Smoke Turkey in the pan or on the grates?

[kevinwi]

I'm cooking TG for 50.
Three 15 lb birds and two hams.
I've got everything worked out ..... I will brine two of the birds and inject the third. Spatchcock all the birds....
I'm looking for the quickest cook which will be hot and fast..... but the advice I'm seeking is to cook the birds in the aluminum pans or just lay it on the grill and skip the pans? This will be cooked on my Lang 60 offset reverse flow.

 

[forktender]

I like to do them on a rack, in a foil pan to catch the drippings for gravy or dressing.
Likewise, I normally add some rough cut onion, celery, carrots, and a cup or two of white wine to the pan.

 

[kevinwi]

I like to do them on a rack, in a foil pan to catch the drippings for gravy or dressing.
Likewise, I normally add some rough cut onion, celery, carrots, and a cup or two of white wine to the pan.

not an option....I don't have racks....lol....but it's an idea.

 

[chilerelleno]

Buy racks, some cheap roasting pans come with a rack.
Without racks you're gonna have a Soggy Bottom Bird.

You can do them either way, I like them both ways.
A tray full of aromatics does impart subtle flavor.

Or you can also buy several bunches of fresh herbs, e.g. Sage, Thyme or Rosemary and make a bed directly under the birds, a really nice infusion of flavor.

 

[Gonna Smoke]

Here's a video that may help...

Thanksgiving - How to Smoke a Whole Turkey - Video

There are many correct methods for smoking the Thanksgiving turkey as you might imagine.. this video is simply how I do it most of the time. If you've never smoked a turkey before, I recommend you practice one a few weeks before the big day.

www.smokingmeatforums.com

 

[chilerelleno]

I highly recommend Spatchcocking the bird.
Regular or Frogged, both work very well.

Here's some of my turkey cooks.

TURKEY

Frog Spatchcocked Turkey
Thanksgiving and Falls Got Me Feeling Froggy
Cajun Smoked Turkey
Couple of Christmas Turkeys
Today I Gave Everybody the Bird, Turkey That Is
Christmas Dinner Turkey
Smoked Gobbler Got Gobbled
Brined Buttered and Smoked

 

[JckDanls 07]

Spatchcocked and staight on the grate for me... Pan full of forktender 's goodies under it (more than likely on the RF plate) ... The way I do it on the Tractor (build in my signature below) ...

 

[kevinwi]

I highly recommend Spatchcocking the bird.
Regular or Frogged, both work very well.

Here's some of my turkey cooks.

TURKEY

Frog Spatchcocked Turkey
Thanksgiving and Falls Got Me Feeling Froggy
Cajun Smoked Turkey
Couple of Christmas Turkeys
Today I Gave Everybody the Bird, Turkey That Is
Christmas Dinner Turkey
Smoked Gobbler Got Gobbled
Brined Buttered and Smoked

yep...I wrote that they would be spactchcocked. Question is pan or grate.

 

[kevinwi]

Here's a video that may help...

Thanksgiving - How to Smoke a Whole Turkey - Video

There are many correct methods for smoking the Thanksgiving turkey as you might imagine.. this video is simply how I do it most of the time. If you've never smoked a turkey before, I recommend you practice one a few weeks before the big day.

www.smokingmeatforums.com

yep...already saw that video...didn't really give an answer to my question since A. I'm spatchcocking the birds and he did a full bird, and B. didn't answer the question on on the grate or in the pan for me for the quickest cook.

 

[chilerelleno]

yep...I wrote that they would be spactchcocked. Question is pan or grate.

Quickest, hot-n-fast 350°-375° directly on the grates.