responses.  I think I'll play it safe and cook it the old fashioned way.  The turkey was a gift so I had no control over size.  The smoker has been sitting, waiting for me to get the courage to use it, but it is pouring down rain, and supposed to do so through til Christmas day.  I will save my smoking for another drier day and a much smaller turkey.  The best laid plans still need to be flexible, lol.  Thanks again.

rcote
 

beer-b-q

Gone but not forgotten. RIP
OTBS Member
May 1, 2007
10,101
40
 

Welcome to SMF, Glad to have you with us.
 


This is the place to learn, lots of good info and helpful friendly Members.
 


For those of you new to Smoking, be sure to check out Jeff's 5 Day Smoking Basics eCourse.

Click Here it's "FREE" ... 5 Day eCourseE
 

meateater

Legendary Pitmaster
SMF Premier Member
Oct 17, 2009
8,983
62
Hendertucky, Nv.
Welcome, I wouldn't suggest getting your feet wet on a bird that size but you could make some side dishes to get that smokey feeling. Mac and cheese or veggies come to mind. Don't let the weather get you down, smoking is a 365 thing around here.
PDT_Armataz_01_34.gif
 

buzzy

Smoking Fanatic
OTBS Member
Feb 11, 2007
874
461
Cumberland Co. PA
WELCOME

I will probably get a lot of heat on this but you could marinade in 1 part liquid smoke & 2 parts water for 30 minutes.
 

flyweed

Smoking Fanatic
Jun 5, 2010
375
12
S.W. Wisconsin
so what if it's raining?  Your smoker won't care...I've smoked in rain and snow in both my UDS and MES....do you have a garage?  Open the garage door, set the smoker just in the door frame area of the door and smoke that bird!  I do it all the time.  If the smoke accumulates into the garage too much, I just grab a small fan and turn it on to blow all the smoke outside.  Works for me.
 

Bearcarver

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Sep 12, 2009
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I would not get my feet wet with a 22 pound Turkey in a smoker, rain or shine.

You gotta break yourself in too---Not just the smoker.

Just my 2 pennies.

Bear
 

scarbelly

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OTBS Member
Jul 26, 2009
14,317
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I would not get my feet wet with a 22 pound Turkey in a smoker, rain or shine.

You gotta break yourself in too---Not just the smoker.

Just my 2 pennies.

Bear
I agree 100%. The only way you might be able to do this is to spatchcock the bird but it is a lot for someone new to handle. On the smoking in the house - just so you know your homeowners will not cover your loss according to my insurance agent. We have a couple of folks who built a smoker  into their garage and I thought "what a great idea" and in a passing conversation with my agent (also a personal friend) he showed me in my policy where it would void the policy. I forget the wording but it covered some pretty broad ground   
 
 

sprky

Master of the Pit
OTBS Member
Jun 26, 2007
2,932
41
Hutchinson Kansas
I have done 22 + pound turkeys and let me tell ya you push the edge getting the 40 - 140 in 4 hours. Not to mention they are very hard to fit in my smoker. 20 pounds are about as big as I like to go. I personally would not do it with out a meat cure.  I add Morton's tender quick to my brine's, per a professional meat packers instructions of 1/4 cup for my 1 1/2 gal of brine. He stated that will buy me some time with the 40 -140 in 4 hours time frame. If I have not hit 140 in 5 hours out they come and into the oven. I have had to do this a couple of times in cold windy weather, like today. Hope that helps you out. 
 

papagreer

Meat Mopper
Jul 7, 2010
249
16
Raleigh, NC
Does the door on that oven have a gasket seal?  I'd be worried about filling the house up with smoke.  As far as the heat is concerned, poultry doesn't benefit from the really low and slow temps like other cuts of meat.  I run my smoker pretty much wide open (275 - 300).  You are going to need plenty heat to get that big rascal up to temp in time.
I agree Smoke. I would not try to smoke indoors in my oven. With the amount of smoke chips and chunks put off, my house would be thick with smoke and smell like smoke for weeks (especially after 13 hrs). I have done turkeys at 225 and at 275-300 and I thought that the ones done at the higher heat turned out better. I have never smoked a 22 LB turkey, that's a monster! Id look for a smaller turkey next time to avoid the safe temp problems, no need to chance sickness or worry about making it to 140 in time. Good luck with the smoke (if the rain subsides) and post some pics!

Chris
 

jpdeuce

Newbie
Jun 3, 2010
28
10
so what if it's raining?  Your smoker won't care...I've smoked in rain and snow in both my UDS and MES....do you have a garage?  Open the garage door, set the smoker just in the door frame area of the door and smoke that bird!  I do it all the time.  If the smoke accumulates into the garage too much, I just grab a small fan and turn it on to blow all the smoke outside.  Works for me.
+1, definitely going to need a fan though
 
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