Brined Injected SmoFried Turkey for T-Day

For Thanksgiving this year I'm brining a turkey for almost 48 hours, injecting it, smoking it, then deep-frying it.

Here it is in the brine.

 

Got up this morning and injected with a simple injection from the store.


I didn't want too many flavors going with the brine and the injection and then an upscale rub, so I just rubbed it down with a with a simple SPOG.

 

Thanks for the heads up @chopsaw. I hadn't considered that.

 

I have a theory that the frying will take away some of the smoke flavor, so I'm trying to get a deep smoke flavor before I drop it in the bath.

I started smoking it at about 7:30a this morning and coldsmoked it for 2 hours. Since it was 30° outside I didn't worry too much about the danger zone. Even still, I put my probes in to monitor. I knew my AMZNPTS generates some heat, and sure 'nuff it got my smoker up to 63° and the turkey hit 40° by 9:30a. So 2 hours of cold smoke and now I got the smoker set at 220°.

My plan is to get the IT to no more than 145° and then finish it in the fry bath. We plan to eat around 1, but I have no idea how long it will take in a 325°-350° fry bath to get to 165° at the breast.


(I've got my pal standing guard)

 

Just pulled from the smoker at 122° IT.


And dropped it into a 350° oil bath.

 

Pay dirt.

 

Don't get me lyin' to you on etymology. It's just what my dad used to say when he finished a job and was pleased with the results.

 

Bonus: Since I already had everything going, I smoked a couple of turkey breasts to slice and put in the freezer for mid-week meals.

 

Y'all, I really thought the turkey was dryer than my normal smoked turkeys, but then I thought I was just being overly-critical because it was T-Day and we had guests over.

Then I cut into my bonus smoked breasts tonight and one of the guests walked by and snagged a piece. Next thing I know, everyone was bustin' out leftover sides and asking me to leave the smoked turkey out instead of vacuum-packing it.

Turns out, EVERYBODY thought my SmoFried turkey was dry, but my smoked turkey was the most moist turkey breast they'd ever eaten and they were blown away by the smoked flavor.

I never thought a SmoFried turkey would turn out dryer than a smoked turkey. But after their reaction, I don't think I'll ever SmoFry another turkey as long as I live.

 

Interesting. I thought my theory was bogus because my SmoFried turkey had a ton of smoke flavor, it was just dry.